Posts tagged "hunting"

bow hunting deer kill zone

A Brief Guide to Choosing the Right Draw Weight for Hunting

Before buying a crossbow to go hunting with, consider the amount of draw weight that you need. Draw weight refers to the amount of force needed to draw the bowstring to its full draw. The draw weight determines how much force is applied to the bolt as well as the speed of the arrow as it leaves the bow, measured in feet per second (fps). Crossbows come with different draw weights and choosing the right one depends on the kind of game you’re hunting for. Having a bow with the right draw weight spells the diffrence between bagging your prey or going home empty-handed.

For example, if you are hunting speedy small game such as deer or antelope, or game that has a limited kill zone such as rabbit, a draw weight of no more than 150 lb is sufficient. While this will not give you bolt speeds as fast as those with higher draw weights, or with an impact as powerful, it is sufficient to nail these types of game as the arrow is propelled at speeds to 220 to 250 fps while still having enough power to bring these animals down, provided that you make the right shot.

On the other hand, if you are hunting for bigger game such as elk, caribou and even small bears, you will need a bow with a higher draw weight of at least 175 lb. This will give you a bolt speed of 300 fps or more while still giving you plenty of power. But if you’re stalking big animals such as moose, cape buffallo or bear, you’ll want to go with a crossbow that has a 200 lb draw weight which will propel the arrow at speeds of 330 fps or more while giving you enough power to kill your prey.

But comfort should also be a consideration when choosing draw weight. It would be pointless to get a crossbow with a 200 lb draw weight if you cannot cock it properly when the time comes and you end up scaring your prey away. And even if you can cock your bow, if it’s too heavy you’ll become fatigued easily. A crossbow that is too heavy for you to comfortably cock can also cause you back and shoulder pain due to strain, as well as sacrificing the accuracy of your shooting. One rule of thumb is to pick a bow with a draw weight that requires around 75% of your maximum strength to cock. Keep in mind that unless you’re hunting the biggest game, a heavier bow is not necessarily better.

You may find that as you practice with your crossbow, your arm muscles become stronger and you can draw more weight. Since crossbows are usually adjustable to within 10 lb of their maximum draw weight, you might want to set the draw weight to its lowest level and then gradually adjust it upward as you gain more strength. You can also consider using cocking aids, which can reduce draw weight by as much as 50% and make cocking your bow easier.

You can find more crossbow at our website. Find more crossbow review here.

About the Author

TheCrossbowStore.com brings you the quality hunting crossbows, including Barnett Crossbow, Horton Crossbow and more for sale at the best price. We want everyone to enjoy our products and save money from our popular packages deals. We also carry a good supply of crossbow accessories, including arrows, broad head tips, heavy duty laser sight and scope.

150″ Alberta Whitetail Bow Hunt- Wizard Lake Outfitting

Incoming search terms:

• kill zone on deer bow hunting
• crossbow draw weight
• kill zone on deer for bows