September will be here before you know it and this year I'll be hunting Elk in Idaho with some close friends. Some of you already know this, but for those who don’t I’ll recap. I have hunted this area in Idaho before (2009) and could have killed a half rack and calf, but let them go because I was stationed overseas and couldn't keep the meat anyway. This year I'll be there for 7-10 days and will probably kill the first elk that presents me the opportunity. If I get one early then I plan on buying a deer tag and start chasing muleys .
Believe it or not, but lately I have been struggling with a personal dilemma; Saying trad or going to a compound. (que: thunder) (please forgive me Diablo)
When I lived in NC I had a 44 yard range in my back yard and access to a 55 yard range at Camp Lejeune. I shot long distance every day in my back yard and several times a week at the Lejeune range during lunch breaks. As a result I was pretty darn good (Rust For Brains can vouch for me). Now I only have a 25 yard range in my back yard and no place close to shoot long distances. I'm pretty resourceful though so if push comes to shove I'll figure something out.
I suppose I should get to the point of this thread. One thing I have been thinking about lately is the penetration at 40 yards and what I can expect with my set up. My bow shoots a 550 grain arrow 186 FPS, but that is shooting it through the chrono at only a couple yards. Obviously after 40 yards of flight the arrow will have significantly slowed (especially with 5.5 inch high back fletchings creating drag). My broadhead of choice is the Magnus Stinger 4 blade which will obviously be very sharp. When I helped my friend pack out his NM elk I was amazed at how thick an elks skin is as compared to a deer, caribou, or bear.
Considering the above and assuming I don't hit any ribs or bone; how much penetration could I expect? 30-35 yards and below I'm not worried about, but when you get into the 40 plus range the energy really bleeds off fast which will affect KE.
This all plays into my personal struggle about weapon choice. I like to hunt for the experience and I fully realize that hunting out west usually involves longer shots. A compound bow is going to obviously increase my chances of success and range, but when I'm dialed in with my recurve I am just as capable out to 40. However at that range, there is a significant difference between the two in ethical killing power.
I will admit some of this wavering is due to a personal pride and a love for trad archery, but what I have also found is that as I mature my pride more often than not being checked at the door.
So whatta ya think? Does a recurve have what it takes at 40 yards? Also I'm half way considering just getting compound for hunting out west and sticking to a recurve for deer. The bad thing is at $1100 compounds are EXPENSIVE......
Believe it or not, but lately I have been struggling with a personal dilemma; Saying trad or going to a compound. (que: thunder) (please forgive me Diablo)
When I lived in NC I had a 44 yard range in my back yard and access to a 55 yard range at Camp Lejeune. I shot long distance every day in my back yard and several times a week at the Lejeune range during lunch breaks. As a result I was pretty darn good (Rust For Brains can vouch for me). Now I only have a 25 yard range in my back yard and no place close to shoot long distances. I'm pretty resourceful though so if push comes to shove I'll figure something out.
I suppose I should get to the point of this thread. One thing I have been thinking about lately is the penetration at 40 yards and what I can expect with my set up. My bow shoots a 550 grain arrow 186 FPS, but that is shooting it through the chrono at only a couple yards. Obviously after 40 yards of flight the arrow will have significantly slowed (especially with 5.5 inch high back fletchings creating drag). My broadhead of choice is the Magnus Stinger 4 blade which will obviously be very sharp. When I helped my friend pack out his NM elk I was amazed at how thick an elks skin is as compared to a deer, caribou, or bear.
Considering the above and assuming I don't hit any ribs or bone; how much penetration could I expect? 30-35 yards and below I'm not worried about, but when you get into the 40 plus range the energy really bleeds off fast which will affect KE.
This all plays into my personal struggle about weapon choice. I like to hunt for the experience and I fully realize that hunting out west usually involves longer shots. A compound bow is going to obviously increase my chances of success and range, but when I'm dialed in with my recurve I am just as capable out to 40. However at that range, there is a significant difference between the two in ethical killing power.
I will admit some of this wavering is due to a personal pride and a love for trad archery, but what I have also found is that as I mature my pride more often than not being checked at the door.
So whatta ya think? Does a recurve have what it takes at 40 yards? Also I'm half way considering just getting compound for hunting out west and sticking to a recurve for deer. The bad thing is at $1100 compounds are EXPENSIVE......