About the Author: Austin Murphy is a skilled hunter with a passion for archery. With 17+ years of experience, he possesses extensive knowledge of various archery equipment, including compound bow, recurve bow, and crossbow. His expertise in these accessories allows him to pursue his love for archery while honing his hunting skills with precision and finesse. As participant in NFAA and ASA competitions, Austin own around 8 Recurve Bows, 6 Compound Bows, and 2 Crossbows.
As for their super ease, less noise, and powerful delivery, I always prefer using a recurve bow over its counterparts. Though a recurve bow requires a good draw weight for an effective range with better accuracy, some archers (especially beginners) face difficulty in finding a suitable draw weight.
First, let me show you a table to compare your weight and the draw weight that you require for your recurve bow.
| Archer’s Frame and Weight | Suggested Recurve Bow Draw Weight |
|---|---|
| Female (small-medium frame of 100-160 lbs weight) | 25-35 lbs |
| Male (small-medium frame of 120-180 lbs weight) | 30-55 lbs |
| Male (medium-large frame of 150-180+ lbs weight) | 40-60 lbs |
The most suitable weight of recurve bow for hunting small to medium targets is 30-40 lbs, leaving a 35 lbs appropriate average draw weight. So, if you are also facing the same barriers, then you have landed on the appropriate page, compiling a complete guide to help you know whether you can hunt with a 35lb (pounds) recurve bow or not.
You might be interested in: Understand the legal aspects of hunting with a recurve bow in your area in our article on Legality of Hunting with a Recurve Bow.
Can you Hunt with a 35 lb Recurve Bow?
The bow with a higher draw weight will shoot an arrow with more force. You don’t need an enormous force while practicing with a recurve bow. However, hunting is a different scenario as your arrow must penetrate through the skin, tissues, flesh, and bones of your prey.
Hunting with a recurve bow indeed depends on its draw weight and not on its model. In the case of a recurve bow, the draw weight is the amount of force you apply to pull the string over the distance of 28”.
So, according to my own experience the answer to the question “Can you Hunt with a 35 lb Recurve Bow” is:
To hit a smaller one like a duck, turkey, squirrel, quail, or rabbit go for a recurve bow of 35 lbs, and for hunting elk, deer, fox, moose, and groundhog; recurve bow with draw weight up to 40-55 lbs is recommended.
How Far Can a 35 lb Recurve Bow Shoot?
It all depends on the type of material, your compound bow components, and its maximum range to shoot. I will suggest examining the range of your recurve bow first using different draw weights.
There are several factors like the draw strength of the archer, his ability, atmospheric restrictions, and the type and weight of the arrow, all add their part to affect the maximum range of the bow. Here’s the maximum and effective range of recurve bows for you to get it better how it works.
| Draw weight | Effective shooting range | Maximum shooting range |
|---|---|---|
| 30 lbs | 15-20 yards | 200-220 yards |
| 35 lbs | 20-25 yards | 220-240 yards |
| 40 lbs | 25-30 yards | 260-280 yards |
Now, let’s discuss what I experienced shooting with a 35 lb recurve bow. The optimum shooting for a recurve bow is around 60-100 yards, and the effective range is around 20-40 yards depending upon the draw weight and archer’s ability.
The maximum range for a 35 lb recurve bow is 280-300 yards. There is a 400-yard world record for shooting as the longest-range recurve bow. Remember that a recurve bow has more power, but to shoot an arrow to a farther distance will require a long bow as of its effective range
Though the highest reach of any bow is around 200-500 yards, and for target shooting, it must hit around 150-300 yards, some of the bows have a maximum hunting range of 60 yards for experts and 15-25 yards for experts.
Let me tell you how you can determine the effective range of your recurve bow. To do this, identify a point at which you cannot aim accurately. First, note down suitable ranges for you and shoot a few arrows to assess how you aim each time.
If you manage to accurately hit the target each time then step back a few yards, shoot, and assess. There comes a point where you can no longer shoot the arrow accurately and that’s your effective range.
How Far Can a Recurve Bow Shoot Accurately?
Archers usually confuse the concept of the average range and effective range. I saw them referring to the average range as an effective range. However, the concept is totally different.
We must understand that the arrow loses its speed when traveling through the air, making your shot less accurate at longer distances. So, what I am telling you is that how far a recurve bow can shoot is not important. It’s about how better you aim the shot while keeping the arrow’s momentum to penetrate your target.
The maximum range you can throw your arrow while applying these conditions is your maximum effective range. So, your recurve bow’s effective range is actually the maximum distance to which you can repeatedly shoot and hit your target with precision.
Considering the above factors, the maximum effective range for a recurve bow by most advanced archers is 35 yards, while for beginners is 15 yards.
And here are my tips to increase the effective shooting range for your recurve bow
- Do not shoot on a windy day as increased air resistance muddles the shooting range.
- Shoot while standing in a perfect stance.
- Use your gear to assist in better shooting.
- To eliminate the momentary errors, shoot at a distance of 5 yards and increase it repeatedly.
Can you increase your range on a recurve bow?
Absolutely. You can increase your range on a recurve bow. The major factor limiting your bow’s range is the aiming accuracy and you can improve it by using accessories, increasing your bow’s draw weight, practicing aiming, and general shooting form.
First of all, improve your shooting form as it will help to improve your accuracy when shooting at a higher distance. Also, train by consistently increasing your draw weight.
But keep in mind that you have to increase the draw weight gradually as if you are not comfortable with your bow’s draw weight, you will end up losing your form and aim.
I will also recommend you use some great aiming accessories like stabilizers. The stabilizer will significantly enhance your accuracy and effective range.
You might be interested in: Find out about the pricing details for purchasing a recurve bow in our article on Recurve Bow Costs.
Shooting A Deer With A 35 Lb Recurve Bow Is Illegal In Different States?
While digging deeper into state law about using a recurve bow, remember that you will need a license to hunt. The absence of a license will get you a penalty. Along with hunting in your private places, you can also go to national parks. But follow the rules and regulations to avoid any discomfort.
In the following states, it is legal in the states of the USA. Yet the draw weight to shoot a deer has some considerations. You also have to tag the animal immediately after killing it as your state’s law will leave you a penalty for not following these regulations.
| States | You are Allowed |
|---|---|
| Alaska, Arkansas, Massachusetts, Utah | At least 40 lbs peak draw weight |
| California, Colorado, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, Pennsylvania | Minimum draw weight of 35 lbs |
| Delaware, Florida, | Use recurve bow with less than 35 lbs draw weight |
| Hawaii, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Alabama, Arizona, Missouri | No size restrictions |
| Connecticut, Illinois, New Hampshire, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, Wyoming | Minimum draw weight of 40lbs |
| Idaho | Draw weight less than 40 lbs |
RELATED QUESTIONS
What poundage bow is lethal?
A bow with at least 30 lbs draw weight can shoot an arrow that easily penetrates through the flesh and bones of a human to kill him. Therefore, a bow with 30 lbs poundage is lethal.
What is the heaviest draw on a bow?
The heaviest poundage on a bow is reported to be 166 lbs on Mongol bows during the 13th century and 240 lbs on Manchu bows in the 18th century.
How many lbs is a good bow?
Around 30-34 lbs are good for medium to large-frame archers.
Is a 30-pound bow strong?
Though a 30 lbs bow is strong enough to kill a human, it doesn’t make it the ultimate killing weapon. Instead, to kill a bigger target, you will need a bow with a minimum of 40 lbs of draw weight.
Do heavier bows shoot farther?
Yes, any type of bow with higher speed and higher draw weight will shoot farther.
What draws weight for grizzly bears?
The minimum draw weight to shoot a grizzly bear is around 40 lbs. You can also increase it to 60lbs.
Bottom Line
As I already explained you can hunt with a 35 lbs recurve bow. It’s just about the size of your target. 35 lbs poundage is enough to shoot and kill a smaller target but to hunt down a bigger one you have to increase your bow’s draw weight.
References:
http://www.bestrecurvebowguide.com/recurve-bow-draw-weight-chart-for-choosing-drawing-weight/
https://opticsmag.com/can-you-hunt-with-a-recurve-bow/
https://www.minnehaha-archers.com/files/How%20to%20Choose%20a%20Recurve_%20Bow.pdf
https://archerypower.com/how-far-can-a-bow-shoot/
https://edubirdie.com/examples/the-laws-of-bow-hunting-in-the-united-states/
