A 50 lb recurve bow is strong enough to kill a deer and possibly large game like elk, moose, or bear. However, a 50 lb recurve bow can be too much if you only plan to use it for target archery.
I Was Denied a Big-Game Hunting License in Wyoming (and What I Did to Fix It Quick)
They said my recurve was weak.
I'm Jack, a hunter from Colorado. Been hunting small game in Estes Park, Colorado, for several seasons now. Last elk season, I jumped right in with my 35 lb recurve, easy.
Now, here is the thing...
I took a break from the daily grind last year, so I took a vacation in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
I wanted to flex my new big-game bowhunting skills in their elk season. I wanted to dive deep into the world of big-game hunters.
I went to their Wyoming Game and Fish Department headquarters to undergo all the necessary licensing, and BOOM...
APPLICATION DENIED!
There is nothing more annoying than having to explain why I don't have THAT problem in Colorado--
See, 35 lb recurves are perfectly legal in my state for elk hunting.
You'd think I should have done my homework. Why? I WAS ALREADY APPROVED IN COLORADO!
So during the 'discourse,' I learned that in a handful of states to date, like Alaska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming, specific criteria must be satisfied to hunt big game like elk...Such as having a 50 lb bow, MINIMUM.
It's a good thing I had the presence of mind to keep calm and return to my staging area, Wyoming Motel.
And with a few swipes on Amazon's bestsellers recurve bows page...
I found a recurve with hundreds of glowing customer reviews. 70% (980+) five stars, 18% 4 stars. You can't please everyone though, especially with bestseller volumes.
It also has a black aluminum takedown riser--
Easy to swap the limbs from 40# to 50# without buying a new bow every time. It is perfect for improving my strength in steps, up from my original 35# bow.
And, if you are one of those unlucky ones, they also have a Risk-Free Policy--
1-year 100% Satisfaction Guarantee or get your money back.
Even experienced archers say Toparchery Archery 56" Takedown Hunting Recurve Bow Metal Riser Right Hand Black Longbow gets the job done for under $100.
It is a Recurve worthy of testing the waters in the prestigious world of big-game hunting without spending a fortune.
Get yours by Clicking the link: "Buy on Amazon" here and up top.
You don't have to hassle yourself like I did. Getting a bow that you can change draw weights on the fly for any Big-Game Bowhunting State Regulation will make your life a whole lot easier.
Recurve bows are available in various draw weights, catering to people who plan to shoot for hunting or target archery purposes. In contrast, some people prefer to shoot a recurve bow with a high draw weight than a lower one.
Bows usually fall into two categories: low draw weight and high draw weight. Recurve bows with a draw weight of less than 40 lb typically belong to low draw weight ones; meanwhile, those with 50 lb and up belong to those with higher poundages, which are ideal for hunting season.
On the other hand, bows with a draw weight between 40 lb and 50 lb are the ones in the middle ground and are ideal for target archery and hunting since they aren’t too heavy or too weak.
Nevertheless, archers have this notion of always seeking to use a bow with a higher draw weight. The numbers seem a big deal since shooting with low draw weight would not make them seem cool and weak for not being able to shoot bows with stronger poundages.
Due to this overemphasis on draw weight measurement, you may wonder how strong a 50 lbs recurve bow is and what makes it desirable for some.
Can you kill a deer with a 50 lb bow?
A 50-pound recurve bow can be enough to kill a whitetail deer. In addition, it is the minimum draw weight you should seek if you intend to hunt large wildlife such as moose, bears, and elk. Thus, a 50 lb recurve bow is strong enough to help you have a successful hunt.
However, don’t forget that 50 lb recurve bows are not for everyone. If it is beyond your supposed draw weight, you must train your muscles first before shooting a 50 lb recurve bow.
Aside from your minimum draw weight, it would help if you also considered your purpose of shooting a 50 lb recurve bow. If you plan to use it for target archery, you won’t necessarily need a 50 lb recurve bow to shoot well.
Samick Sage Archery Takedown Recurve Bow
- Size – The Samick Sage Recurve bow is 62” long, 28” draw length, and choose your draw weight from 25-60lb.
- Includes: Riser - 2 Fiberglass laminated limbs - 14 Strands dacron bowstring – Stick on arrow rest – assembly instructions. Limbs are interchangeable and can be purchased separately.
- Features - Pre-installed threaded Brass Bushings for various attachments and upgrades, such as, Brass Plunger, Stabilizer, Sight, Quiver, Bow fishing reel.
- Ergonomically Designed - Risers are designed with lightweight Maple wood, and a comfortable ergonomic grip, so it’s easy to hold and your hands don’t get tired.
Unlike hunting, target archery requires you to shoot over a hundred shots in one day, which can strain your muscles easily if you shoot with a high-poundage recurve bow.
That’s why most target archers go for low-draw-weight bows instead of high-draw-weight ones. The latter are mostly more handy for hunting due to their high penetration power and speed.
Therefore, a recurve bow 50lb draw weight is perfect for hunters because of its capability to kill even large game animals. Meanwhile, it is not necessary for target archers since high penetration power and speed are unnecessary in target archery.
Contents
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a higher draw weight?
Shooting a bow with higher draw weight has advantages, including but not limited to wind resistance, reduced arrow drop, and increased penetration power. In contrast, there are disadvantages, such as full draw tension, decreased accuracy, and muscle fatigue.
Before buying a bow with a draw weight of 50 lb and above, it would be best to take note of the advantages and downsides of using higher draw-weight bows. By doing so, you are saving yourself from misspending your money because of wrong calculations.
Enumerated below are the advantages and disadvantages of shooting high-draw-weight bows:
A. Advantages
Wind resistant
The wind is the primary, most influential environmental factor that causes the arrow’s trajectory to be off. Especially when you are shooting outside windy, your arrow speed will decrease, and you will likely miss the target.
Obert Original Black Hunter Takedown Recurve Bow
- Original Black Hunter Brand,Takedown Bow 60inch,Both Riser,Limbs and Bowstring are 100% original black hunter
- Limbs are made with bamboo core,Introduction of German laminate Technology, offer the best toughness and power for the bow
- Ergonomically designed with Impressive rounded edges and a fine finished wooden handle,Extremely Comfortable Grip
- Avaiable in 30lbs,35lbs,40lbs,45lbs,50lbs,55lbs,60lbs.Come with bowstring
We all know that there is no way anyone can control the wind. As a result, it is better to shoot heavier bows because they allow you to shoot heavier and stiffer arrows, which means they are more wind-resistant than their counterparts.
Thus, it is more convenient for hunters who hunt outside 100% of the time than target archers.
Produces flatter arrow trajectory and crisper string release
For target archers, there are a few advantages of shooting bows with higher draw weight:
- Flatter arrow trajectory
- Crisper release of the bowstring
Higher draw-weight bows don’t need as much bow elevation, allowing an archer to maintain better form for longer shots. Additionally, because more force causes the bowstring to move out of the way, the path becomes straighter, making a crisper bowstring release.
Hence, using a higher draw-weight bow for target archery offers both downsides and advantages.
Reduced arrow drop
Even in archery, the laws of physics still apply, which is apparent with arrow drop in which you must lower your sight when shooting at long range if you have noticed.
Arrow drop isn’t a big issue because you can lower your sight, but shooting at long range with a low draw weight might bottom out, leading to you not being able to place the view lower.
As a result, the only solution you can go for is to increase your bow’s draw weight, mainly if you shoot at distances over 76 yards.
High penetration power
Remember that draw weight has a direct correlation with penetration power. It means that the higher the draw weight, the more you can penetrate the target successfully.
Penetration power isn’t a significant factor in target archery as long as your arrow sticks to the target enough that you won’t have any difficulty retrieving your arrows.
- Raw power and energy harnessed when drawn and released by skilled archers
- Emphasizes graceful and classic design
- Take pride in mastering the recurve bow, it is a very rewarding experience
On the contrary, the amount of penetration is necessary and needed for hunters because they need sufficient penetration to kill their targets ethically.
For instance, some states have bow regulations that impose a minimum draw weight to avoid unethical killing. If you have noticed, some state laws don’t allow a draw weight of less than 30 to join the hunting season. Some also impose a separate and stricter minimum draw weight law for large-game hunting.
The more massive the animal, the higher the draw weight required to generate enough penetration power for the arrow to hit the animal’s thick skin and kill it with a single shot.
Higher durability
Compared to other bows, the limbs of traditional bows, including recurve bows, are prone to breakage. It is essential to note that a bow’s limbs are one of its weakest parts because they bend when you shoot.
However, those bows with a heavier draw weight have limbs made up of thicker materials compared to those with lower draw weights. Therefore, their limbs are less prone to breakage and stronger.
Avoid buying bows with low draw weight and an extended draw length since the chances of them breaking soon are higher.
B. Disadvantages
Causes fatigue
Shooting a heavy draw-weight bow requires a tremendous amount of muscle strength. It can strain your muscles because pulling it at full draw and maintaining the same form without making you wear out quickly can be very challenging.
Here are the following things that will happen if you try shooting a bow with a draw weight higher than you need:
- You’ll feel your body vibrating more.
- You won’t be able to aim at the target correctly.
- Time spent to aim the target will be shorter
- You will fire fewer arrows per session.
- You’ll experience difficulty focusing on your technique.
Bear Super Grizzly Traditional Bow
- Bear Archery Super Grizzly Traditional Bow: Classic design, modern performance.
- Features double-layer maple laminate limbs for smooth shooting.
- Black fiberglass limb facing and backing for durability.
- Crowned, cut-on center arrow shelf with leather side plate.
- Bear hair arrow rest enhances the bow's performance.
On the brighter side, you can always train your muscles if you want to shoot a bow with a higher draw weight. However, it doesn’t happen overnight and will probably take a long time.
Nevertheless, you can achieve this by working on your upper body muscles and spending a lot of time shooting arrows while increasing your draw weight.
Produces more tension at full draw
As mentioned, pulling back a heavy draw-weight bow can be tricky since it produces more tension at full draw. You will have difficulty maintaining your correct form and aim because the longer you pull the bowstrings back, the more shaky your body will become, leading to hurt accuracy.
Therefore, you won’t only be unable to shoot at your full potential but also risk getting hurt.
Possible decreased accuracy
Due to muscle fatigue and trouble pulling the bowstring back, your shooting accuracy decreases, making you miss your target. It is not worth going for a heavy draw weight if you can’t even draw your bow.
Thus, shooting a bow with a higher draw weight has advantages you can’t ignore. However, it is always to choose wisely and avoid getting overbowed since it distorts your shooting form and takes away the fun out of shooting.
What is the range of a 50 lb recurve bow?
A recurve bow’s effective range for hunting is approximately 20 to 40 yards, depending on the draw weight. Thus, the higher the draw weight, the longer the range you can shoot.
After knowing how strong a 50 lb recurve bow can be, you may be curious about how far can a 50 lb recurve bow shoot. Determining a bow’s range can be pretty challenging because there are several factors to consider before one can come up with a conclusion. Nevertheless, you can always refer to estimations to help manage your expectations.
Bear Archery Supermag
- Limbs overlaid with clear maple and backed and faced with high-strength black fiberglass
- Crowned, cut-on center arrow shelf with leather side plate and bear hair arrow rest
- Dynaflight 97 Flemish Twist string included
- Tips handcrafted and layered with black and white fiberglass
For instance, bows generally have a maximum range of 200 to 500 yards. However, the effective distance is usually less, about 150 to 350 yards. When it comes to hunting, the range gets shorter to only 15 to 25 yards for newbies, while it’s typically 30 to 60 yards for skilled hunters.
Since bows have different designs and unique specifications of their own, the approximate range can be opposite from one another.
Regarding recurve bows, they have a maximum range of 280 to 300 yards. But, shooting at maximum distances does not guarantee accuracy compared to an average distance.
Another factor to consider is the purpose of the shooting; if you plan to do target shooting, the accurate range is between 60 to 100 yards. On the contrary, it is lesser with hunting and can only be between 20 to 40 yards.
However, this all depends on the draw weight of the bow you are shooting. The lower the bow’s draw weight, the shorter the range, which you can understand better by referring to the table below:
| Recurve Bow Draw Weight | Effective Range | Maximum Range |
| 30 lbs | 15 to 20 yards | 200 to 220 yards |
| 35 lbs | 20 to 25 yards | 220 to 240 yards |
| 40 lbs | 25 to 30 yards | 260 to 280 yards |
| 40 lbs and up | 30 yards and above | 280 to 300 yards |
If you notice, the distance increases as the draw weight increases. Therefore, you can say that a 50 lb recurve bow can shoot at an effective range of over 30 yards.
Despite this, the estimates aren’t absolute due to the following determining factors that influence a bow’s range:
Bow style
Design and style play an essential role in the effectiveness and range of the bow. For example, a recurve bow’s shape allows its limbs to store more energy than bows with a traditional form.
Therefore, the extra power in its shape provides a decent range and makes it a favorite choice for those who hunt in bushy and wooded areas.
However, a recurve bow’s range is shorter if you compare it to a longbow’s range.
Arrow weight
Heavier arrows won’t travel as far as lighter arrows due to their slower speed. On the brighter side, heavier arrows are more accurate and deliver a better penetrating impact, although they have a lesser range.
Aluminum Arrows
| Material | Aluminum |
| Strength | Good, but less strong than carbon for the same weight |
| Stiffness | Stiff, but flexes more than carbon |
| Fatigue resistance | Moderate, can weaken over time with repeated use |
| Vibration dampening | Moderate, transmits more vibration |
| Spine consistency | Good, but can vary slightly within the same set |
| Tailorability | Moderate, fewer options available |
| Durability | Good, but can bend or dent more easily than carbon |
| Weight | Heavier for the same strength and stiffness |
| Cost | Lower initial cost |
| Environmentally friendly | Less sustainable, limited recycling options |
In comparison, lighter arrows travel farther than heavier ones, but they are less accurate because they are prone to deflect by wind and obstacles like twigs and branches. Furthermore, they provide lesser penetration power, which isn’t ideal for big-game hunting.
However, if the range is essential to you, you might as well use lighter arrows.
Arrow Construction
Arrows are available in different designs, especially fletchings that influence an arrow’s trajectory. Their purpose and range will vary depending on what purpose they intend to serve.
Bow material
Depending on the material composition of the bow, it can store energy more efficiently when drawn and transfer that energy to the arrow more efficiently when released.
Whether your bow is composed of wood, carbon, or synthetic materials, it impacts a bow’s range. Hence, determining your bow’s composition material is essential to achieve a specific distance.
Environmental conditions
Another thing you have to consider is the external factor, which is the environmental conditions of where you are shooting. The farther the distance, the higher the chance the wind will deflect your arrow’s trajectory, hurting accuracy.
That’s why taking longer shots requires archers to compensate for wind.
With the above factors, you can manage your 50 lb recurve bow range expectations.
A 50 lb recurve bow is an ideal draw weight, especially for hunters who aim to join the big-game hunting season. It also promises a farther shooting range than those with lower draw weights.
Therefore, shooting a 50 lb recurve bow can be tempting, but always make sure you can pull it at full draw, or you’ll end up wasting money on a bow with the incorrect draw weight.
Bear Archery Super Kodiak
- Limb Cores made with maple laminate and overlaid with high-strength black fiberglass
- Crowned, cut-on center arrow shelf with leather side plate and bear hair arrow rest
- Dynaflight 97 Flemish Twist string included
- Handcrafted and layered with black and white fiberglass tips
Is a 50lb bow hard to draw?
Imagine lifting a 5-gallon water container with one hand. If you haven’t been training to pull that weight with ease, you will not have a fun time. You will need upper body strength and good back and core muscles.
Here’s a general guideline for draw weight suitability:
Beginners: 20-30lbs
Intermediate archers: 30-40lbs
Experienced archers: 40-50lbs and above
- AMO: 52
- Color: Shedua/Gray
- Dexterity: Right Hand
- Draw Weight: 35 Lbs., 40 Lbs., 45 Lbs., 50 Lbs., 55 Lbs.,60 lbs.
- AMO: 60
- Color: Shedua/Purple Heart/Green Glass
- Dexterity: Right Hand, Left Hand
- Draw Weight: 35 lbs., 40 lbs., 45 lbs., 50 lbs., 55 lbs.,60 lbs.
- AMO: 60
- Color: Shedua / Gray
- Dexterity: Right Hand, Left Hand
- Draw Weight: 35 lbs., 40 lbs., 45 lbs., 50 lbs., 55 lbs.,60 lbs.
Leave a Reply