minimum draw weight?

[Iglow]

Not seeing a number lbs in the regulations, is there a minimum weight in Tn.?
If not, what would be the absolute lowest weight doable with a stick bow IYO?
That Eichler guy shot an elk I think and a black bear with a 40 lb Bear recurve , so if 40 lbs will work for a 600 lbs elk would say 30 lbs work for a 80 lbs doe?
What do y'all think?

 

[Buzzard Breath]

I have some 35 @28 carbon fiber limbs for my ILF bow that I wouldn't hesitate to use deer hunting. I draw right at 28 inches. I can easily shoot a heavier bow, and do. But, if something were to happen, I'd drop down to these.

 

[Iglow]

You know, maybe it's not a bad thing that you can't shoot through shoulders, say you're a little high and forward and you get into that shoulder blade, with lower poundage the arrow doesn't stick and besides a scare and a little sore for a few days he's none the worse but do the same thing with high poundage and he's got an arrow stuck in him and likely as not it doesn't end well.
I know from experience cause I did it, the arrow stuck then flopped when he turned to run, it was hanging straight down when he stopped at the edge of the powerline. 2 weeks later I got a pic of him and you could clearly see the healed cut on the shoulder. A couple of inches back and 3 down and I'm 99% certain with that same bow he would been taking a truck ride that morning.

 

[Ladys man]

I would say 40lbs, I'm not letting my son hunt until he's 10, he's 8 now. He has to be able to pull 40lbs and shoot consistently.

I believe lower poundage will absolutely kill but 40 is the rule on my house.

 

[scn]

40# would be the ethical minimum for me.

 

[Lost Lake]

I gotta admit, getting below #40 would make me a touch nervous.

A friends son hunted for several years with a Black Widow recurve at #37 draw weight. He killed a few nice bucks during that time and penetration wasn't an issue. Pretty strong guy but felt better with lower draw weight.

Last season, my best friend was able to hunt with traditional bows for the first time since the mid 2000's due to arthritis, and his bow was #38 pounds at his draw. He cleanly killed a good sized doe with an almost straight down shot with complete penetration. We found the arrow stuck in the ground at the hit site after a 50 yard blood trail.

Razor sharp two blade broadheads, perfect arrow flight, and close shot distances helped greatly.

 

[Iglow]

I think helping those lighter bows out with 10 strand d97 strings and minimal silencers plus absolute perfect tuning in effect gives you more weight. Just wring every ounce of energy possible out of the poundage available.

 

[Lost Lake]

I think helping those lighter bows out with 10 strand d97 strings and minimal silencers plus absolute perfect tuning in effect gives you more weight. Just wring every ounce of energy possible out of the poundage available.

Yessir.

Modern string material and a move toward heavier arrows, especially broadheads, turns those lighter weight bows into better bows.