Lowering the draw weight

[LostHawg]

I'm indifferent on the subject. I know a few people who draw 60 pounds that wound deer because they don't practice and follow a poke and hope mentality. I'd rather one person shoot a deer with a 30 pound bow that has a sharp head on a tuned arrow into the "pie plate", than a dozen shooting 70# with factory heads into "a deer".

Well, we can't make people practice or sharpen their broadheads. We can't make them match their arrow to their bow. I think this is more critical than dropping 10# of draw weight. But, to shoot a 30# bow with a poke and hope mentality is worse.

That's how I see it. But, if one wants to spend half their night tracking a deer or hog that may or may not be down, more power to them. Even the best of us do that from time to time. I can only affect what I'm capable of and hope Providence smiles on me when I release the string.

I'll support whatever stance the LSBA decides to take on the issue. Its a slippery slope for sure.

[MILNRICK]

My understanding of the initiative is limited. This appears to be a push to get more people involved in bowhunting -something we'd all agree is needed, however; I’m not sure lowering the minimum draw weight is a wise thing to do without having any checks or balances built into the initiative, namely mandatory bow hunter education.

I’m also relatively certain that a 30# bow is capable of killing most of the “Legal” game animals found in Texas, but only if the bow can deliver an arrow and a razor sharp broadhead into an with sufficient kinetic energy to achieve enough penetration to bring about a quick, clean, humane death.

As most of you have already pointed out, there's no way to actually make sure a hunter chosing to shoot 30# would outfit themselves with properly matched equipment. At least with IBEP under their wings, a new person who chooses to shoot a light draw bow would have been given a basic understanding of an animals anatomy and body positions for obtaining correct shot placement, kinetic energy, and the difference between sharp and razor sharp.

I guess what I said in a very round about way was that I’d support a slight reduction in draw weight, ONLY IF it was accompanied by a statewide requirement to attend and successfully complete Bowhunter Education (which could or would serve as a balance for the initiative.)

I do have one question, however, and I hope it comes out worded correctly. Is the LSBA position to support a reduction in draw weight in line with the findings from the poll on the same subject?

Great discussion – keep it going.

RH

[bustedassranch]

Originally Posted by MILNRICK

I do have one question, however, and I hope it comes out worded correctly. Is the LSBA position to support a reduction in draw weight in line with the findings from the poll on the same subject?



RH

I would hope that the LSBA has more than a poll to support the decision to reduce the draw weight. I have nothing to back up lowering the weight to 35 other than opinion. Are their any studies out there..maybe from another state that is a little more liberal?

[Huntinfool]

I think IBEP should be mandatory also. I'm sure that other states have done some studies. I know Michigan has a 30lbs. minimum and they have deer that are much heavier on the hoof than our deer and they don't have any problem with their draw weight minimum.