proper bow hunting equipment

[stcif]

Hello,

I am new here and recently back into archery. Last Christmas I bought my 13 year old son a Diamond Edge bow. He has it set at about 40 - 42 pounds, 22.5" draw length. He is shooting Carbon Express arrows (don't know exact length or weight). I chronographed these arrows at about 189 fps. I am wondering if this is adequate for whitetail deer. I recently purchased a set of Wasp bullet broadheads, fixed blade, 75 grain.

I am very impressed with the quality of this bow and believe this should be adequate to take a whitetail considering my old PSE Stratoflight killed deer, and shot slower. I realize speed isn't the only factor but I'm thinking this Diamond will produce enough energy to kill deer. I am concerned though if he strikes a shoulder bone or something like that. Any professional opinions would be appreciated. Thanks - Scott

[Tony]

Scott welcome to the forums.

your sons bow will be just fine for deer hunting, as long as he puts the arrows where it counts. if by chance he strikes the shoulder, then there will be a problem. but for most of us its a problem when we hit the shoulder as well.

the wasp broadhead is a good one and im glad to see you picked a cut on contact broadhead. i shoot Muzzy 75s and they fly really great for me. i dont feel the weight of my broadhead limits me to taking deer.

for me accuracy is far more important than KE. hope you both have a good season.

Tony

[bighoytman]

Well a couple years back My son kill a buck with a Alpine Micro bow, 24 inch draw,3555 gold tip,38 pounds, 207fps,with a 100 grain Mangus two blade head.The shot was 20 yards came in on left side very tight to shoulder blade and out through center of right side shoulder.The arrow was hanging out all the way to the gold tip 3555 numbers.The deer crashed at 60 yards.I hope this helps.

[stcif]

Thanks for replies. He practices a lot and hopefully he even gets a shot this season. Then if the shot presents itself, I will hope he doesn't hit the shoulder! Good huntin' to you all.

[dbHunterNY]

It looks like you have some answers. I will tell you though that I just got my girlfriend into archery and got her an Edge bow. She really likes it. Good luck to you and your son this season.

- Dan

[stcif]

Thanks. I was so impressed with my son's Diamond Edge that I bought a leftover 2007 Diamond liberty. It's hard to believe, but it shoots a little better than my Stratoflight I bought in 1987.

[HOYTnMUZZYboy]

First off welcome to the fourms! Secondly the archery equipment today is top notch, reguardless of brand. I personally shoot 100 grain 3 and 4 blade muzzys. Im shooting Easton 340 epics with blazers (waiting for my axis arrows). 2006 Hoyt Trykon set at 70# shooting 285FPS. Like a few others have said, its not all about speed. Bone is bone and its tough to get through reguardless the equip. you are usein. There is alot of hype to which product is better or this BH cuts better then that one, but what it all boils down to is arrow placement. Look at the indians, they were useing rocks as BH's. Practice practice practice that perfect shot. Reguardless what kinda traget he is shooting at set it at odd distances, sure we can make a great shot when we know our targets at 10 20 and 30 yards or however his sights are set, but knowing where to put that pin when the deer is say at 25 yards. Once again, it wont matter if the BH is gold plated or a cheap 3 dollar BH when its stickin in the ground with no blood on it. I guess the point im trying to make is it all starts with shot placement, if there is poor shot placement then none of the other things matter. I dont think anyone can ever practice to much, I have had buddies of mine that think il shoot a week b4 the season and il be good to go. I just laugh, then they get mad when they ask if they can hunt one of my stands, ha ha, then i laugh again. I know I have kinda rambled on and im sure your a top notch hunter. But I know when i was little all i wanted to do was get out in the tree and hunt. Dont get me wrong i love just being out in the woods, but as we all know, we owe it to the animlas were hunting to make a quick clean harvest of that animal. Sorry for rambleing and prolly getn off subject. Its just my 2 cents for what there worth. Hope something in this small book i just wrote helps :D

Best of luck to you and your son this season!

Stay safe!

[Swamphunter]

Some good answers for you there....welcome to the forums. Now get your son a user name and get him on here!

[stcif]

Yup, I'll agree that was a long post. I read every word. Well worth the read. I agree 100%. The reality is this. Shot placement is everything. As I wrote, I just got back into shooting archery. I am an avid gun hunter. I read about this bullet and that bullet. I wonder if this bullet is worth the money etc... I hunt with a guy who shoots bullets that cost a third of what I do. My father used to tell me the deer doesn't know what bullet hit him. You need to put it in the right place! I am not saying some equipment isn't better than others just sometimes I get a little too wrapped up in the hype of this product or that product. That's what makes this sport fun though.

As for practice, my son shoots a lot. Sometimes three times a day. His friend shoots with him and since they shoot so much I shoot a lot now to. I have never shot this much and owe it to my son for getting me out there.

Thanks for more good advice.