Elk hunting with a recurve

[gila_dog]

I applied for a New Mexico archery elk hunt this year. I will know in a few weeks if I got drawn. If I did, then I will be very happy, and will have to get my gear all lined up. I will be shooting an old Shakespeare Necedah recurve, 50 lb. I draw about 30 inches so I think I pull about 55 lb. I shoot this bow a lot and out to 25 yards I can keep them within a 6 inch area. Beyond that the arrows start dropping pretty fast. A 30 yard shot would be my maximum range. I shoot instinctively, no sights, but with a Cabela's mechanical release.

I would appreciate any advice on the best arrows and broadheads to use. I normally shoot 2216 aluminum arrows. 3 Rivers has a Woodsman 3 blade screw in broadhead that looks pretty good. Does anybody have any experience with these broadheads? Has anybody hunted  elk with a recurve bow in that draw weight, and had good, or bad, performance with it?

[streak]

I would be cautious using the three blade broadhead on elk with a 50 pound bow. Get some good carbon express spined for the 50 lb bow and get some top of the line two blade broadheads such as magnus or zwickey and try to balance your arrows to where they weigh in the neighborhood of 480 grains to 520 grains. If you have a good sharp two blade broadhead penetration will probably be alot better than the three blade on elk. Also if the three blade happens to hit bone it will probably be deflected whereas the two blade stands a better chance of deeper penetration. Woodsman are pretty good heads but with a 50 # bow the shot would have to be close to perfect for a good chance of bringing down an elk. And as we know a perfect shot is not always in the cards!

[gila_dog]

Thanks for the info. I will look at those 2 blade broadheads and arrows.

[Gurn]

You might want to look into the Zwickey No Mercy glue on head with a steel adapter. That will give you a lot of FOC.

[Cottonwood]

You might want to look into the Zwickey No Mercy glue on head with a steel adapter. That will give you a lot of FOC.

Very good 2 blade head, and you can't go wrong on the price of these old Zwickey's at all.

[theoldarcher]

Two elk to date: both with Zwickey Deltas, 140gr (I think).  On front of cedar arrows 30" long with 5" banana cut feathers.  Shot off 60" 60# Robertson StykBow recurve.  1) 6x6 bull @ 6 yards--arrow through both lungs, but didn't pass through.  He was down and recovered in about 30 yards.  2) HUGE cow @ 27+/- yards--arrow went through the heart and one lung and hung up on the off side.  She was down and recovered within 40 yards--ALL down hill!!!   

Love the cut-on-impact heads from Zwickey--used them for many, many years.  I pull a short draw of about 26", so my 60# performs not too many #s from your 50# drawn to 30".  Just place the shot in the boiler room, and let a sharp broadhead do the rest.

Best of luck to you.   Arch
 

[streak]

gila_dog,
I would also on the arrows try and fletch with the 5" feathers, you might find it interesting to try different fletching designs such as shield,parabolic or banana as theoldarcher mentioned.

[gila_dog]

Thanks for the good info. Well, I got drawn for the 2nd bow hunt (mid Sept). I had a fantastic hunt! I called 4 bulls in. Two came to 50 yds, one came to 25 yds, and one came to 15 yds. I couldn't see anything but head and neck on the two close ones so I passed up the shots. And 50 yds is just too far for me. But what  a thrill to bring those big boys in so close! I could see their shiny eyes looking right at me, and the snot on their noses. I was hunting alone, which makes it very difficult to fool a bull elk. They know right where you are when you call them.  They are horny, but they aren't stupid. Hunting with a partner really helps, with one guy calling 50 yds or so behind the shooter.

I bought the Zwickey 2 blade broadheads and put them on my usual Easton aluminum arrows. They shoot just fine. I think my bow and arrows are just right. So I just need to stay in shape and do a lot of scouting this summer and while shed hunting in the spring. What to look for? Scrapes and wallows. The bulls tear up little pine trees during the rut and love to roll in mud. That's where they will be during bow season. The trick is to find their bedding areas. That's where they go before sun up. That means climbing up out of the meadows and catching them before they bed down.

I'm hooked! I'll try it again this year.