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Warbows & Hunting

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Adam Keiper:
I'd like to hear from anyone who uses or has used a heavyweight (80#+) ELB and to-the-ear draw for hunting.  How is your accuracy compared to a "normal" 50-70# hunting weight bow and conventional corner of mouth draw at close range hunting distances?  Can you comment on treestand useage vs. ground hunting?  Has the extra bow length been a hindrance in the woods or in the presence of game?  How about the same for the draw weight and longer draw length?  Has being still for hours on end in cool weather affected your ability to draw or shoot when the blink of opportunity has presented itself?  Can you elaborate on actual hunting shots or kills?  I just finished my heaviest bow to date and am pondering the possibliities.   :)

Davepim:

--- Quote from: Adam Keiper on July 05, 2009, 10:50:41 pm ---I'd like to hear from anyone who uses or has used a heavyweight (80#+) ELB and to-the-ear draw for hunting.  How is your accuracy compared to a "normal" 50-70# hunting weight bow and conventional corner of mouth draw at close range hunting distances?  Can you comment on treestand useage vs. ground hunting?  Has the extra bow length been a hindrance in the woods or in the presence of game?  How about the same for the draw weight and longer draw length?  Has being still for hours on end in cool weather affected your ability to draw or shoot when the blink of opportunity has presented itself?  Can you elaborate on actual hunting shots or kills?  I just finished my heaviest bow to date and am pondering the possibliities.   :)

--- End quote ---

Adam,
    I am not a bowhunter, but from reading books written by old-time bowhunters, I can see that in the US, the style of bowhunting has changed radically over the last 70 or 80 years or so, from a roving/stalking style to one of "assassination" from stands and hides. The length of an ELB makes it tricky for climbing or dense woodland, but not impossible. There's no reason for a long draw to be less accurate for game shooting - they're both instinctive styles -  but it's a steeper learning curve. Up to around 30-35 yards you should be able to shoot pretty accurately with an ELB; the original broadheads of the medieval period were enormous, with extremely long cutting edges, so maybe the pinpoint accuracy needed with modern broadheads wasn't as necessary. What would be more of problem is, as you mentioned, keeping muscles warmed up if you are in a stand for long periods. However, it is also possible that hunting bows were less heavy in draw weight than warbows.

Dave

nickf:
I do certainly believe that hunting bows were lighter. 140-200lbs for hunting is like using 12"naval guns to hunt rabbits. I guess they were in the 50#-90# range, and made from elm, wych hazel and other whitewoods, because of the scarcity of good yew.

Drawing to the ear seems very likely to me.

Nick

youngbowyer:
I agree with Nick the poundage would be too high and if you are in a tree stand you would want a shorter and lighter bow.

Bill Skinner:
Prior to WWII, Howard Hill used a 105#, 72" long bow for hunting.  He used a 28" draw.  He was well over 6' tall, he delibertly shortened his draw, he said he was more accurate with a shorter draw length.

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