We can’t ignore the fact that bowhunting is a sport predominately populated by men, although women are now, thankfully, making up a good portion of that number. Being a largely male pursuit means the bowhunting world has often succumbed to the “more is better” philosophy, which we have all (at one time or another) been guilty of. Nowhere has this been more evident than with bow draw weights.
While it is true, simply from a physics perspective, that heavier bow draw weights produce higher arrow velocities from heavier arrows, which directly translates to greater downrange kinetic energy, harder hits and deeper penetration. But, the truth is that lower weight bows can get the job done quite efficiently with the proper setup.
Consider, for example, TV host and accomplished bowhunter Michele Eichler. Michele has taken big-game animals across the world, from African game to North American moose and elk, and pretty much everything else on down the line. She’s also a small-statured woman with a short draw length who shoots a bow in the 45-pound draw weight range.
No one can argue with the success that Michele enjoys with her low-weight, short-draw setup. Now, compare that to the guys with 30-plus-inch draws who like to run their hunting bows in the 65 to 70-plus-pound range. They get a lot of bang for those heftier rigs, such as flatter trajectories for long-distance shooting and phenomenal penetration from their heavier hunting arrows. And we’ll be the first to say that there is nothing wrong with the “more is better” mindset in this regard, so long as the bowhunter can effectively manage such robust hunting rigs.
The thing is, do we need to? For more and more bowhunters, both male and female, the question really comes down to, “Can I?”
The unfortunate truth in the general hunting community is that we are an aging lot, with fewer and fewer new recruits entering the bowhunting fold. For many of us, the effects of age and the accumulation of life’s physical impacts on our bodies mean that an increasing number of our ranks can no longer effectively shoot high-weight bows. Shoulder and back injuries make heavy bows difficult or downright impossible to handle, and we are now faced with scaling back on the draw weight rather than give up our passion for bowhunting. Most women and youth bowhunters, of course, are not able to manage heavy draw weights at any rate.
As a result of the aging bowhunter demographics, the rise of women bowhunters and an influx of youth hunters (many of whom have discovered the love of archery through participation in the National Archery in the Schools Program), we are seeing an increasing number of archers focusing on bows with draw weights south of 55 pounds and draw lengths dipping into the 24- to 27-inch range.
But can these bows hunt? Absolutely.
For a little perspective on the draw weight thing, it helps to look back in time. Not a long way back, but at least into the 1960s and 1970s, what many consider to be the heyday of field archery and recurve bow manufacturing. At that time, 45- to 50-pound draw weights were the average for hunting bows. This was the “comfortably effective” shooting weights for most hunters and a whole pile of big-game animals were taken with these bows using cedar and straight-wall aluminum arrows. We mention this so that bowhunters today who are looking at lower weight/shorter draw length alternatives will realize that there is nothing wrong about making this adjustment.
That said, bowhunters with shorter draw lengths and lighter draw weights can still benefit from the same in-flight arrow characteristics and terminal performance of heavier gear through proper arrow shaft selection.
Earlier this year, the folks at Easton decided to address the needs of smaller stature bowhunters and those veteran bowhunters looking to dial back their draw weights, by introducing a new product in the company’s popular Axis arrow linexe2x80x94the Axis SPT.
The focus of the Axis SPT is to bring the benefits of a micro-diameter carbon hunting shaft to those who shoot lower bow weight/shorter arrow length combinations. These arrows are available in the three arrow deflections (spine ratings) typical of bows set up for these weights and lengths (roughly 45- to 60-pound bows covering draw lengths of 23 to 27 inches).
The Axis SPT is a 5mm micro-diameter carbon shaft, meaning it delivers on two key ingredients needed for a high-performance hunting arrow. First, the small diameter creates less friction when it enters an animal because there is less surface area compared to larger, more standard-size carbon arrows. Another advantage of that thinner shaft profile is that it is smaller than the diameter of most broadhead ferrules. That bigger ferrule allows the smaller-diameter Axis SPT to more easily slip through the wound channel, thereby increasing penetration and the potential for pass-through shots in big-game animals.
The other huge benefit of the Axis SPT’s lithe cross-sectional dimension is realized in flight. Just as the reduced surface area allows the arrow to slip more easily through an animal due to the minimized friction, so too, does the Axis SPT punch through the atmosphere with less effort than larger shafts. That means less energy lost to atmospheric friction and more available energy for penetration once the arrow reaches the target.
Decreased wind resistance is another gain with the Axis SPT’s 5mm diameter. When shooting in a crosswind, wind drift can be significant on large-diameter arrows, even at relatively short distances. Since the Axis SPT has such a small cross-sectional diameter, wind drift is reduced, making the arrows more accurate and better ensuring you hit your intended point of aim. That’s important for any bowhunting scenario, but is especially so if you are shooting at longer distances, such as is often encountered when hunting Western game where prevailing winds can be relentless.
Another consideration in hunting arrows is weight. Adequate weight is essential to penetration, and that is a big concern for astute bowhunters who are shooting lower weight bows and/or shorter draw lengths. The Axis SPT addresses this concern with its generous weight rating. The 700, 600 and 500 Axis SPTs boast grains-per-inch of 6.1, 7.2 and 8.1, respectively.
According to the International Bowhunting Organization (IBO), a hunting arrow’s weight in grains should be equal to or exceed the bow’s draw weight multiplied by five. The Axis SPT hits or exceeds that standard when fitted with a typical 100-grain broadhead. For example, a bowhunter shooting a 23-inch 700 Axis SPT (total length) with a bow weight of 45 pounds would still exceed the IBO weight standard. Of course, many bowhunters looking to maximize penetration will go one step further and add additional weight up front to increase impact energy and to achieve a higher Front of Center (F.O.C.) weight distribution. Since the Axis SPT uses Easton’s X HIT inserts, shooters can opt for the Brass X HIT Break-Off 8-32 inserts and add an extra 50 to 75 grains. Combined with an exceptional penetrating broadhead, such as the SEVR Titanium 1.5 mechanical, low-weight, short-draw bowhunters can achieve accurate flight characteristics and lethal terminal performance on most any big-game animals.
Smart bowhunters in both compound and traditional bow camps have learned that there is a difference between “the heaviest bow that you can shoot,” and “the heaviest bow that you can shoot effectively.” For many, that means rolling back the weight due to physical challenges. Smaller-statured shooters, of course, have their own challenges in setting up equipment that will ensure quick and ethical kills in the field. Regardless of the direction that you are approaching the challenge, an arrow that takes into consideration the needs of lower draw weight and shorter draw length setups, such as the Axis SPT, provides the logical solution.
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