As a deer hunter, you want every edge you can get while hunting.
There are many types of bows out there but not every one is specialized for hunting.
You may like longbows. However, a longbow is unwieldy in the woods and lacks the ability to be kitted out with a sight, stabilizers, etc.
Hunting bows can offer amazing deer hunting experience and can help you take down a deer with a single shot in the right place.
However, being designed for deer hunting doesn’t mean they are incompatible with other purposes such as target shooting.
Below are the most trusted and reliable bows for deer hunting.
After that, you’ll find information to help you select the best bow for you!
The Best Bows for Deer Hunting
Does Deer Hunting Need a Specific Bow Type?
Deer hunting is what most bowhunters prefer as their chosen game.
Though it’s not really necessary to get a specific bow for deer hunting, you can have a better experience if you use a bow which is specifically designed for deer hunting.
Experienced archers are likely to be able to harvest deer with compounds, recurves, or even longbows.
However, getting a specific bow for deer hunting can help you if you are an entry-level hunter.
Also, if you’re a rifle-season deer hunting, getting a deer-hunting bow allows you to take advantage of an expanded hunting season without having to put in too much more effort.
Required Features for Deer Hunting Bows
There are several features a bow need to have to be able to take down a deer while hunting.
To stat with, the most essential factor to look for while choosing a bow for deer hunting is the draw weight of the bow.
Minimum Bow Draw Weight
Draw weight refers to the pull weight of the bow as applied to your hand on the bowstring while drawing the bow.
The draw weight of a bow usually increases with longer draw lengths.
If you are thinking about shooting at whitetail deer, it’s recommended to use a bow with a 40 pound draw weight1.
However, you will require a bow which can offer a bow weight above 50 pounds for elk or moose.
Therefore, it is good to choose a bow which a maximum draw weight of 70 pounds.
With the let-off inherent to modern compound bows, getting a high-weight bow gives you a higher arrow speed without extra fatigue.
Draw Length
Draw length refers to the distance from the riser to the bow’s string when at full draw.
This measurement is based on your arm length and chest width, so you should find your draw length before buying a hunting bow.
Once you have that measurement, compare it with the bow you’re considering. So long as you’re between the bow’s minimum and maximum you’re good to go.
Most adults have a draw length of 25″ to 30″, which is within the capabilities of most hunting bows.
Buyer’s Guide to Choosing the Best Hunting Bow
Now that you’ve gone through the individual reviews of the 5 best bows for deer hunting, you might be interested in figuring out which bow meets your requirements.
Before buying a compound bow for hunting, you need to know about several features included in the most popular and reliable bows available out there.
To help you choose the best compound hunting bow, we’ve provided you with this buyer’s guide explaining those features.
Hand Orientation
Hand orientation is one of the most essential and underrated factors while choosing the best compound hunting bow for you.
Sometimes people look for other features and skip the hand orientation of the bow and end up getting the wrong bow.
You won’t be able to use the bow properly if you get a bow with the opposite hand orientation!
Sometimes people overthink this and get the opposite bow because they think “right handed” means the arrow goes on the right side of the bow. This is incorrect.
A right-handed bow is set up for right-handed archers. The arrow rest is on the left.
Similarly, left-handed bows have the arrow rest on the right and are usable by left-handed people.
If you’re ambidextrous or cross-eye dominant then go with your dominant eye rather than dominant hand.
Bow Length
While talking about the length of bows, you shouldn’t relate it with the draw length. Draw length and bow length are totally different.
The length of bow refers to the total length of bow from one end to the another.
While looking for a compound bow with suitable length, it is good to look for the one which seems to be compatible with the size of your body.
If you’re taller than average, get a bow that’s longer than average.
Bow length is important for longbows but, thanks to the cam design of compound bows, isn’t really that important for us right now.
Let-off Rate
Let-off refers to how much of the bow’s draw weight you hold when at full draw, expressed as a percentage of the draw weight.
For example, while using a bow with the draw weight of 60 pounds along with a let-off rate of 80%, you will have 12 pounds of weight at the maximum draw.
It is good to look for a bow with a lower let-off rate if you are a beginner so you can build strength.
Out in the field, however, a higher let-off percentage will give you more time to aim at the deer without becoming fatigued.
Bow Cam Design
Cams, also called eccentric wheels, are what make compound bows “compound” bows2.
You might have found about the material used for the bow cams in the individual reviews of several bows.
The material of the cams doesn’t really affect the bow’s performance, only how much it weighs.
However, looking for a bow with aggressive cam design can be a good choice to obtain the fastest arrow speed.
On the other hand, such bows can be more difficult to draw.
Aggressive cams are therefore better for more advanced deer hunters.
Final Words
With the information above, we believe you are now able to choose the best bow for your hunting purposes.
Bear Archery’s Cruzer G2 is a great choice for most people who want a great deer hunting bow.
Check out the Diamond Archery Infinite Edge Pro for better performance or the PSE Archery Uprising if you want a versatile bow that will grow with you as you improve in skill.
So long as the bow fits your draw length and hand orientation, any of the bows above will bring you success when hunting!
Frequently Asked Questions
Resources
- https://mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/deer/deer-hunting-getting-started/basic-archery-equipment
- https://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/pdf/hunted/chapter_11.pdf
