OK guys, not too many ladies make it into these ranges with archery, but I will be very soon. My goal of course is to do a cape buffalo one day with a bow. I have every reason to believe I will achieve this goal.

My current bow has served me well and I will probably always keep it. It is a Parker Ultra Lite Pro and I have maxed it's 60 pound limbs to 65 with some twist on the cable. I can easily pull 65 pounds and now it is time to look for a new bow. One thing I have really liked about this bow is it is truly a light weight bow.

I will certainly look at Parker's line of higher poundage bows but am looking for your input as to bows you know draw smoothly at such high poundage. I anticipate the transition to 70 pounds to be no problem. How high I can go is unknown to me but I am betting I can kill a buffalo with an 80 pound bow. I killed a bison bull easily at 60 pounds. Hopefully my joints will be able to handle the heavy pull.

So tell me what you shoot, why you recommend it or what you would NOT recommend either. Do not spare the details either!

The only really high poundage bow I have shot was an old Bear Delta V set at 101#. I shot it 5 times, and was pretty tough.

Can't really help you out with a bow suggestion, as I'm shooting in the 70 lb. range now. Did have a friend years ago with a Pearson Spoiler at 100# - don't know how in the world he ever shot anything with it - especially if it was one of those cold hunts.

One thing you might want to keep in mind is the letoff % if you are hoping for a record book entry. Last time I looked, Pope and Young was 65% max. letoff, which is less than most of the new compounds on the market.

Good luck.

Ann I just went through this a few days ago. I looked at Mathews and Bowtech, especially the VFT series. Bowtech has one called the Samson that goes from 70-100 lbs and its not too heavy. I did settle on a Mathews Ultra2 because a deal came up while at the store. Those two brands would work for you go to a pro shop and tried them out and see what feels go to you.

Thanks so far! I do not anticipate having to go in the 100 pound range so am not interested in that.

Coon - That Bowtech sounds like it is worth looking at.

Ann, I too plan on hunting Buff some day with a bow. I will look hard at the Mathews Safari at 90 to 100. I plan on shooting 90 and will also look at other models like the LX.
I am shooting my 2nd and 3rd Mathews while my son shoots my first. I see no reason to change now.
I have never seen an easier bow to set up and tune. They stay that way also!
I have been shooting for over 30 years and have been around a lot of archers and seen alot of bows but none like the Mathews. In North Texas, you can go to any 3D shoot or Feild archery turny and 90% of the bows are Mathews.
I know of no one that has ever shot one and did not like it. They make a qaulity product that perform well on the range and in the field.
My next bow will be a Mathews.
Now.......before the Mathew bashing starts, I know what I know and there are other fine bows on the market, but...... look at the stats and Mathews stands out and its not just beter advertisment.
Give on a go Ann and let us know what you decide.
What arrow shaft and head are you looking at using on that buff?

Bo-n-aro, thats the model I was trying to think of I talked to a guy today that was getting ready to order one. Its listed in the catalog but not on their website.

Ann the bowtech are real nice. There is a whole section about buff hunting with a bow in the African Hunting section just do a search thats what I did last week, make sure you read what Samon wrote, the bowtech are real fast.

Howdy Ann
I would give the BowTech VFT line a good looking at , I'm shooting a Samson at 100lbs right now and from all the heavy bows I have shot it is the most pleasent to shoot , low shock and quiet considering the energy. The guys at BowTech
will bend over backwards to make you happy with your bow.
I personaly don't see any problem with killing a Buff with a 70-80lb bow , but your setup has to be correct , good broadheads and perfect arrow flight will make it or break it.
You have to remember that it doesen't matter how fast or the KE that you bow is shooting , if you hit the shoulder bone you diden't do anything but upset the animal. A good broadhead like the Muzzy's offer a great tip to help break a bone in case you hit a rib , my first choice would be a fixed blade cut on contact like the SteelForce or Delta's.

Depending on your draw length you should be able to get a VFT to shoot real close to 300fps if not more , and at 80lbs that should produce about 80lbs KE , drop the arrow weight to 350gr and you would only be able to get 65-70lbs

The VFT will produce 330fps from a 30" draw bow at 5gr per pound of draw weight , from what I have seen you can subtract about 7fps per inch of draw length you take from 30" so a 25" draw should produce about 290fps or so .

Their is a new arrow on the market that is made for the new High Country bows that is spined for 80lb bows and only weighs about 3gr per inch. I shot one through my bow a few times and was getting 376fps with it , BUT , you are basicaly dry firing you rig. High Country makes their all carbon bows now to take this sort of stress and warrnties their bows to shoot 3gr per LB of draw weight. You might want to check thew out as well. NOW High Country has made a bad name for them selves in the past few years but now that Spencer has taken over the works again they are making good bows. I saw one of their new bows at the AMO show this year , it was set up in a shooting machine and they were dry firing it , it would last about 600 shots before the string would break , they would replace the string and let it go again.

I've hunted nothing but deer with a bow, but nothing larger.

Got a new Parker EZ Daw 33 today. At 70 # of draw it is easy to draw and showed 83% left off. Set it back to 65 # because I got complete pass throughs on the last 5 deer taken with a 65# pull bow ... enough is enough.

The previous bow was an old twin cam Martin Phantom which maxed at 80#, but was a horse to draw and hold.

The Parker seems to be about 3 generations beyond the old Martin.

Serious question ...

How much pull do you want the bow to have? What is necessary for heavier game?

Thanks,

Hi Ann,
I've been left behind a bit equipment wise. I shoot a High Country Supreme @ 80 lbs. Most of the new bows produce the same arrow speed at 65 or 70 lbs. If you worked up to a bow that ranges between 70 and 80 lbs you should have no problem with your dream hunt. I would have a tendency to go for a heavier arrow at a little less velocity for deep penetration with a either a cut on contact or the Thunderhead open on contact broadhead which will give you the same arrow flight as your field points. The Thunderhead is very strong which I had to see for myself and was left with a good impression.
Take good care,
Dave

Mike & 470 M,

I will defintily be looking at the EZ Draw. Might be just the ticket but I won't know until I try several bows. I know some of you have mentioned that HC has made improvements but I still would not consider them due to the past. Matthews is out of the question for two reasons, one due to too much hype and high pricing over the years. And I've seen a lot of them come into the bowshop I frequent with tuning problems too. It appears the cable or string rubs on the cams.

470 M- You are correct on the broadhead issue and that and arrows will also be looked at. I was impressed with the Steelforce heads I recently tried.

Thanks for all of the input guys, I really appreciate it.

Ann,

There is a good sized bow club here. A number of its members are very, very serious about equipment. Over the years the best local supplier has pushed Mathews. Good bows, but not at all inexpensive.

In the club there are two brothers. One acquired a $1000 Mathews. The other acquired a new high end Parker. Both are happy. One is simply richer

I have to agree with 470 M-. I tend to shoot a carbon arrow with a heavier point than most. I think that is adding something to the penetration that results.

The WV season starts on 18 October. So ... your stories of great hunts are drivin' us crazy here (Please keep posting them though. They give us hope too.)

Ann, if you find one type of bow that you like check on e-bay there are alot of bows for sale there. In fact I just won a Bowtech Black Knight for half the price new. So check it out!

Ann - If your're not weight train yet, I really feel you need to start. I've used the following exersize to work up from a 60# recurve to a 76#. I'm still at it working toward 85# for my Buff hunt.

In addition to a full work out include this bow specific movement, done on a cable cross over machine. (Health club or gym)

Set one handle at your shoulder height. You will stand with your bow hand toward the machine. Grab the handle with your string hand. Take one styep back so that your string hand is across your chest(as it would be at the start of drawing your bow)
Now, draw the handle back as you would draw your bow to your anchor point. Pause & hold for a 3 count. Now, drive your elbow back a bit further and hold it for a 5 count. Repete 10 times for each hand. Do 3 sets for each arm. When the tenth rep is easy, in that you can hold it comfortably longer than 5 count increase the wt.

If you'll do this faithfully twice week you be able to jump 10# in draw wt. in 3 months. Of course your sucess with be based one your efforts.

To shoot a heavy bow one needs to be able to hold it at full draw calming in full control. This exersize with help.

Hi Ann,
I should have clarified as to the increased arrow weight. I was meaning weight as in grains per pound of bow weight rather than a heavy broadhead. For Cape Buffalo I would think you are looking for a twenty five to thirty yard shot max. Arrow weight will be an asset without the trajectory making that big of a difference. At SCI I talked with a couple of the guys selling archery hunts and it seemed they were over water holes from a blind. I really hope that you are able to see this dream through. I would like to video the entire show.
Take good care,
Dave

Thanks Boss K, that is a good idea on the weight training. I figured I'd have to do something like that to get comfortable with the high poundage bows.

Dave, even though I was not able to finish my 45-70 buff hunt this year I have every reason to believe I will be able to do a close up stalk on buffalo. We were very close many times but just not close to a good mature bull before I had to end the hunt.

Ann - Another thought, you might what to work up beyound the draw wt. that you'll hunt with. If your're going to hunt with 80# get a bow that can be set to 90#.

This is a common method used by trad bowhunters. Shoot 3-D's all summer the drop down for deer season.

I'd talk to some PH's. Ask 'em how much bow a Buff needs. I'm thinking 100 lbs is over kill. Mind you, too much is better than too little.

Hi Ann,
It sounds like one great adventure and I hope it all happens for you.
Take good care,
Dave

I've got a Mathews Safari Custom for sale - its 70-100 lbs, and the cam is identical to a Black Max (arguably the fastest production bow). I put one on top of the other, and I couldn't tell the difference.

I dont remember whether I've got a 29 or 30" cam on it right now, I switched back and forth between the two.

36" axle to axle, 7 1/2 brace height (very forgiving). The riser of this bow is very stout!!

Very good condition. A little cable / string wear, nothing big.

I'd take $495 for it. List is about a grand, i got it for about $850 with tax...

I was shooting it up to 87 lbs.... and I'm only 5'4, 150 lbs.... Its not that big of a deal to learn to shoot heavy weight, just start working out! Work your back especially....

Thanks for the continuing advice!

Fortunately I have a very strong back, I am a country girl after all. I cut wood nearly year round and my chain sawing efforts are a wonderful contributor to back strength! Steering a 17.3 hand horse also helps, he's no weakling being half belgian and half thoroughbred!

After having the limbs crack on my favorite 13 year old Hoyt, I had them make new limbs for the bow. It was origionally 65 to 80#'s, but with the new limbs turned tight, it pulled 97#'s. I shot it some just for fun. Chrony'd carbon arrows at 313 fps. Not an easy bow to shoot well turned up that high, but certainly doable if you work up to the weight and practice. I did get a kick watching my buddy struggle and never being able to pull it back.

GSXR7/11
If you still have that Mathews Safari grade bow send me an E-mail at MDP57@aol.com..eyedoc

hoyt maks a killer bow thats draws smooth is deadly accurate and almost all modles right from the factory go up to 80 lbs

right now im shooting a custom hoyt hypertec at 95 lbs with carbon express hunter arrows with 3 grain per inch inserts and 145 grain heads toatle weight is 610 grains seed 5 feet from bow is 268-270 fps.

you can also use 2219 with 1918 in side for a combined weight of 700+grains not including head vains and insert.

700 Nitro - I've been working with the carbon express hunters too. I was a bit concerned about spine when using a 1918 inside. How did your set up fly?

What I did was take a brass bolt, cut off the head and thread it into the back of the head incert. a 2 1/2 pc. of threaded brass was about 70 grs.

I shoot longbows and recurves, the heaviest is a Black Widow drawing 86#@30". Used to shoot AL but I've since gone to the Vapor carbons in the 5000 spine I load them with aquarium tubing from walmart and wensel woodsman b-heads for a total weight of 780 gr. Fly like darts and hit like a freight train. I don't imagine I'll ever go to africa but I use this setup on elk here in colorado and they blow through em like paper bags.

Just a few comments from my past experience with bow hunting for you to consider. I am not any expert though and this is just from what I have experienced with myself and my clients. I have booked several bow hunters to Africa and have guided a few myself for for lion, leopard and buffalo. The bows that I have seen work in Africa are the PSE, Hoyt, Matthews and High Country. These seem to be the bows that I have seen the most. As you all know the African animals are very tough, but just as with a rifle, if you have the power, the weight and the placement, you will get any animal in Africa. The hardest animal to shoot with a bow in my opinion is the rhino. The cats are easy and the buffalo not bad at all. If you are interested in buffalo hunting with a bow, then you should be pulling 80-90 pounds and practice for a 20-40 yard shot. The rib cage on a buffalo is tough, so you also need a heavy arrow with a durable broadhead that will cut easy and go deep inside. It does not really matter what kind or name brand of bow you get for hunting dangerous game, but it is all on the person that is using that bow. I have had clients shoot a PSE and wound all of their game, and then another client with a cheaper bow and kill everything with one arrow. So, it is the same as anything else and it all depends on how good the bow hunter is with their own bow and arrow. For plains game, then all you need is 70 pounds.

Buffalo hunting is very exciting when using a bow as you have to really get in closed. The best countries to bow hunt for buffalo are Zimbabwe and Tanzania.

I have a great video that was professionally done by one of my clients that hunted Tanzania with a bow and took lion, leopard, buffalo, hippo and crocodile with his PSE bow. The second video is of the same client in South Africa where he took rhino and around 17 plains game with his bow.

Again, I am no expert and just discussin what I have seen with my clients and their experiences.

What a 70# trad bow can do:

(#2) What a 70# Bow can do:

I hate to throw a wet blanket on the discussion here, but you do not need a 100# bow to kill a cape buff. Ralph Ciacarella killed one with a 60#(I think) on one of his videos. That was true in the old days of very inefficiant bows. A 70-75 Lb. will do just fine. I shot an 80# Oneida Aero Force for years and now have pretty serious damage in my shoulder due to too heavy a draw weight. As far as broadheads, most PH's insist on a solid 2 blade, Zwickey, Magnus, Wensel, ect. Do NOT, in any circumstances even consider a mechanical head, even if you could find a PH stupid enough to let you try. Good luck on the buff hunt!!

Thanks TJC, I am pretty certain I can work up to at least 75 pounds. But my goal does not include shoulder damage, I just want to see if I can do it.

I know bison is a different animal, but I had no trouble killing one at 60 pounds.