Trad bow shot placement

[Weaver.b]

I have caught the trad bug and have been practicing for about a year now. This will be my first season hunting with a recurve, my current arrow setup is a 525 grain gold tip hunter 400 with 250grains up front and I have razor sharp VPA 3 blades. With the Ranch Fairy set up being popular and seeing guys blowing through shoulders with compounds I just wondered what some of you experienced trad guys could tell me as far as what I can and can not get away with. I do not seek to be aiming for shoulders but what can I do if I get a quartering to shot opportunity and its looking like thats the best it will get?

[AppalachianArcher]

I think that setup should work fine, but I wouldn't chance a quartering to shot with that setup. It may work, but it may not. I would consider bumping that weight up to 650 or more with a 2 blade single bevel if you're expecting to take a quartering to shot. I've shot razor sharp 3 blades on a mid 500gr arrow with poor results in shoulders, and that's with a 52# recurve.

[Boogieman1]

On quartering away shots I often find myself in the off side shoulder. Normally don’t blow all the way through but I run it in to the fletching. I prefer broadside shots for easy pass throughs and good 2 hole blood trails. Doesn’t always work that way in the woods so I don’t hesitate on a quartering away shot. Quartering to shots are another story. I’ve taken 2 of em my entire life and didn’t recover either. I’m not mad at em so I elect to pass and live to fight another day.

I shot a giant boar this past feb with a 2016 aluminum and a 100 gr head. Believe it was around 520gr out of a 57# recurve. Most guys ask why the heck would I shoot such a set up. My answer is simple. I am very accurate with it and shoot it better than anything else. For me accuracy and shot placement is what kills. All that other stuff is great if you shoot it well. But 9 times out of 10 newcomers to a stick just make things harder on themselves trying all kinds of exotic builds. If you hit one in the goodies with your set up then yes u shouldn’t have any probs. If u end up in no mans land will it make a difference? Who knows.

[tundra@1]

I do not take what I consider a "tight" quartering away shot. I keep my shots within 25 yards. My arrow set up comes in at about 450. I shoot a 41lb Black Hunter recurve, with 4 inch 3 fletch, and 2 blade head, because of the weight I shoot. I have had good results with Zwickey, and Bear Razorhead, ,,,,,,,,, I shoot 3 under, and can get all of my draw length out of that bow, as it draws like butter.

Not an expensive bow, but very functional.......... For the record, my friend shoots a very expensive Border Bow. They are made in Scotland. He shot a his biggest elk to date, 2 years ago, on a draw unit, 23 years to draw, and shot a 7 by 7. Bow weight 39lbs, do not know what the arrow and head weight was, but he gets a lot out of that bow.

Last season he dropped a Shiras Moose with it...... You will be fine

[muddy]

For your 1st year with a stick I'd be waiting for broadside or slightly quartering away shots.

[Weaver.b]

Thanks for the replies! I am pumped to get out there and get my first trad kill