My first question is do you really think you'll need to shoot 80 lbs at some point? Most people don't. I have the PSE EVO NTN 33 with 70 lb limbs. I have it dialed back to 58 but can't imagine ever needing to go beyond 70. The 70 lb limbs I believe can go down 50.5 lbs if I remember correctly giving you more room on the lower end with still plenty of poundage on the high end.

It really is a great bow and I love mine. I have a question though, do you have anyone nearby that can help you work on the bow once you buy it? If not you may want to look at bows from a different perspective and look for ones that are the easiest to work on yourself. You may also need to factor in the cost of a bow press and other equipment you'll need to work on your bows.

Highly jealous of your hunting opportunities in NZ though. My wife was there for work last year and she's been holding it over my head ever since. Hope to get there sometime in the not too distant future.

 

My first question is do you really think you'll need to shoot 80 lbs at some point? Most people don't. I have the PSE EVO NTN 33 with 70 lb limbs. I have it dialed back to 58 but can't imagine ever needing to go beyond 70. The 70 lb limbs I believe can go down 50.5 lbs if I remember correctly giving you more room on the lower end with still plenty of poundage on the high end.

It really is a great bow and I love mine. I have a question though, do you have anyone nearby that can help you work on the bow once you buy it? If not you may want to look at bows from a different perspective and look for ones that are the easiest to work on yourself. You may also need to factor in the cost of a bow press and other equipment you'll need to work on your bows.

Highly jealous of your hunting opportunities in NZ though. My wife was there for work last year and she's been holding it over my head ever since. Hope to get there sometime in the not too distant future.

 

Hi Nofish,

Thanks for the fast reply, I am not at all set on shooting an 80lb bow. Just seemed to me the 80lb had a great deal of adjustment and would cover my bases if for what ever reason I did want to shoot a higher poundage later on.

Bow hunting hasnt really taken off here in NZ like it has in America so not a lot of archery shops and the selection of bows in stock for fitment is minimal. Also it is a lot cheaper to buy online from overseas most the time which is what I plan to do. If i had to I would make the journey for bow repairs.

Make the journey its well worth it for some DIY style hunts as we have no hunting seasons here. Just be prepared for the landscape it can be brutal in places and you can get four seasons in a day at any time of the year. River crossing take alot of lives. I hope to expand my hunting overseas one day too those elk look monstrous.

My next issue will be my left eye dominace being right handed.

 

I think you'd be fine at 70 or 80 dialed back to their lower ranges. Really up to you on what you want your top end to be, both will kill anything you'll be chasing.

In your situation you really don't have much choice about ordering online but you may find you'll need to tweak your draw length or adjust the position of your peep a touch. Ideally when someone sets up your bow you should be there to test the fit. Obviously a challenge in your situation. I'm guessing at some point you'll want to invest in a press, hard to drive 10 hours to get a peep put in or to get new strings put on.

The terrain would for sure kick my butt but also part of the appeal. My wife and I have talked about taking the kids there once travel isn't so difficult with covid.

 

I have started out with the NTN 35 LD - doing the DIY path myself, with mixed results! Mine is 60#, currently dialed back almost to minimum at 40#. I noticed a reference in AT to an arrow speed calculator and it says at 60# with the right arrow I could take a Cape Buffalo! I cannot imagine trying to draw 80#. I read somewhere that when bows are set to reduced draw weight, they are not "as efficient". Not sure exactly what was meant by that, but you may wish to investigate a bit more. Probably related to draw cycle and (obviously) arrow speed. And I am not sure about leaving those limb bolts exposed, especially if I was out in the bush. I am not overly comfortable with my limb bolts wound out to min DW. Yes, still within published specs, but I would prefer to keep more thread in the pocket. But as with everything to do with bows, it is always what works for you and your circumstances. Happy hunting to a fellow Kiwi/Aussie (although you don't have the full trifecta with some Canuck thrown in as well) !

 

Cheers fellas,

Some good input there, Sounds like I should sway to the 70lb model allowing me to start out at 50.5lb draw weight. It sounds like I will have to bite the broadhead and travel to get fitted correctly but at least I can make a few hundreds savings buying online.

I wish I was a trifecta canuck! big country over there bucket list dream along with the cape buffalo in aus! Ive messed around in nsw and qld nothing Grand to report though. Strange times but I plan on making time to hunt abroad. An elk hunt would be a dream and id love to try some bear meat also.

Nofish, South island is where its at. Got most of the species you can hunt here and very diverse in scenery. Find an area and then go on some of the kiwi hunting forums you will be able to find a local willing to help out no need for a guide here just people willing to make memories and connections.

The art of propelling point sticks should take up a fair bit of my time and patience looking forward to learning alot on the way.

 

Archery very quickly becomes an obsession, when you say it should take up some of your time I will be it goes far beyond that. There is endless tinkering and perfecting that can be a lot of fun. Add in hunting and all there is to learn there and you've got your hands full. Enjoy the process though, it can be alot to learn but very satisfying.

I wonder when my family is able to get to NZ how mad will the wife be if I head off into the mountains by myself for most of the trip?

 

Just get a 60# since it is your first bow, crank it back to 50-55 practice on your form and learning to shoot. Then stick a picture on here of you, your bow and a giant stag and make us jealous.

 

If you get a bow, any manufacture, get a synumm bow press and aproppriate limb adapters. About 250.00 USD. You’ll be able to tune the bow and swap strings yourself. It will be as valuable as the bow itself.

 

Think Lancaster has them for around $100.00; Look to be pretty handy.

 

You've got Archery Direct in Jucinta land. Go 60# and you'll be fine. Sheep arnt that big I take pigs goats and deer with mine no dramas.