Bowhunting with John Dudley: What Can You Hunt with a Compound Bow?

There’s a misconception that bows can’t take down the same variety of large animals (like an elk) that a firearm can. However, you might be surprised to learn what you can hunt with compound bows. 

Spoiler Alert: You’re only limited by what you think you can (or can’t) hunt with your bow. 

We caught up with our friend and compound bow expert John Dudley to get his take on what “can” you hunt with a bow. Check out his answer below!

What Can You Take Down with a Compound Bow? 

If you’re second-guessing taking your bow on your next trophy deer or elk hunt, you might want to think again. 

We’ve talked about hunting turkeys with a bow. It’s also pretty common for hunters to use compound bows for deer hunting – but can you go bigger? 

Dudley (confidently) says this: 

“You can hunt just about any big game in North America with a bow.” 

Your Size Doesn’t Really Matter

But how? Without getting into the science of force and power, a bow must generate enough force to power an arrow through the air and deep enough into the targeted game to complete a kill shot . . .  and that can’t happen if you or your bow are small and unable to pull enough weight, right?

Not necessarily!

Dudley shares this:

“My wife is pretty small. She doesn’t pull near the weight that I do with my bow. But with her bow [that’s smaller than mine], she’s taken down an animal the size of an elk.” 

Archery is Designed for Big Things

Dudley explains that archery was designed for added penetration. The arrow is designed to put all of the force behind it into one small cutting point. 

Think of archers on the battlefield lobbing a barrage of arrows high in the air toward their enemies. They did this to maximize impact and destruction, knowing the power of bows and arrows to deliver a devastating impact. 

“Arrows penetrated chain mail in those days. Remember: the tip of an arrow is a very focused point of energy to one precise spot, and the penetration exceeds what you think could really happen.” 

Compound Bows Maximize Your Force

Today, archery using a compound bow has made leaps and bounds on the force put behind an arrow while requiring minimal effort while pulling it back. 

So, how big you are or the size of your bow doesn’t matter as long as you’re able to shoot it properly – the bow and arrow are designed to take down big things when you hit the target in the right spot. 

So the question isn’t, “What can I hunt with my compound bow?” 

Dudley says, 

“The real question is, ‘How big of an animal do you want to take down with your bow and an arrow?’” 

You’re only limited by what you think you can’t hunt with your compound bow. 

Use Proper Mechanics to Shoot

The bow and arrow can’t do it on their own. 

So, while you can take down just about any animal you want with your bow and arrow, it won’t happen without understanding how to shoot it properly – and a lot of practice. 

Being able to shoot your compound bow confidently when you have a big elk lined up in your sights requires skill and experience, but it’s not as hard as you might think. To become an excellent archer and hit your target, you must focus on the fundamentals every time you shoot. 

These are:

• Setting up in the proper stance
• Holding your bow with a relaxed grip
• Positioning your front shoulder correctly
• Anchoring properly when at full draw
• Looking through the peep sight correctly
• A slow, continuous pull on the trigger until that surprise shot

With these fundamentals in mind, practice – even during the offseason. Then, don’t sell yourself short! Go after the game you want – large or small.

Watch John Dudley explain these concepts in the video below. 

Use Your Compound Bow and HuntWise to Bring Home the Game You’re After

We appreciate John’s insights, expertise, and willingness to share his tips with us and you, HuntWise hunters! He’s such a wealth of information, and he makes it fun to learn about hunting with a compound bow and the possibilities out there for hunters who prefer archery to go after game. 

We hope you’ll challenge yourself and your bowhunting skills, knowing that big game is within the reach of your arrow!

As you plan your next hunt, make sure you keep these tips in mind – and use HuntWise to find the best spots for big game hunting. Use the app’s many map layers to e-scout the land, mark potential exit and entry spots, and learn about the terrain before your hunt. 

Then, when you’re ready to grab your bow and head out, use the HuntCast feature to plan around the weather conditions and enjoy a successful day in the field. 

If you don’t yet have the app, download it and enjoy access to every feature – free – for a week!