He was one of my favorite cartoons, smaller than all his large, overly-muscled, super hero peers but just as effective. That was an enduring quality to me as a little girl. After all, I was small and wanted to do big things too. Mighty Mouse never let his size be a factor in the task he had at hand. Although as an adult you won’t hear me loudly singing, “Here I come to save the day!”  I do have some information that would make the Mouse proud with its significance to low poundage shooters. Here is a little secret I learned over the past 28 years of bowhunting about being smaller than my peers but just as effective.

Years ago bows were hard to draw. Unfortunately, most women I instruct remember picking up their father's or boyfriend's bow, trying to draw it back and not being able to budge it. Soon to follow would be the words, “I can’t pull it back” Translation: I am too weak to shoot a bow; I will never be able to do it, end of story. With this memory lodged in their brain, sadly, they never attempt to pick up a bow again.

Bow manufacturers have come a long way since the dark ages of bow building in understanding the need for lower poundage, easy drawing bows for smaller shooters. Mathews is not only the innovator of the single cam technology but in my opinion created the perfect women’s bow without even knowing it. As Mat McPhearson developed a lighter, physically smaller yet more powerful bow, he was unaware that he was an answer to prayers from smaller hunters.

While the largest balance of bows created are for big shooters, there are several models of really great bows for women and children to choose from. I always suggest to beginning archers to purchase a simple bow for target shooting first like the Genesis bow. This unique bow is non-draw length specific so it fits all shooters and enables the archer to develop form and gradually awaken the muscles used in shooting.

For those on the smaller side determined to hunt or move up in bow quality, I would strongly suggest the Mathews Mustang (for shorter draw length shooters), the Prestige or Black Max 2 for mid range draws. Not only will you be able to shoot accurately in a hurry, but they are among the fastest bows in the industry; factors that are critical to a successful hunt. These bows can be purchased in draw weights (as low as 20# for the Mustang) that you can pull and hold for a reasonable length of time without straining, even as a beginner.

What about effectiveness in the field? Here’s the secret: After purchasing your bow and getting acquainted through hours of practice, you will know you can hit the mark, but what about penetration? Veteran hunters know that two holes in a game animal provide a better blood trail than one. This requires a pass-through shot. While this can be achieved quite easily with a 70 pound bow and almost any combination of broadhead, the lower poundage bow requires a little bit of artistry to complete this picture.

Let’s strap on a Tru Ball release and turn our attention to the arrow shaft. A thin but rigid shaft is a must for good penetration. Easton Axis or A/C/C arrows have fit this bill for perfectly for me. It has been my experience that a super lightweight arrow doesn’t have the penetration of a slightly heavier shaft. I also like the idea that the Axis shafts are either perfectly straight or broken. I waste much less time on worrying if my arrows were bent in transit or altered after a practice session and can be confident that my arrow will fly true in the field.

Of perhaps the greatest importance are broadheads. Cut-on-contact heads have worked without fail for my hunting setup regardless of the draw weight I’ve used.  From my starting weight of 35 pounds to my current weight of 56, I’ve been blessed with very consistent pass-through shots. After watching my 12-year-old daughter pass through two deer with her 35 pound-bow tipped with a Steel Force cut-on- contact head, as well as passing through four bear and countless numbers of large whitetail myself over the years, I am a sold out believer. Having experimented with three, four, and five blade heads in the past, I always come back to the cut-on-contact heads. This is the type head the Indians used and they definitely got the job done.

Hunting with the right set up can make even low poundage bows as effective as their higher poundage counter parts. Tammy Koenig consistently shoots through large game animals like this 350# Minnesota brute with little effort.

Mighty Mouse was a little guy with a big plan. If you are a smaller shooter only able to take advantage of minimal draw weight, fear not. Remember that shot placement is everything. Learn the location of the vitals on your animal and train yourself to concentrate only on that as your game approaches.  Practice enough that your shooting becomes automatic and set up your bow with equipment to get the job done humanely. With the info you are now armed with you can do as well or better than your larger, stronger hunting peers. You may be smaller than your hunting buddies, but with the right set up you can be mighty (cape optional)!