Kinetic Energy Calculator

Kinetic energy is energy of motion. The kinetic energy of an object is the energy it carries or has because of its motion. Kinetic energy is an expression of the fact that a moving object can do work on anything it hits; it basically is a value in the case of archery expressed in ft lbs to describe the force or the amount of work that the object is capable of upon impact with another object.

When hunting for animals it is very important to have the proper amount of kinetic energy for these animals. If you do not then you will not get the penetration needed for a clean kill and you have a better chance of injuring the animal. Below is a Kinetic Energy Calculator to determine the kinetic energy of your arrows.

Below the calculator table portion, is a general rule of thumb when it comes to animals you're hunting and the amount of kinetic energy that is needed. *It is important to note that these values are just generalized and differ between different states/provinces.

Arrow Weight(gr)	Bow Speed(fps)	Kinetic Energy (ft lbs)

Small game

- 20 to 30 ft-lbs is sufficient. Some states may have a minimum requirement.

Medium Game

- For whitetail, mule deer, black tail and the like it is recommended to have at least 40 ft-lbs. Certainly a well placed arrow with slightly less than that may do the job.

Big Game

- 50 ft-lbs or more would be recommended for this type of game. Mostly because the shots may be at further distances.