back in the days of my youth I figured that the heavier the draw weight the better, and wound up buy a bow that was supposedly 70 pounds but actually it bottomed out at 80 some odd pounds.
I couldnt hit squat with it because my arms were to tired after 8 or 10 shots, totaly missed a double stacked ecelsior bale at 30 yards, after that I got smart and traded it in for a bow I could handle and for got the macho junk, LESSON LEARNED.
Now that I have a brain I shoot a 60 pound high country and its pie to shoot with, its quiet and handels great, plus I can shoot more than 10 arrows before I have to get my shoulders put back in socket.
Just look at what the indians had to work with, I guess no more than 35/40 pounds, like ya'll said, shot placement is everything.