Lee:
Yes on the 35...and worse. One eventually comes to the conclusion that there is indeed a relationship between penetration and velocity...
My stance here is that it is irresponsible to hunt with 35# as a draw weight with a recurve, particularly as a novice. Everything has to be more right or more lucky as you lower weights--if you have done what you say, then you well know that. If a person has to hunt with that draw weight due to physical reasons, then shoot a modern compound for the velocity increase and the ease of holding/aiming...for the game's sake.
Anything can be done, but not everything should be.
If you are what you say you are, then you know damn well what kind of ranges we used to shoot at with sticks and think nothing of it. That has changed, generally due to exposure to a non-hunting public and the resulting concerns to kill well, rather to risk wounding or losing.
The general public today is not the general public it was a generation ago. Think about it.
