Broadhead for Elk

[2blade]

Have shot and seen elk shot with a variety of heads, and they'll all work with a broadside shot to the ribs. However, if you happen to hit heavy bone, listen to Dr. Ashby and shoot a single-bevel 2 blade for your best odds! Compound shooters seem to disregard his advice, but it's by FAR the most sound evidence as to the best broadhead choice for the highest chance of a lethal kill on large game. Cutthroat Broadheads are the best single bevel, made by VPA.

yep +1

 

[elkguide]

I've seen a lot of animals shot with a lot of different broadheads. I'm a fixed blade hunter myself. I've been told that mechanicals are better than they were but I'm from the school that says, a fixed blade always opens!


The biggest thing is to find a broadhead that shoots well out of your bow.

I shot animals with German Kinetics, Solids and Slick Tricks last year and shot turkeys with a Rage.

 

[Laelkhunter]

I don't hunt Elk with a bow, but do hunt them with a rifle. I shot a 5 X 5 October 2015, and had it processed at Hometown Market in Antonito,Co.
When I picked up the meat the next day, Ed (the owner) showed me a piece of the shoulder of my elk with a Rage 2 blade broadhead imbedded in it. When we skinned the bull the night before, and quartered it, we did not even notice where the broadhead was. It had completely healed over, with no visible sign of a wound. The carbon shaft had broken off and left just a small half inch piece that was attached to the Rage. We guessed it was from at least a year earlier since there was no sign of infection.
I am wondering if the hunter who shot my bull would have had better luck (more penetration) with a non mechanical broadhead.
This is not slamming Rages. I know they are excellent, and have taken lots of game, but I'm glad the hunter who shot my bull used a Rage. The elk made a full recovery with no ill effects until he ran into my 225 grain Swift A-Frame.

 

[Backpack Hunter]

I have used quite a few, but VPA's and Grim Reaper's are my go to heads.

 

[sneaky]

Wac'Em Triton 125s for me. My bull last year went about 30 yards. We ended up killing three elk and a couple of deer with them last season.

 

[Pramo]

Right now I like 100 grain razor tricks with 50 grain insert for elk and hypodermics for deer

 

[HOT ROD]

I shot my first elk with a bow last year. Used a G5 t3 for the last time. I got the elk but not a whole lot of penetration. He only went 40 yards thank God. Because there was no blood trail. The shot was 25 yards. Standing broadside. Perfect 10 ringed him. Now I am only pulling 65 pounds. Sum one pulling 70 to 80 mite be a different story.. It was a heavy arrow to. Around 440 grains

 

[Laelkhunter]

I shot my first elk with a bow last year. Used a G5 t3 for the last time. I got the elk but not a whole lot of penetration. He only went 40 yards thank God. Because there was no blood trail. The shot was 25 yards. Standing broadside. Perfect 10 ringed him. Now I am only pulling 65 pounds. Sum one pulling 70 to 80 mite be a different story.. It was a heavy arrow to. Around 440 grains

Did you hit the heart or the lungs? Must have been a good hit to only go 40 yards. I have seen Elk double lung shot with a rifle that go further than 40 yards after being shot. Have you decided what you will be using now??

 

[NMbackcountry]

I shot my first elk with a bow last year. Used a G5 t3 for the last time. I got the elk but not a whole lot of penetration. He only went 40 yards thank God. Because there was no blood trail. The shot was 25 yards. Standing broadside. Perfect 10 ringed him. Now I am only pulling 65 pounds. Sum one pulling 70 to 80 mite be a different story.. It was a heavy arrow to. Around 440 grains

I think it would depend on your arrow speed and KE. If that 440 grain arrow was traveling around 260-270 fps that could be why the mechanical didn't work so well. I'm not an expert by any means but I've found that shooting mechanicals with an arrow that weighs 400+ grains and shoots 300+ fps you'll have very little problems.

 

[Bails-UK]

Some interesting choices of Broadheads, I do have 3x 125grn VPA 3x blades, but they are hitting different to my 125grn Slick Trick standards, so decided to leave them in the box and stick with my Tricks. I also have some 125grn Outback Supreme Single Bevel heads, which are my back up. I

 

[pyrannah]

100gr black hornets for my first elk hunt... they are devastating and i can get them wicked sharp....

good luck to all!

 

[bz_711]

I'm counting the months, weeks and days to Archery season, so what broadhead are you hunting with this year. I'm going with the Slick Trick standard and hope to get my first Elk with a proven killer.

Dave,
I'm in the minority for sure in shooting 100gr mechanical heads (I do also have 50gr brass inserts on all arrows). I shot 100gr Muzzy 3 blade for years and loved them as well, and even though I'm sure they'd out penetrate my mechanicals I cannot argue with the success I've had with mechanicals...and the tie breaker is that I'm just a little bit more confident in my shot with mechanicals than I am with fixed heads.
Both of the other elk I've been lucky enough to help buddies pack were also dropped with mechanicals with little or no tracking required. I believe any broadhead will work, and also believe it's unlikely any of them will work it hit a major bone. Shoot whatever makes you most confident. My mechanical did penetrate the shoulder blade of my bull in 2014...I even picked up the shoulder bone last year while hiking by the kill site just to confirm it.

Best of Luck with the Slick Tricks...I hear nothing but great things from those that use them!

 

[JTHeaney]

Shuttle Ts for me - I hit my elk last hear a little more forward than textbook and punched through the shoulder blade and got lungs. All the proof I need. Plus quiet and fly true.

 

[luckyjb2]

I was impressed with the Slick Trick Viper 125 this last year and will keep using it.
JB

 

[DEHusker]

QAD Exodus. They are just nasty...

I shoot the swept blades as they fly a bit better for me.

 

[hobbes]

125 grain Slick Trick Magnum.

 

[Bails-UK]

Would you say a single bevel 2 blade would be ok shooting from a Mathews Z7, I do like my slicks, but the 2 blade are bang on the field point. Some say you should use more blades on a Compound. I've read the Dr Ashby research, but I just don't hear of many compound shooters using 2x blade single bevel on Elk?

 

[elkguide]

I've been shooting German Kinetics for several years. Only shot whitetails and fallow deer with them and they definitely do the job but they aren't great for blood trails.

 

[Bails-UK]

Yeah, blood trails are my main concern with the 2x blade, especially on big game like Elk and the open country they roam.

 

[mlob1one]

I've been keeping a close eye on this thread and have been surprised that no one has mentioned NAP mechanicals, be it the killzone or others.

I know Tim Gillingham only uses them to hunt because he likes their flight at long distances.

But does anyone else have experience with them?

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