Written by an acknowledged expert, this invaluable book is aimed at archers of all levels, from those starting out in the sport to those taking part in competitions at the highest levels. Both died in seconds leaving a blood trail as easy to follow as a Hollywood red carpet. Well, for starters and I dont need to tell you this . Best Arrows and Broadheads For Elk | Outdoor Life The insert of an arrow is the metal component that connects the shaft and to the screw-in the point or broadhead. A few even have toughness and mechanical issues, particularly those with replaceable blades. Its essential to check with the local fish and game before you hunt and verify the rules and regulations, as they constantly change. For whitetail deer hunting anything above 40 lbs is fine. He loaded an arrow and we waited for the bull to come charging in, bugling, gurgling and glunking the whole way. Straightness is correlated to good spine consistency but its not as critical. Straightness correlates to spine consistency but they dont always run together. Aim for 7-10 grains of weight per pound of draw weight on your bow, Heavier arrows make your bow more efficient, quiet your shot, are easier to tune, and retain energy far better down range, Unlike bullets, speed doesnt kill and too much speed makes some broadheads inaccurate. The ideal combination of these factors can result in deep penetration, maximizing the chances of a quick and ethical harvest. While these components may not weigh much individually, their combined weight can significantly impact the arrows performance in the field. Arrow weight No other factor has as much influence on penetration, which is everything in elk hunting. We will add Easton's 75-grain stainless steel insert, and then screw in a 175-grain Northern Wide Cut. Major arrow manufacturers offer roughly three different diameters of arrows for hunting purposes: While plenty of elk have been killed with standard diameter arrows, small and micro diameter arrows offer some pretty distinct advantages: The downsides of smaller diameter shafts are that they tend to cost more and the components can be much weaker and difficult to align (more on that in the next section). Needless to say, a few weeks later I had a bull of a lifetime come in, and Randy was right! Subscriber Services. The only real advantage of four fletch is more clearance and more points to nock tune your arrow. Building the ultimate elk arrow will make you a far more effective hunter. Broadhead weighs 428 gr. Last fall, I elk hunted as hard as I ever have. I didn't want to rush it since I couldn't see the bull. I have the ability to screw a 50gr weight to the inside for elk to get the whole arrow to 494gr. Ultimately, the right arrow weight for elk hunting will depend on your individual preferences, bow setup, and skill level. As long as your arrows, They increase your bows effective IBO (speed), What? Heres why: The whole point of fletching is to create enough drag to stabilize the arrow. This bow hurts the wallet a bit more as far as a beginners bow goes, but its certainly worth the money if you are considering making a long-term commitment to the sport of bowhunting. With my Inline 3 at 28.5" and 62# my deer arrow is 444 grains, using a 125gr tip and 50gr half-out on Black Eagle Rampage 350 .001. to get through that extra mass of hair, hide, bone and flesh. Until you can shoot at this draw weight, I would consider another hobby. If you do practice out to 100 yards (which I often do, even though Id never shoot an animal that far) you will start to notice a big difference as trajectory really drops off. Several 3-blade models to consider in the fixed-blade category include the ever-popular G5 Montec. The ferrule is constructed of titanium for the ultimate in strength and forward-motion penetration. For larger game such as elk or moose a good recommendation is at least 60-65 lbs of draw weight. Lynn Burkhead and Elevate Stand Co. creative director Brittany Stubbs talk about a new mid-sized option that was so new off of the Kansas company's drawing board this year at the ATA Trade Show that it didn't have an official name as of press time. Youll have to trust me on this one: Ive put in the time testing different arrows and its pretty obvious which ones work well. On a cold and rainy day at the ATA Trade Show, Lynn Burkhead talks about new arrow designs for 2023 with Prime Archery chief design officer Nate Grace. 14 Best Fishing Vests for Fly, Bass & Kayak Fishing in 2023, How Much Meat from an Elk? You dont need broadheads wider than 1 1/4 for elk, so avoid those and your arrow should be easy to tune. They are rugged, especially if they are of one-piece construction. Yes, bows are actually more efficient at transferring power when they have a heavier object to push against. Mechanicals have been known to fail, nick vegetation and deploy in flight, or fail to deploy totally upon impact. So how heavy should you go? However, setting aside that simplistic overview, there are some specifics to consider as you look at long sticks and sharp points for your bow. This setup makes for a great beginner bow. Lastly, broadhead designs, both fixed and mechanical, have been improved with sharpening expertise that forces you to be extra careful when attaching broadheads to the end of your arrows. One part of that puzzle is picking a draw weight for elk that works for you. They may also choose to come only halfway to you and then lock up, with no intention of closing the gap. It was obvious I had still-hunted right into a bedded herd. (Top List) The Best Arrow Weight For Elk in 2023 Based on Real Reviews Joe called a few times, and to our amazement a bull reported back. So let's take that 30-inch, 340-spine Easton FMJ that weighs 339 grains for the bare shaft. For fans of giant blood trails, most mechanicals can deliver. Bear Archery celebrates its 90-year anniversary with a new 2023 bow lineup. Both sides have merit, but overall arrow selection again comes down to your draw weight and draw length. Q: What is the best broadhead arrow weight for elk? What Grain Arrow For Deer: Calculated - Climb To Hunt For example, three shafts labeled 300 spine might actually measure at 294, 306, and 315. Regrettably, like fixed blades, mechanicals do have some cons to consider. Each state that offers elk hunting has specific rules for draw weight. I knew that 400 grains was a bit too high since most carbon arrows weigh from 350 to 400 grains, especially when you consider most hunters use an arrow that measures 27-29 inches. This comprehensive guide to shooting covers: how to get started in archery, the costs involved, choosing and using equipment, and the basics of shooting; setting up your equipment and initial tuning; the biomechanics of shooting; the tactics and preparation work involved in archery competitions; physical fitness, nutrition, and psychology; arrow selection and preparation; making bowstrings; and shooting techniques, improving performance, and the fine-tuning of equipment., The best way to hone in on your perfect bow hunting setup is to get out there and start shooting! I have looking at the Full Metal Jacket 400 @ 10.2 GPI. Several factors influence arrow penetration when hunting elk, including arrow weight, broadhead design, bow poundage, and shot placement. Although bows are becoming more efficient and lower-poundage bows are capable of taking down big game, higher poundage will certainly help you on large game animals. A 55 lb bow can be enough for hunting elk, provided that your arrow setup is well-tuned, and your shot placement is accurate. Try many different draw weights and, EatElkMeat.com is dedicated to elk meat and elk hunting. Bowhunter Editor and "Bowhunter TV" host Curt Wells visits with Josh Johnson of Spot Hogg at the 2023 Archery Trade Show in Indianapolis. Leave the screw in the factory setting and the bleeders will deploy for a 1 -inch cut. Certain heads penetrated better than others, and certain designs flew more accurately than others. The author analyzes shooting techniques and tuning and emphasizes the development of mental toughness; he argues that this goes hand in hand with the mastery of the physical aspects of the sport. This tactic was the polar opposite of what I mentioned in the paragraphs before. That's a terrible shot!" That results in long rods that are cut down to arrow length. But with features like rugged construction from lightweight aluminum, built-in foot traction, and hunter seat comfort, this brand-new treestand is sure to be a winner as it hits production this year. This isnt that big of a deal since its a matter of inches, but its nice to have, Standard insert: all of the point other than the tip is entirely inside the shaft, Half outs: Half of the point is outside the shaft and only the point threads are inside, Note: some exceptions to this like easton HIT inserts, outserts, or micro diameter style combos, Outserts: The entire point and its threads are outside the arrow shaft and only part of the outsert overlaps with the outside/inside of the shaft. Best Hunting Arrows of 2023 | Outdoor Life My last four bulls all expired in full view for an ending that tops any Broadway hit. Easton, Carbon Express and Gold Tip, all offer arrows that meet elk demands. Read Next: 7 Secrets for Bowhunting Bull Elk. People fight about helical vs offset but honestly youll see great results with both. /* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block.
Messages. A successful archery hunt begins long before you step foot into the field. Limited Life-time Warranty on main parts after your registration within 30 days of purchase. how do you pick a draw weight that will work for you. The Best Broadheads for Elk of 2023 | Field & Stream There is, however, no real winner and no easy answer to the discussion. How to calculate Front of Center. If you want a short end to this article, consider that your current whitetail setup is likely suitable to take elk. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. Whats your best draw weight for the upcoming elk hunting season? The proper gear for Western elkpart IV | Grand View Outdoors Several years ago, I almost made a mistake that could have cost me a mega bull. The innovative product caused quite a stir at the 2023 ATA Trade Show in Indianapolis, winning 1st place in the New Product Introduction category. Here, Bowhunter Editor and Bowhunter TV host Curt Wells gets a firsthand look at the results: the new Slide Rock Hiker. I may want a flatter trajectory for antelope, deer, or caribou, but for a very tough animal like an elk, I prefer an arrow in the 500-grain range. This comprehensive guide to shooting covers: how to get started in archery, the costs involved, choosing and using equipment, and the basics of shooting; setting up your equipment and initial tuning; the biomechanics of shooting; the tactics and preparation work involved in archery competitions; physical fitness, nutrition, and psychology; arrow selection and preparation; making bowstrings; and shooting techniques, improving performance, and the fine-tuning of equipment.. If the shooter cannot draw the bow 30 times the draw weight should be . This means that even at longer ranges, your arrow will still have enough kinetic energy to penetrate deeply and effectively take down an elk. If you made it this far I congratulate you! After a lot of experimenting, I settled on an arrow setup that has a FOC of 13%. Required fields are marked *. Too little drag and the arrow wont stabilize. | Christian Berg visits with Latitude Outdoors' Alex Chopp about the company's incredibly lightweight Carbon Speed Series climbing sticks, which check in at only 19 ounces and help a bowhunter shave off some serious pack weight for their treks into and out of the whitetail woods. If you are a deer hunting with an elk hunt on your calendar, you may need to boost your penetration for larger game with increased arrow weight, draw weight and broadhead choice. KE = (Arrow Weight x Speed^2) / 450,240. Yes, if your draw weight and arrow speed are exceptional (well over 300 fps), you might get by with a lighter, flatter arrow, but I still wouldnt go below 400 grains under any circumstances. These can be one or two pieces. An arrow that is in the 9.25-9.75 grs/lb range is the best hunting weight arrow for any given draw weight. Thats a tragedy if it happens when you shoot an elk and really annoying even when it happens at the range. I experimented a ton with FOC and concluded that I had great results with standard 125gr points on arrows that ended up in the 10-15% FOC range. He went in depth with telling me about all the arteries that converge in the front of the heart, which sits fairly close to the front of the chest. "Yes, I can see them fine but they are always facing me," I replied. If youre using a 100-125gr point and a heavier insert (~50gr) youre already in that range. But well try anyway. there is nothing wrong with my current setup but I always feel the need to tinker and tweak it. Ultimately, the best broadhead comes down to personal preference and confidence in your shot placement. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Not good. No other gear question is as important as this one. Best of all, these big critters cant go far when the air is released from their lungs in a double-lung tap. Its time to get those taste buds prepped for your next elk harvest! Improper spine can lead to inconsistent shots, reduced accuracy, and less effectiveness in taking down the animal. For example, if you use a smaller broadhead (or mechanical) you can use smaller fletchings as well. Now divide that result by 450, 240 and you end up with a number equaling the foot-pounds of kinetic energy of your bow. It comes out of the box with a 53 Lb draw weight, a perfect starting point for new hunters. Learn more here: Your email address will not be published. If an arrow goes too slow, it drops very quickly which can lead to less margin for error for range estimation. Even at night when I was sleeping in my camper, I never heard a single bugle. Heavy arrows lose relatively less speed and energy at long ranges compared to light arrows (think high ballistic coefficients [BCs] in bullets). What matters in archery is not how hard the arrow hits but how far it penetrates through the animal. Joe looked at me and said, "I'm going to use my tag on this bull!" Here are some lifelong archery elk hunters on choosing a draw weight for elk hunting: Lance Fitzgerald, Colorado Bow Hunters Association Lifetime Member: I started shooting as a teenager at 45 pounds of draw weight. More on this in my guide to building arrows (coming soon). That thickness means durability and strength when you need it most, Less wind resistance also means less arrow drop over distance. Arrow weight for elk | Archery Talk Forum That makes maximum, and hopefully two-hole, penetration more important than on just about any other North American big game animal. The company has updated the pic systems for their popular Fast Eddie sights to make them compatible with the new mounting systems that are becoming more and more prevalent on many of the newer bow models being brought to the market today. Heavy arrows also have some other benefits that make them a great choice: Awesome, so why not shoot the heaviest arrow possible? Thats always a bonus since archery success is based on hemorrhaging results, not overall trauma as in firearm hunting. I hope this write-up was informative and cleared up your priorities in your quest for deciding the best draw weight for your upcoming elk hunt. The Bloodsport Gravedigger series includes both a cut-on-contact and a chisel-head version. That leads to the big positive of fixed-blade heads for elk. It was one of those complicated scenarios that happen in an instant.