Total arrow mass = 660 grains. 100- and 125-grain Deadmeat 3-blade mechanical, Your 3-Part Game Plan for Elk Bowhunting Success This Fall. All Rights Reserved. Its essential to check with the local fish and game before you hunt and verify the rules and regulations, as they constantly change. Dec 20, 2022 #4 4 4rcgoat WKR Joined Dec 12, 2015 Messages 1,118 Location wyoming Easton axis out of 70# bow. Dont know what that means? But as I hunted more, I learned to get after it when they were talking back. One such factor is the arrow weight. A well placed shot allows a 398 gr arrow at 82 yards on a cow elk, a 70 yard shot on a muley to pass thru. Its combination chisel and cutting tip makeup makes it a head to seriously consider. Heres a step-by-step process to do so: 1. document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hi, I'm Baxter Bowman. Optimal Storage Tips, Can You Hunt Deer with a .223 in Carolina, Georgia, Michigan, Texas: State-by-State Guide, Is It Illegal to Sell Deer Meat? My recommendation is to choose a broadhead that groups dependably and has a proven track record for great penetration. FOC (Front of Center) is definitely the marketing word of the decade in archery and it seems like everyone has a strong opinion here. In many ways, elk are like turkeys. So how do you know? The arrow should balance (weight) in front of the center (length) of the arrow shaft. Josh Riley lives in Colorado with his wife, Mary, and their three wild and crazy children. While most people have heard of spine (aka how stiff your arrow is), they dont realize that spines can have wide tolerances even in the same batch of arrows! Like Prime bows and G5 broadheads have done for years, these new carbon arrows promise to be a big hit for bowhunters looking for an edge in the whitetail woods or out west targeting Rocky Mountain big game. However, while elk are ALOT bigger than whitetails, they're not moose. Several years ago, I almost made a mistake that could have cost me a mega bull. My guide, who was a veteran elk hunter, then asked me, "Can you NOT see the bulls when they are coming in?". Over the years, I've had the privilege of hunting in some of the most beautiful and rugged landscapes this world has to offer. Gold Tip Hunter XT Arrows. The innovative product caused quite a stir at the 2023 ATA Trade Show in Indianapolis, winning 1st place in the New Product Introduction category. You have the body size and massive antlers that take more than one arm to hold up. While many bowhunters believe that heavier arrows enhance penetration, others tend to go lighter for better trajectory. First, get to know that that burly bull you hope to hurl projectiles at like your prehistoric ancestors. Good luck. One benefit to making your own arrows is that you can cut arrows from both ends so they are straighter. Heck, I know of several bowhunters who have taken elk with bows dialed back to 50 pounds. In what was certainly a fitting unveiling to begin the company's 90th Anniversary celebration, the bow even though it showcases an aluminum riser still comes with a lot of the features associated with the original Takedown recurve bows. These can be one or two pieces. It works well for turkeys, and it certainly has worked well for me on elk too! Proponents claim that FOC makes arrows more accurate and penetrate far better. Yes, some bows have an 80-pound draw weight or more, but does that make them any better? For hunting elk, a minimum of 40-50 ft-lbs of kinetic energy is recommended. They can be extremely vocal at times, and when they are fired up, you need to take control. Its way more important to shoot at the weight youre comfortable with rather than the amount of weight you are pulling., Start at 55 pounds. . It features an adjustable draw weight from 10-70 Lbs. A heavier arrow carries more kinetic energy, which translates to increased penetration on impact. Christian Berg talks with T.R.U. The differences between micro and small diameter shafts are far smaller than small diameter vs standard diameter, The weakest (and most inaccurate) part of most small/micro diameter arrows is the connection between the broadhead and the shaft. Both died in seconds leaving a blood trail as easy to follow as a Hollywood red carpet. The arrow used in general hunting has a six grain tip. Mark Kayser For elk hunting, a broadhead weighing between 100 to 150 grains is recommended. Without any deployment of blades, a fixed blade begins cutting without having to unfold. Recommended Don't Be Afraid to Change Your Plan Read Article How to Kill an Antelope When They Won't Come to Water Read Article 16-Year-Old Arrows 428-Inch Arizona Bull Read Article Why Deer Tactics Help With Elk-Hunting Success Read Article Dec 12, 2016 #2 F Fire_9 Well-known member Joined Mar 25, 2015 Messages 1,070 Location Lewistown, MT Momentum is what you need to worry about. If the shooter cannot draw the bow 30 times the draw weight should be . Despite this, a five-grain arrow weighing less than 550 grains is not uncommon. As long as you can maintain good arrow speed and accuracy, a 500-grain arrow can be highly effective for elk hunting. Just $1 per month , You may only get one chance to make your shot on an elk. To top it off, the spine of an individual arrow changes depending on how its rotated. As a last resort, I started covering a lot of bedding areas during the middle of the day. If your draw weight and arrow speed is average (under 280 fps), your total arrow weight should go up. Visit a bow shop pro to chronograph your bow and then sharpen a pencil. I was dumbfounded that I was not hearing any elk at all. They are rugged, especially if they are of one-piece construction. Mar 4, 2019 #8 Hilljackoutlaw Curt Wells is in New Mexico hunting elk from his ground blind, where he sees plenty of movement. Like the compound bow of yesteryear, mechanical broadheads are gaining steam throughout all bowhunting genres. If youre using a 100-125gr point and a heavier insert (~50gr) youre already in that range. That's a heavy arrow. Being aggressive on an elk means you will likely need to make some noise. I made the comment to my friend Randy Ulmer that I was going to choose a lighter, faster arrow for elk that year because I already had my bow dialed in for speed goats and early-season whitetails. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. Leg bones stop nearly all arrows and the scapula ranks equal to body armor, but most well-constructed broadheads can navigate the ribs to dart into the heart-lung area. A balanced combination of speed, weight, and accuracy is key to successfully harvesting an elk. It was one of the craziest memories I have as an elk hunter, and we packed out of that public land on Cloud 9! Read on. Dont worry about it too much. Ill be creating an entirely different gear guide just for broadheads but its important to know that broadheads also influence your arrow choices. Learn more here: Your email address will not be published. Generally, a heavier arrow is preferred for higher draw weights to maximize energy transfer and penetration. Many hardcore elk hunters will tell you there is no place for mechanical broadheads in elk hunting, but I disagree. He then explained that the convergence of the heart, its major arteries and the windpipe is almost the size of a volleyball or pie plate. Joe looked at me and said, "I'm going to use my tag on this bull!" He was adamant about having extra momentum from a heavier arrow, just in case the shot wasn't perfectly placed. This year, G5 Outdoors, the longtime broadhead manufacturer in the Prime Archery family, is bringing to market a lineup of new arrows known as the Mark Series. The best draw weight will differ from hunter to hunter, but draw weight will typically range between 45 and 80 pounds. Joe was already at full draw and took the exact same shot as mine just before the bull got to us. All Bowhunter subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. Hi! As an example, my 2019 setup was a 549 grain arrow, 67lbs, 8.2 GPP and 258fps it worked flawlessly on an elk and practicing out to 100+ yards. Idaho - 40-pound minimum with a maximum 85% let-off. Total. However, theres a few reasons I dont recommend that: it hurts long range trajectory, can actually hurt penetration in wind (the arrow flies crooked with fletching blown to the side), and it can be very difficult, expensive, and time consuming to find the right spine with so much point weight. Arrow placement is most important, your arrow weight is fine. KE = (Arrow Weight x Speed^2) / 450,240. 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. Best Elk Hunting Arrow: Day Six HD. Messages. Best of all, these big critters cant go far when the air is released from their lungs in a double-lung tap. A little extra force and penetration can mean the difference between a successful kill and watching your prize elk get away. The cutting diameter oftentimes exceeds those of the fixed-blade variety with many hitting the mark at 1 7/8 to 2 inches. No idea the speed,but arrows are 480 grains all loaded up for elk and deer. You dont need broadheads wider than 1 1/4 for elk, so avoid those and your arrow should be easy to tune. When you can safely and accurately shoot from several positions at this weight, add five pounds to your pull, and repeat until you reach a weight that you feel comfortable holding for 1-2 minutes. For elk at least 50 pounds draw weight at 28 inches, arrows must be at least 24 inches long tipped with a metal broadhead, with at least two sharp cutting edges, and have a cutting diameter of at least 3/4 inch - unbarbed and have fixed blades. Published Aug 14, 2019 10:50 PM EDT. Calculate the arrows speed in feet per second (FPS) using your bows specifications or a chronograph Building the ultimate elk arrow will make you a far more effective hunter. Joe called a few times, and to our amazement a bull reported back. Joe chirped the cow call one more time and the bull looked up and came right to us. At the moment neither of us could have cared who was more shocked at the 10-yard, surprise run-inthe elk or me. Q: I am an avid reader of Bowhunter Magazine, and I look forward to each issue and the information and hunting stories you and the other writers contribute! Please browse our list of. Choose a relatively small (1 or smaller) fixed blade broadhead and almost any 3x/4x pattern with standard Bohning Blazer or AAE Max Stealth vanes (or equivalent) should be fine. Many times, I would start to question whether there were even elk around, but then I would come across fresh elk sign. Required fields are marked *. Want to understand why? On the other hand, a lighter arrow is more susceptible to wind drift, which can affect your shots accuracy. And no test medium can replicate the real thing. 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. If youre not comfortable pulling back 70 Lbs that doesnt mean you cant consistently shoot deadly shots into an elk, so dont let your pride get in the way. One part of that puzzle is picking a draw weight for elk that works for you. Since that day, I haven't taken that shot again on an elk. I hunt with a Diamond Bow and can attest to the quality and craftsmanship of these stick throwers. He was very close and remained in his bed. Each is available in 100- and 125-grain models. Montana - No specific minimum but maximum 80% let-off. "They were thinking that arrow weight was the answer and came up with a 400-grain minimum weight for elk hunting. Nevada - 40-pound minimum with a maximum . Randy quickly shed doubt on my gear choice and urged me to take a heavier arrow. But is it worth it? At 70 pounds, youre in pretty good shape, but if youre only shooting 55 pounds know that a portion of energy is being used to expand those blades. For elk, the debate can reach heated levelsespecially when it comes to broadheads and arrows. The most important thing here is sorting and matching components in the build process, but again, stay tuned. Rear-sliding blades, however, use exponentially less kinetic energy when the slicing begins. Don't get sloppy with noise, and avoid any unnatural sounds such as metallic clangs and tearing Velcro. If you start with a well-tuned bow, there is no question the best penetrating broadhead is a cut-on-contact, fixed two-blade design like a Muzzy Phantom, Magnus Stinger, or Iron Will broadhead. Most of this hinges off the research of Dr. Ed Ashby who used a traditional bow which typically uses extremely heavy arrows at short ranges. Yes, 500 grains is generally considered enough arrow weight for hunting elk. It was one of those complicated scenarios that happen in an instant. Speaking of hype, everyone has seen four fletch arrows and the natural assumption is that theyre better than three fletch arrows. How important is arrow speed for elk hunting? @28" recurve. A common FOC recommendation is 7-10%, but for hunting setups, I have had better luck with a FOC of 10-15%. Ultimately, the best broadhead comes down to personal preference and confidence in your shot placement. At a 30-yard, safe-space distance, the bull braked hard and cranked broadside to seemingly see if his aged eyes were playing tricks on him. Ill spare you the calculations (and all the arguments) but when it comes to creating more momentum, nothing beats adding weight to your arrow. The newer, rear-deploying mechanicals offer much more penetration than earlier designs. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. Put the arrow where it needs to go without taking risky shots and your freezer will be full of white packages of meat appreciation. . Before we dive in, this article assumes you know how to select the right arrow spine for your bow (hint: use the charts the arrow companies give you). Before he had time to figure out precisely what was going on, my broadhead buried itself behind his shoulder. In fact, many experienced hunters recommend using an arrow in the 450-550 grain range to ensure optimal penetration and energy transfer upon impact. But if you are a thick timber elk hunter and don't have the luxury of having another caller positioned well behind you to draw the bull past you for a broadside shot, you may want to dig deeper on this subject. How you do it (3 fletch, 4 fletch, long/short vanes) isnt really. Keep in mind that using a heavy broadhead might require you to adjust your bows setup to maintain accuracy. Please check out our, 35-pound minimum with a maximum 80% let-off, 40-pound minimum with a maximum 85% let-off, No specific minimum but maximum 80% let-off, 40-pound minimum with a maximum 80% let-off, No specific minimum draw weight or let-off. Colorado - 35-pound minimum with a maximum 80% let-off. A mature bull can surpass 800 pounds and a matriarch cow can weigh more than 600 pounds. If you make the diameter of the shaft smaller that means that its walls are much thicker. With about 30 minutes of light left, elk started to stand up in this thick timber. I was gearing up for a Montana hunt but also had a few antelope tags I was trying to combine with my road trip. More penetration equals more cutting area, which ultimately leads to a quicker, more ethical kill. There is, however, no real winner and no easy answer to the discussion. The Best Arrow for the Money: Gold Tip Hunter XT. At first light on this particular morning, he called a bull to about 10 yards but I wasn't comfortable with the shot angle. That effectively boosts the bows speed, which is a big perk, Since more of the bows energy goes into the arrow, that leaves less energy in the bow after the arrow departs to make vibrations (aka noise). If you want a short end to this article, consider that your current whitetail setup is likely suitable to take elk. Mechanicals have been known to fail, nick vegetation and deploy in flight, or fail to deploy totally upon impact. This let-off makes it easier to hold the weight longer while you are at full draw. Fixed-blade broadheads or mechanical broadheads with a large cutting diameter are generally preferred for elk hunting. 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. 3. Designed for 55 lb. That makes maximum, and hopefully two-hole, penetration more important than on just about any other North American big game animal. Dont believe me? PSE is a quality company with excellent customer service, as many customers report an easy return process for defective gear (which, by looking at the reviews, is a rare occurrence). Dec 20, 2022 #5 The Best Long Range Arrow: Black Eagle X Impact. But best of all, you sometimes get to be the hunted because bull elk can respond aggressively to a call. Youre looking for the best draw weight for elk and have probably spent a lot of time online trying to get a straight answer from forums and hunting sites. I took a bull last year at 61 yards with a SEVR 1.5-tipped Easton. The bull went about 30 yards and stopped. Harvesting an animal is about putting all the pieces together at the right time, and getting comfortable with a draw weight is one of the most important pieces. "Yes, I can see them fine but they are always facing me," I replied. In this blog post, we will guide you through the importance of arrow weight, its different components, and how to choose the perfect arrow weight for elk. This extra power gives you an edge in cutting far through elk vitals, especially with the modest cutting diameter of most fixed blades. to get through that extra mass of hair, hide, bone and flesh. So let's take that 30-inch, 340-spine Easton FMJ that weighs 339 grains for the bare shaft. Curt Wells is hunting mountain caribou in the Northwest Territories and is entertained by a young grizzly along the way. Now divide that result by 450, 240 and you end up with a number equaling the foot-pounds of kinetic energy of your bow.

Univision 23 Dallas Anchors, Articles A