legalizing mechanical broadheads in Washington

[Machias]

I currently live in a state where we can use mechanicals and I still use Muzzys.  Lots of folks here use the mechanicals but the deer here are pretty small.  I personally would not have confidence in them on elk.

[RubblesPH]

Rage mechanicles have been devastating for us on big bodied bulls in NM.  Between the two of us we have taken 3 bulls at 50, 60 and 62 yards.  Forty yard or less pile ups with deep penetration and big wound channels.  The tag that went unfilled the first trip was from my hunt partner using a fixed blade. Not at all blaming it on the broad head, he said it was a great shot, but I wasn't with him. He was devastated and after seeing the wound channel on my bull, he switched to mechanicles the next year and absolutely plowed a big bull at 62 yds.

The packer that drops camps us told us that he highly encourages (almost demands) the use of mechanicles for his guided clients and he has 30+ years in the elk hunting business. 

i'd like to see the law changed for us guys who want to use them.  Others will always have the right to use fixed blades if they want.

[irishevox]

 
100% agreed

[TommyH]

Standard slick tricks for me. I could possible see a mech. Flying a bit better at longer distances and in heavy wind.....if your fixed blade  shot drifted 3 inches back in heavy wind, vs. mechanical shot that has a smaller profile and hits it's mark but possible penetrates abit less.....which would you prefer in this hypothetical shot scenerio.

[pianoman9701]

I currently live in a state where we can use mechanicals and I still use Muzzys.  Lots of folks here use the mechanicals but the deer here are pretty small.  I personally would not have confidence in them on elk.

But in defense of the new technology, Fred, it took you 15 years to give up rotary phones for them new-fangled button phones, too! 

[RubblesPH]

....which would you prefer in this hypothetical shot scenerio.

Mechanicles....larger wound Chanel and never had an issue with penetration.

[sakoshooter]

I'd sure like to try a Gravedigger on a deer.

[actionshooter]

I like mechanicals, but I don't really have enough archery experience to say one is absolutely the best. Never lost an animal with either. I'm betting most guys are the same.

[BlacktailBowhunter]

I have seen and heard on Whitetail shows that a lot of people are staying away from the "right behind the shouler" shots to avoid hitting the shoulder bone and actually hitting the deer farther back. With a 2" cut even in the guts that animal is going to die. I have encountered poor shots in my own bow hunting experiences where I believe an expandable would have been beneficial. I have also experienced marginal shots where I was sure glad I had a fixed blade, so I can see pluses and minuses to each.

I would use an expandable for deer, but my shots are from ground level and usually 20 yards or less. From the hundreds of kills I have seen on TV with expandable, I have been impressed. I also shoot a 70 lb draw weight getting 300 fps from my Hoyt Factor 34.

That being said, I am on the fence as far as whether they should be legal or not. In a lot states their only big game is deer and hogs. In those states, the deer are small and abundant.

I also believe there should be a minimum of 55 or 60 lb draw weight for an expandable, which leads to difficulty in regulation. I would think if someone wanted to use an expandable, they would have to get their bow certified and a test developed for proper penetration. 

My sister inlaw just killed a fork in horn blacktail with a cut on contact 4 blade. Her arrow penetration did the trick, but if she were using an expandable, I don't think it would have got the penetration necessary from her 40 lb bow.

I have several friends that hunt numerous states for deer and elk every year and as soon as they are out of Oregon and Washington, they put the expandables on. These are guys that average 4 to 6 animals a year depending what they draw.

I tend to error on the side of freedom and I would support legalization if there were a way to regulate who could shoot them.

[idahohuntr]

It is my understanding wdfw is going to recommend they be legal in 2015.

[bearpaw]

We had a hunter illegally use expandables twice that I now know of after I had instructed him he had to get legal broadheads, a big mule buck and a 6x6 bull, both wounded animals got away. I am not in favor of them. 

[Rock7]

I have used both and shot and killed many of animals with both. I Prime example is of when I shot a 200 lb boar hog with a rage and it functioned flawlessly. Even going through the "armor" hide those big hogs have. You cant beat the reliability of a fixed blade or the accuracy of an expandable. In my opinion the slip blade design like the rage and g5 work better than the flip blade design like the grim reapers.
Alaska just legalized mechanical broadheads for griz/brown bear, moose and goats. If you can shoot a 1500 lb moose or brown bear with one, then why not an elk or a blacktail deer?
Every hunter has his or her preferences and likes/dislikes and we all have our thoughts and ideas. I like expendables I think they fly better and if you are off on your shot placement a little, a huge cut kinda makes up for it. I personally have   had more issues with drop away arrow rests than mechanical broadheas. How about we make those illegal?  I think it has more to do with the "you cant hunt during more than one season, lighted nocks are evil" mentality than anything else.

[huntnnw]

Ive seen deer shot with 2 blade rages and the holes are unreal!

[KFhunter]

ya'll are missing the real reason they're outlawed in WA


With a fixed broad head the animal has a better chance at recovering and healing from a bad shot then with a mechanical. 


That's the theory I've always heard, and it sounds logical.

[huntnnw]

I dont care what you shoot a elk or a deer with if its behind the shoulder a field tip will kill a elk or deer if thru the lungs. There is no broad head on the market that will crush a shoulder or kill an animal quickly cause you made a poor shot