Stickbow Elk Hunters - What are you using up front?

[IFunk]

I will be archery elk hunting for the first time this year and am curious what Trad guys are using up front for broadhead weight with either carbon or wood arrows.  I'm curious in hearing about success and/or failure stories.  I use fixed-blade, non-mechanical broadheads.  Thanks!

[kentrek]

Most trad set ups are pretty heavy upfront

Kifaru cast has alot of good trad info available

Would you be changing your set up just a week before season??

[Sandberm]

Ive never elk hunted, but i fixed up some laminated birch arrows awhile back that were pretty heavy. Quite a bit of drop from 25 yards out compared to my cedars though, like about 6 inches worth of drop.

Good luck with your hunt. 

[IFunk]

Most trad set ups are pretty heavy upfront

Kifaru cast has alot of good trad info available

Would you be changing your set up just a week before season??

Not ideal I know, just looking for opinions and options at this point.  My doug fir arrows are tipped with 125 grain Eskimos, but I've been told that for elk more weight out front is beneficial.  If I have to use them I will.   I've been shooting carbon arrows tipped with 200 grain field tips, but the broadheads I ordered for them have been delayed for weeks and I'm not sure I'll get them in time. 

[WSU]

I'm not a traditional bow guy but it would seem exponentially more important not to change things up weeks before the season.  Since you have not sights to adjust, it would seem you need to be really familiar with the trajectory at every distance you are going to shoot.  Wouldn't adding weight now throw all that off?

[IFunk]

I'm not a traditional bow guy but it would seem exponentially more important not to change things up weeks before the season.  Since you have not sights to adjust, it would seem you need to be really familiar with the trajectory at every distance you are going to shoot.  Wouldn't adding weight now throw all that off?

I couldn't agree more.  Just seeing if anyone had any feedback and/or real life success or failure scenarios using various broadhead weights on elk at recurve effective ranges.  Mine being the shorter beginner range (15 yards or less).  I understand that there is no substitute for planning, practice and a well-placed shot. 

[kentrek]

with such a limited time I would get a very long style broad head and make sure its crazy sharp and just put it on your current arrows...practice every day during season and be honest to yourself about your max distance

This winter order up black eagle revelations and slap a high end head on there thats razor sharp..the exact numbers are less important then you think but just do what you can to maximize your success...which will be a balance between heavy arrow & fast arrow

Good luck !!

[Tracker0721]

My woodies run either my obsidian tips I flint knap, about 100 grains. Or my zwickey Deltas that I melted lead into so they’re 160 grain. With my carbons I’m shooting Easton axis 5mm with 50 grain hiit inserts and 250 grain cutthroat broadheads. Cutthroats are hands down the most durable head I’ve ever shot and hit the same as field points even out of compound bows. Lotta elk have fallen to 125 grains and cedar but you’d better not hit a shoulder bone or something.

[Tree Killer]

I've killed quite a few bulls in the last 20 years using 125 grain Woodsman 3 blade broadheads. I shoot a 60# recurve with douglas fir arrows that weigh 620 grains.  I also have a few arrows with 160 grain VPA 3 blade heads on them.

[Webfoot]

Can't go wrong with Magnus stingers 2 blade. 125 or 150 grain.

[scotsman]

X2 for Magnus Stingers 125 grain. People have been killing elk for thousands of years with wooden arrows tipped with heads averaging 125 grains. Extremely sharp heads and  total arrow weight of 550 grains, “In The Right Place” will kill an elk every time. Don’t overthink it, especially this close to season.

[stickbow9]

This year I switched to Victory RIP XV arrows. 6.4 gpi with a 75 grain brass insert and 250 gr VPA Penetrator 2 blade. 540 grains total on a #53 lb draw weight. They fly great at 23% FOC (350 Spine). 25 yards is my comfortable max, with a special 35 yards holding on the spine.

[IFunk]

I got my 200 grain cutthroats a week and a half ago and have been very pleased with their flight performance. They are attached to heritage 150’s. I’ve been shooting them into foam with a multi layer cardboard backer. Will touch them up on the wet stone tonight before heading out in the morning. Saved my lungs last weekend so this will be my first outing. Good luck to everyone going out this weekend and be safe.