Have been wanting to get into bow hunting but never got around to it. Well I signed up for a 2018 elk archery hunt and just bought a Hoyt Defiant Pro 34, and am now looking for arrow and broadhead recommendations.

I've never bow hunted and dont know the first thing about arrows and broadheads, just figured the best way to get started is to jump in.

I know there will be a ton of work and practice getting started. I'll be trying to get some time in this year during whitetail season.

My draw length is 29" and weight is 70#
What type of arrow and broadhead setup do you use?
Do you use those same arrows for target practice?
Is there a standard range of grain for elk hunting vs whitetail hunting?

Guessing your Elk hunt is "spot and stalk"?

If yes, my thoughts is that does not need to be the first thing you hunt. You have 2.5 more weeks of archery only whitetail hunt (that is if you live in Texas). Hunt deer, turkey, hogs... everything you can for 2017.

After that, practice 2X what ever shot you are planning to take. If you plan to take an elk at 30 yards, practice at 60 yards.

On a cell so I won't go into much detail, but do not cheap out on your arrow build. Get quality components and have your arrows built by someone who knows what they're doing.

Check out the nock on YouTube channel and podcast. Super detailed, but he's great at breaking concepts down. Get the right spine, have a total arrow weight that gives a good balance between speed and penetration (280 seems to be a top end target a lot of knowledgeable people aim for).

This thread to me is like saying "I've never owned a truck before, but want one so I'm gonna go to the Ford dealership and get a 2018 F350".

Honestly, hunt a lot with your bow before. Shoot a lot of hogs. Tons. Get heavier arrows like the Full Metal Jackets and 125 grain broadheads. Be able to hit a target at 60 yards fairly accurately while out of breath (since you'll be nervous and stalking a long ways). Tons more you need to know, but that's probably the most important.

My bow gets in on Friday. Looking to get some use this year with it. Will certainly be practicing a ton.

Thanks for the suggestion on The Nock, I'll check it out.

Sounds like there is a lot more learning to do than just picking up the right grain Remington.

Yeah, pretty spot on.

After bow hunting for the last 12-13 years, I finally went on my first elk archery trip this year. I would highly recommend, if you can, deer hunting with a bow only and getting a kill or two under your belt.

Bow hunting is challenging and not something you just walk into... takes a lot of practice and time spent making stupid mistakes so you can learn from them. Compound that with a lack of oxygen and feeing in your legs, and taking a 55yd shot on an elk becomes extremely difficult.

My setup included:

70lb draw on Mathews Z7
Carbon express 350s
100gr fixed blade - G5 Montecs



Good luck!

Yep. 10 months is plenty of time to prepare if you take it seriously. I'd recommend a 500+ grain arrow flying less than 275fps w a fixed broadhead. I've killed them w mechanicals too, but I havr much more confidence in a fixed.

This may sound stupid, but once you're comfortable shooting your bow, run sprints or jog for an extended period of time and then take a shot as you heart and respiratory rate is elevated. It's about as close as you can get to replicating the adrenaline and lack of oxygen you'll have when taking a shot.

If elk is your main goal then penetration is key. To me that means a heavy arrow with a smaller diameter and a fixed blade broadhead.

I use Easton Deep 6 FMJ's. Make sure of your spine. My hunting rig has 80 pounds limbs and I use 330's.

My broadhead is QAD Exodus, it's a fixed 3-blade that I can make hits on targets up to 100 yards. There will be plenty of guys that will tell you that mechanicals work great on elk. It may be true but that has not been my experience. Especially if you are considering shots over 40 yards.

My current set up will blow through a block target at 20 yards. I've had a complete pass through on an elk at 70 yards. My set up may well be overkill, but it works for me. I also practice a lot and never take my broadheads off when practicing with my hunting rig. I wear out a lot of targets but it's worth the extra expense for me to not have to make adjustments back and forth to field tips.

No such thing as overkill

Easton is your best choice for small diameter arrows in my opinion. Look at the Easton Axis or Easton FMJs.

Easton, GoldTip, Carbon Express are sort of the three major arrow companies.

What is your draw length and what poundage will you be shooting?

Sean98 said:

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Easton is your best choice for small diameter arrows in my opinion. Look at the Easton Axis or Easton FMJs.

Easton, GoldTip, Carbon Express are sort of the three major arrow companies.

What is your draw length and what poundage will you be shooting?

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Looking like 70# w/ 29" DL. Thanks for the feedback.

agingcowboy said:

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If elk is your main goal then penetration is key. To me that means a heavy arrow with a smaller diameter and a fixed blade broadhead.

I use Easton Deep 6 FMJ's. Make sure of your spine. My hunting rig has 80 pounds limbs and I use 330's.

My broadhead is QAD Exodus, it's a fixed 3-blade that I can make hits on targets up to 100 yards. There will be plenty of guys that will tell you that mechanicals work great on elk. It may be true but that has not been my experience. Especially if you are considering shots over 40 yards.

My current set up will blow through a block target at 20 yards. I've had a complete pass through on an elk at 70 yards. My set up may well be overkill, but it works for me. I also practice a lot and never take my broadheads off when practicing with my hunting rig. I wear out a lot of targets but it's worth the extra expense for me to not have to make adjustments back and forth to field tips.

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Assuming you also hunt whitetail, do you use the same or a different setup for that?

I haven't hunted white tail for many years, but when I do I will use the same set up. I think you have more flexibility with smaller game like deer. You could use expandables or lighter arrows and be fine, but for consistency I'll keep my set up the same. It's not like rifle hunting where using a larger than necessary caliber could damage meat.

Same set up for all big game species. Although I use a different setup for turkeys because I want to avoid that fast pass through and dump more energy into the bird.

I found this site to be a great resource in learning about arrows specifically when I bought my bow and got into bow hunting.

http://www.huntersfriend.com/carbon-arrow-basics-measurement-standards-research-guide.html

-Easton ST Axis N-Fused (don't know your draw length or weight)
-Grim Reaper 3 blade Razorcut 100gr broadheads

Easton FMJ's and 125gr Grim Reapers.

Total arrow weight is about 490gr's and think last I chrono'd was around 260fps. I use the same arrows, but shoot field points most of the year. I do shoot the practice "broadheads" quite a bit once closer to the season.

As others said penetration/energy is more important than speed for elk.

I shoot Carbon Express Pile Driver Hunter 250s, 100 gr heads, total arrow weight around 450 gr. 2013 Bear Method bow at 60#. Given that, it's a little slow for my liking, but I hope to upgrade soon and don't want to put forth the effort of getting lighter arrows to gain some speed.

Black Eagle Rampage .300s (8.7 gpi)
29"
75 grain Brass Easton HIT Inserts
Q2I Raptor II vanes
4" white wrap
100 grain QAD Exodus

470ish grains all glued up.

15% FOC

Thanks for the suggestions

How are the hiits working with the BE Rampages? I've had good luck with the half outserts, but wouldn't be opposed to some more weight up front so I can switch to 100gr heads.

Elite Impulse 34 29/70
Easton Axis 300 27.5" carbon to carbon with 75 gr Brass HIT insert
nockturnal x-nocks
Flex Fletch FFP-360 Vanes
125 gr Slick Trick Mag or Magnus Stinger 4-blade
544 Total Arrow Weight

Calculators say I should be
speed: 268 fps
Kinetic: 86.9 ft-lbs
Momentum: 0.648 slugs
FOC: 14%

justinbentley said:

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Elite Impulse 34 29/70
Easton Axis 300 27.5" carbon to carbon with 75 gr Brass HIT insert
nockturnal x-nocks
Flex Fletch FFP-360 Vanes
125 gr Slick Trick Mag or Magnus Stinger 4-blade
544 Total Arrow Weight

Calculators say I should be
speed: 268 fps
Kinetic: 86.9 ft-lbs
Momentum: 0.648 slugs
FOC: 14%

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Now that's an arrow. Wish texags had a flex emoji

I'm going to do the next dozen with the halfserts. One thing I've had issues with the HITs, first on my Easton Axis (340, 9.3 gpi) and now these is with Grim Reapers busting the end of the arrow upon impact.

The Eastons are the toughest dang arrows I know, but I've had two or three deer and a few targets cause the cups to splay the exposed carbon end of the arrrow if not supported or protected by a BAR.

Happened to me last weekend with my Rampages shooting at a target with a real GR Razor Tip to verify POI. Dead arrow. Doesn't happen wth the practice heads or with other broadheads, fixed or mechanical. But I love GRs and think they are the best mechanicals made so I want to shoot them.

I'm gonna order a dozen more and try their platinum halfserts with a 50 gr weight.

I shot two does this weekend, one with a QAD and one with a NAP Spitfire Max and both arrows were 12" plus in the dirt. Great penetration.

Edit: the standard halfserts are threaded to accept 30, 50, and 75 gr brass screw in weights. Don't know f you knew that. I think the platinum SS halfserts are too.