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Broadheads for elk

GCTerpfan

GCTerpfan

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Garrett County, MD
Trying to decide on what broadheads to shoot this fall when elk hunting.

I currently shoot a 54lb bow at my 29.5" draw and a 575 gr. arrow. My arrows are currently tuned for 200 grain broadheads. Right now I have 3 blade VPA's, Centaur SB Big game heads that are 1.8" wide, and tons of zwickeys. I was also looking at standard cutthroats (1.25" wide), and the new cutthroat wides that are 1.5" wide. My dad's trying to convince me to shoot the 3 blade VPA's.

My only concern is with a 3 blade I know that I don't have any chance at getting through an elk scapula. But, I'm not sure I have a chance at getting through an elk scapula with a 2 blade SB? Part of me thinks I probably don't so I might as well shoot the 3 blade.

Any of you guys stuck an arrow through an elk with a trad bow? Should I shoot the 1.25" cutthroat for maximum penetration? The 1.5" wide cutthroat for slightly bigger hole? Go with the BIG 1.8" wide SB 2 blade or the 1.25" wide 3 blade?
 
You are not going to get any of your broadheads through an elk scapula. It does not matter if you are shooting a broadhead with two, three, four, or eighteen blades! Don’t aim there, don’t miss there, don’t hit there….just don’t go there!

One thing to think about with elk is their ribs are heavier, thicker, and wider than a deer. Using a narrower profile broadhead has a better chance of slipping through the ribs; using a wider broadhead has a better chance of hitting a rib. I would stay away from those 1.8” wide heads. Narrower in the 1”-1.25” range is better IME.
 
I’ve never hunted Elk so I should just keep my mouth shut but I really like the flight characteristics, balance, ease of sharpening and nearly identical weight of my 150gr. Three blade VPA’s!
 
Yeah, not planning on shooting near the shoulder and I know I’m not getting through it if I center punch it but maybe if I catch the edge a 2 blade versus 3 blade makes a difference? I Probably shouldn’t have muddied the water with the scapula comment, it’s a minor consideration.

But let’s talk penetration in general, best case scenario what’s the chance I get an exit hole with a three blade, versus two?
 
Elk ribs are pretty beefy, I think a 2 blade single bevel is probably the best option, 1.25" wide is plenty wide IMO. If you have the 3 blade VPAs and they fly well and are scary sharp, then I wouldn't be too concerned about shooting them either. There's no such thing as too much penetration
 
It is going to come down to preference. The facts are, a two blade will have better penetration than a 3 blade if all factors are the same including sharpness (most important). So say your three blade wides will have the least penetration, the three blade standards better and probably around the same as a two blade wide and lastly a two blade standard will have the best penetration all due to more/less cutting face. Alternatively…. Run that scenario backwards and you get the most damage if they all have the same penetration. I believe penetration is more important than cutting surface when it comes to elk because you can’t expect a pass thru shot only hope for it. You can absolutely destroy a lung with a 3 blade broadhead but an elk can go a long ways on one lung. If everything is perfect, you hit no bone and you have the penetration to get a pass thru with a 3 blade… that’s the best option but rarely would everything go perfectly…. Also, if hitting a bone, a two blade will be better at breaking or loose less penetration as it cuts thru or turn off the bone because of less surface area contacting that bone.

personally, I go with a 1 1/16” cut two blade with a 3/4” bleeder for penetration. Limit your distance and make sure your shot placement is there… 3 blade can get the job done.
 
I've killed more than a couple of elk with recurves and longbows. With a variety of broadheads. Zwickey deltas, woodsman, zephyr Sirocco, simmons tree shark, and others I can't think of right now. Take broadside shots at 20 and in you'll be fine.
I always advocate for a heavy arrow as well.
 
Phopkins said:
I've killed more than a couple of elk with recurves and longbows. With a variety of broadheads. Zwickey deltas, woodsman, zephyr Sirocco, simmons tree shark, and others I can't think of right now. Take broadside shots at 20 and in you'll be fine.
I always advocate for a heavy arrow as well.
Click to expand...
How well did the tree shark perform on elk? Bone encountered? Penetration?
 
BTaylor said:
How well did the tree shark perform on elk? Bone encountered? Penetration?
Click to expand...
I killed 2 with tree sharks. One quartering away, no bone encountered, the other shot through the ribs. The broadhead was horizontal so it had to chip a piece out of each rib. Made it through both lungs, no exit but didn't need a blood trail as the small bull ran 30 yards and tipped over.
 
I will just say that there is no reason to go buy broadheads given what you already have. If I were you I would find a local overthinkers anonymous meeting (I can recommend one if you're in west central MN), screw on the VPAs, and go kill an elk ;).
 
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