Written By: Ryan Reading, Fall Obsession Field Staff

There has been a trending topic for many years in the hunting industry about broadheads. Many great debates have taken place on whether to use a fixed blade or a mechanical blade for archery hunting and what’s ethical and most lethal. 

I myself, have been hunting for over thirty plus years now. At this point I believe I am well-educated enough to speak on this topic. I’ve seen hunters use every type of broadhead since the Razorback Fives. Fortunately, I’ve been able to speak with a multitude of hunters learning why they believe the broadhead they are using is best. I have learned about flight patterns, weights, and everything in between, but one thing stood out to me. Years back at a dinner speaking engagement Charles Alsheimer said to us one important thing that resonated with me. It’s all about shot placement.

Over the years using almost every type of broadhead I could get my hands on, I still haven’t settled on what’s best for me and for good reason. It all depends what bow I am shooting. Year after year I’m always changing and learning.

These are the pros and cons. Now some will say a fixed blade hits harder and will penetrate through shoulder bones, while mechanicals fly better or leave a better blood trail. While both can very well be true, the two most important things I have learned are shot placement (accuracy) and shoot what broadhead your bow likes. When I say that to people, they look at me as if a light went off in their heads. Think about this, you shoot a firearm and most firearms like certain types of ammunition and just shoot better. An example would be the 220 Savage 20 gauge. The firearm loves Remington and Federals while other slug guns may fire better with a Brenneke or Hornady. The point is, we go to great lengths choosing an ammunition for a firearm and the same should be done for arrow and broadhead setup. Shoot what your bow likes. Stop worrying about the newest gadgets and commercials. If your bow is accurate at 40 yards with a 400 grain or 500 grain setups, no matter if it’s a mechanical or fixed blade, then shoot that setup. 

When I say accurately, I mean no more than a 2-inch grouping at 40 yards. This means the bow is in tune with all the mechanicals and that arrow and broadhead agree with the bow you shoot. This will mean better accuracy and more downed animals no matter what broadhead is on your arrow. Consistency is key. The more accurate and more consistent the setup, the better chance you have of not wounding an animal and being more ethical. 

As we age as hunters and outdoors men and women, ethics play a vital roll in our sport. Facing facts, we want that animal to go down quickly and effectively. This aids in tracking and hauling game out, which as you age, isn’t the easiest thing to do. Learning that accuracy is key in clutch situations will makes us all better sportsmen and women. Shoot straight, continue learning and most importantly focus on accuracy.