Post by tynimiller on Aug 19, 2015 7:27:26 GMT -5
This just got discussed in great length on a couple forums I'm part of and figured I'd share my thoughts here as well.
Often times whenever hunters (especially bowhunters) discuss equipment choices it can turn into more of a debate than a discussion...however often times I've noticed it is usually just a disregard for the opposing facts that make one realize the "opposition" isn't necessarily wrong, they simply have a different preference.
A great example of this is arrow weight (not talking FOC or anything else). In today's bowhunting world I blame the manufacturer's for the infatuation with nothing other than speed. I mean anytime a new bow is released the manufacturer's can't slap us in the face with the IBO speed ratings of the bows...basically selling speed similar to how marketing sex has worked for well EVERYTHING it seems.
Speed however, IN MY OPINION, is a moot point these days. Let me give a couple speed examples just so folks maybe can draw a parallel with a speed reference they are used to....a 320fps converted to MPH is an astonishing 218 miles per hour. SERIOUSLY! A "slow" 250fps bow still shoots at an astonishing 170mph....man can't believe that still kills a deer....200fps a still FAST 136mph
Now the proverbial 320fps seems to be the "standard" in today's archery world, a bow slower than that is deemed a slow bow and one faster a fast bow. Sadly though anymore new or inexperienced (sometimes even experienced) hunters have no clue about weighting an arrow and the results of it...nor do they have any clue about Kinetic Energy.
The following outline is just my thoughts as to why speed is not factored in at all for me in ANY and ALL archery decisions I make.
In my opinion there are a few things that can go wrong causing a no harvest:
-Yardage mistake-
This is a common one amongst hunters, while yes you could hit high or low still and have a chance to kill but more commonly is a clean miss entirely. The best kind of thing to occur when something goes wrong is the deer be unscathed.
A lighter arrow can compensate for miss-guessing at yardage and in this "wrong" item a lighter arrow would be a positive strictly taking into consideration trajectory only.
-Impacting Bone-
This happens a lot more than most of us would care to admit most likely...quartering shots are notorious for opposite shoulder impacts or leg impacts. Not to mention the infamous shoulder impact we all dread can and will occur at some point in our bowhunting if it hasn't already. Impacting bone lessons blood trail often times, creates a wounded deer, higher casualty (but not always recovered) likelihood, and will sometimes stops arrow penetration to the point of no recovery/blood trail is even possible.
This is where a heavier arrow wins out over a lighter one. Think of it this way...if someone threw a spear made out of balsa wood at a door and then a spear made out of solid oak....which would have the greater likelihood of blowing through the regular wood door? The heavier one obviously...all goes back to KE each spear holds. A heavy arrow can overcome a bone hit and still be lethal, and at times very quickly.
-Lack of Penetration-
This is not a knock to anyone, but just watch some of the videos out there on the web. Very well known or online shows with a following you see multiple times (at times more often than not) deer shot and the arrow never makes it through the deer....EVEN ON 10 RING HITS. Now I get it that expandable broadheads by design are going to spend a lot more energy opening and some have more drag through the cavity...but it is disturbing how very few pass through shots you see these days. I know not all but I would be personally a lot of that has to do with guys chasing speed with lighter arrows that even spindly ribs slow down. The problem with this is getting only one side penetration can really hamper a blood trail in a big way...especially if from an elevated position; entrance hole is high and deer will fill up internally...where if you have an exit hole lower acts as a drain.
Obviously a heavier arrow wins here as well...simply because like when impacting bone the arrow holds a higher penetration potential and unless you attempt to pile drive the shoulders your arrow will more than likely end up passing completely through...upping your odds of a recovery immensely.
-Duck The Shot-
I will openly admit...modern bows basically eliminate in my opinion a deer's ability to jump a string....that said a quieter bow when shot eliminates this even more so.
A heavier arrow=a quieter bow.
-Wind-
Now this isn't a factor in short yardage but ask anyone hunting the plains or wide open spaces about whether wind plays a factor on shot accuracy and you'll learn quickly it does.
Heavier arrow will fight the wind and stay true to path much more than a lighter arrow.
---
It is the increased penetration potential that makes myself choose a heavier set up as opposed to a lighter one. To me the thing gained by a lighter set up, a flatter trajectory, simply doesn't out weigh the things gained by a heavier arrow set up. Doesn't mean I think people are stupid or wrong for choosing a lighter arrow...just not my choice personally for the reasons described.
I will say those that state the yardage mistake as their concern in my opinion should learn to be a better gauge of distance. Honestly, if you can't know your yardage whether by practice, write down each stand yardages or the use of a range finder I think there is a much bigger issue than arrow selection.
Blessings y'all! The season is bout upon us...whether light or heavy put it in the 10 ring and watch em fall!
Often times whenever hunters (especially bowhunters) discuss equipment choices it can turn into more of a debate than a discussion...however often times I've noticed it is usually just a disregard for the opposing facts that make one realize the "opposition" isn't necessarily wrong, they simply have a different preference.
A great example of this is arrow weight (not talking FOC or anything else). In today's bowhunting world I blame the manufacturer's for the infatuation with nothing other than speed. I mean anytime a new bow is released the manufacturer's can't slap us in the face with the IBO speed ratings of the bows...basically selling speed similar to how marketing sex has worked for well EVERYTHING it seems.
Speed however, IN MY OPINION, is a moot point these days. Let me give a couple speed examples just so folks maybe can draw a parallel with a speed reference they are used to....a 320fps converted to MPH is an astonishing 218 miles per hour. SERIOUSLY! A "slow" 250fps bow still shoots at an astonishing 170mph....man can't believe that still kills a deer....200fps a still FAST 136mph
Now the proverbial 320fps seems to be the "standard" in today's archery world, a bow slower than that is deemed a slow bow and one faster a fast bow. Sadly though anymore new or inexperienced (sometimes even experienced) hunters have no clue about weighting an arrow and the results of it...nor do they have any clue about Kinetic Energy.
The following outline is just my thoughts as to why speed is not factored in at all for me in ANY and ALL archery decisions I make.
In my opinion there are a few things that can go wrong causing a no harvest:
-Yardage mistake-
This is a common one amongst hunters, while yes you could hit high or low still and have a chance to kill but more commonly is a clean miss entirely. The best kind of thing to occur when something goes wrong is the deer be unscathed.
A lighter arrow can compensate for miss-guessing at yardage and in this "wrong" item a lighter arrow would be a positive strictly taking into consideration trajectory only.
-Impacting Bone-
This happens a lot more than most of us would care to admit most likely...quartering shots are notorious for opposite shoulder impacts or leg impacts. Not to mention the infamous shoulder impact we all dread can and will occur at some point in our bowhunting if it hasn't already. Impacting bone lessons blood trail often times, creates a wounded deer, higher casualty (but not always recovered) likelihood, and will sometimes stops arrow penetration to the point of no recovery/blood trail is even possible.
This is where a heavier arrow wins out over a lighter one. Think of it this way...if someone threw a spear made out of balsa wood at a door and then a spear made out of solid oak....which would have the greater likelihood of blowing through the regular wood door? The heavier one obviously...all goes back to KE each spear holds. A heavy arrow can overcome a bone hit and still be lethal, and at times very quickly.
-Lack of Penetration-
This is not a knock to anyone, but just watch some of the videos out there on the web. Very well known or online shows with a following you see multiple times (at times more often than not) deer shot and the arrow never makes it through the deer....EVEN ON 10 RING HITS. Now I get it that expandable broadheads by design are going to spend a lot more energy opening and some have more drag through the cavity...but it is disturbing how very few pass through shots you see these days. I know not all but I would be personally a lot of that has to do with guys chasing speed with lighter arrows that even spindly ribs slow down. The problem with this is getting only one side penetration can really hamper a blood trail in a big way...especially if from an elevated position; entrance hole is high and deer will fill up internally...where if you have an exit hole lower acts as a drain.
Obviously a heavier arrow wins here as well...simply because like when impacting bone the arrow holds a higher penetration potential and unless you attempt to pile drive the shoulders your arrow will more than likely end up passing completely through...upping your odds of a recovery immensely.
-Duck The Shot-
I will openly admit...modern bows basically eliminate in my opinion a deer's ability to jump a string....that said a quieter bow when shot eliminates this even more so.
A heavier arrow=a quieter bow.
-Wind-
Now this isn't a factor in short yardage but ask anyone hunting the plains or wide open spaces about whether wind plays a factor on shot accuracy and you'll learn quickly it does.
Heavier arrow will fight the wind and stay true to path much more than a lighter arrow.
---
It is the increased penetration potential that makes myself choose a heavier set up as opposed to a lighter one. To me the thing gained by a lighter set up, a flatter trajectory, simply doesn't out weigh the things gained by a heavier arrow set up. Doesn't mean I think people are stupid or wrong for choosing a lighter arrow...just not my choice personally for the reasons described.
I will say those that state the yardage mistake as their concern in my opinion should learn to be a better gauge of distance. Honestly, if you can't know your yardage whether by practice, write down each stand yardages or the use of a range finder I think there is a much bigger issue than arrow selection.
Blessings y'all! The season is bout upon us...whether light or heavy put it in the 10 ring and watch em fall!
