Time is flying by and elk season is approaching, my first archery elk hunt. I am taking my newll acquired Great Northern Bushbow, which I love. I have a good arrow weight combo, I am shooting GT 55/75's uncut (longdraw) with a 100 gr insert and 175 gr tip. Good flight , good trajectory. Just a fuzz under 600 gr. I was going to use the VPA 175 gr Penetrator BH, unless someone has a better idea ???
How many BH's does one take on a hunting trip ? Arrows ? Does anyone make a 175 judo head? Thanks Guys. I know I will owe you guys each an elk steak for all your help thus far.
all is good in arrow and broadhead land, just shoot well
I only take three arrows on any given trip, and one of those is a judo/blunt, with two extra razor sharp heads (making 4 ttl heads) in my pack in case I miss something, to trade out for the dull one. But, I don't like to carry around too many arrows, and I've never needed more then two broadhead arrows on a given day. then again, I'm a little weird. I've seen guys with 7 arrows in a quiver. Not sure why you would plan to need more then one, with a second for if you get a second shot off...
Now, I do generally have a half dozen or so locked in the jeep.
I think the VPA would be excellent.Take an 11/32" glue-on Judo which is 135 grs and install a 42 gr aluminum adapter OR get VPA's small game thumpers in 175 gr.
I take a dozen arrows with me on the trip and 5 in my bow quiver when I go out hunting. One is a Judo and the rest are my Elk arrows. In my case 75/80 Doug Fir tipped with Abowyer Brown Bears. Don't forget a spare bowstring.
X 2 on the string. I wasted two days on a limited draw area once when I packed in to my spot, elk were screaming, took out an arrow and cut my string.
Yeah, not that I'm an elk hunter you want to emulate, but I head out with four arrows, three with Stingers and one blunt. Ditto on extra string, was out last year and messed up my string, was only up for the day, so I didn't have all my gear, trashed my string and when I asked my wife if I could have the one off her bow, she just hee hawed at me. I told her I didn't think that very considerate and she just laughed more. No respect these days!
On my 3 elk hunts I took 5 arrows 4 of those with broad heads. Since I did not shoot arrows on my 3 trips experience tells me that you do not need to take arrows. In fact my experience tells me I did not even need to take a bow. Therefore my advice to you, as an experienced elk hunter, is to save the weight and not take your bow or any arrows. I did use my binoculars, food, water, backpack, and gps. So I suggest taking those items. Hope I was of some help.
On my 3 elk hunts I took 5 arrows 4 of those with broad heads. Since I did not shoot arrows on my 3 trips experience tells me that you do not need to take arrows. In fact my experience tells me I did not even need to take a bow. Therefore my advice to you, as an experienced elk hunter, is to save the weight and not take your bow or any arrows. I did use my binoculars, food, water, backpack, and gps. So I suggest taking those items. Hope I was of some help.
If your hunting with me I would rather you not bring an extra string. My hunting partner didn't bring one last year and he got to call for me after he touched his string with a broadhead at O-dark thirty. I didn't take my bow one morning a few years ago since I was only going to call for an out of state friend of mine. He missed a nice six point when he says he nicked a branch. The bull was not spooked, continued on up to where I was calling. He stopped broadside and bugled at seven yards. I enjoyed the show. The good Lord knows, I love elk hunting. Oh, I would rather have one to many arrows than one to few.
I hunt with a 5 or 6 arrow quiver with one of them being a blunt, judo, or old broadhead. I take a dozen or so total at camp. Its a rare occasion to need more than whats in your quiver on a week long hunt, but you just never know. Wounded critter, great grouse hunting, alien attack, a buddy that forgets his arrows, or any number of things can result in ammo running low.
I am with most of the fellows up top, bring as many arrows to camp as you can, elk live in some nasty real estate and one good fall can wipe out a quiver of arrows. Like Glunt mentioned you may get into grouse and so on, hunting is hunting an elk bugling in your face or a big blue posing on a limb. Everyone has mentioned the extra string and I sure agree, can you imagine be back in several miles and touching the string, on your way back to the truck is when you run into a 400 inch monster that you end up throwing your bow at. In camp I have as many good arrows as I can bring, extra broad heads, file and stone, hot melt and other fix-em up stuff I may need, it does not take up much room. Plan for the worst and it probably won't happen.
Thanks Guys. 79 days till I leave.
I took a dozen arrows on the trip. I had 3 with broadheads and one with a judo point while hunting. Three were set up back at the camp with field points for practice. I had an extra BH and an extra judo in my pack in a hard plastic medicine bottle. Sadly never used anything but the judo and practice points. lol
The VPA is an excellent hea, but I chose to use a heavier brass insert with 125 grain heads. Lots more choices of BHs and the judos are weighted correctly.
I have 5 arrows in quiver with one judo/blunt. I also have more arrows in my arrow tube at camp. I agree you should only need one arrow but I carry more than one bullet with my gun. Elk hunting can be feast/famine. You might not get a single shot OR you might miss once, then put two arrows in the same bull. You might shoot at a coyote or have some other tags (deer/bear etc..) which also requires more than one arrow. You might lose fletching, nock, inserts, or other equipment issues. You might shoot your judo and break/damage an area. I use to only carry 3 arrows that was it, but I don't ever want my hunting trip to be failure due to planning or packing issues. The old saying "its better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it"!! GOOD LUCK!!
grouse shooting with broadheads is a unique skill, which must be practiced.
the trick is to only draw 6"-12", and just plunk 'em in the breast.
no lost arrows, no lost birds.
grasshoppers are good practice.
joe
We were back in around 8-10mi last year in Idaho hunting elk and deer among several other critters we had tags for. Think it was day 2 when my buddy fell in some rocks and broke 4 of the 5 arrows in his bow quiver , we were close to our camp and I had 7 extra arrows in a tube.He had none If he had been alone he would have been a one arrow wonder.My pack is always heavy , plan for the best and count on the worst.
,,,,,Sam,,,,,,
brazos, that was funny right there, I dont care who you are...