last year i switched to woodsman on whitetail. last deer i killed left a blood trail a blind man could have followed. i may be going on an elk hunt this year(if drawn) and wonder how they would work with a bow 48-50#. how many have used them on elk in this # range?

Woodsman is a great head and when sharpened sharp! and placed in the honey hole it will take any animal in NA with a 48-50# bow. 50#  is the most common bow weight in my opinion and as long as you place the arrow it will work.

I use them for elk, but my bow is 60# and my arrows are right around 625 grains. They've been devastating on all the animals I've taken!

They have been used quite effectively in taking much larger game than elk.

Nice pic Tree Killer!

Here is a good article on broadhead choice from Tommy at RMSGear.com, one of the sponsors. The guys at RMSG are about as knowledgeable as anybody out there on elk hunting and traditional archery in general. You can take to heart what these guys tell you. I personally feel you would be better served with a good two blade broadhead. I have a very long draw and pull about 60lbs and when I'm elk hunting, the first arrow out of my quiver is a 2 blade stinger, I do have a 4 blade stinger for when I know my shot is going to be very close, but it's got three 2 blade stingers keeping it company. Living in elk country, we talk elk broadheads almost on a daily basis, i'm absolutely no expert, but a lot of the guys I hang with really know what they are talking about concerning elk hunting and elk hunting equipment and in general, 3 bladed broadheads for elk don't get much positive press. Good luck and I hope you get drawn, it's the coolest hunting ever for elk;)

http://rmsgear.com/broadhead_debate.html

Thanks for this thread. I am going elk hunting this year, and was going to use WW. The WW has been deadly for me on whitetails, and its the head I can get the most scary sharp.
Good confirmation of what my plan was! Shooting a 51# recurve with 600gr arrows (300gr upfront), and WW. Look out elk here I come.
Thanks

chris <><

Yep a heavy arrow and sharp WW will do the trick for sure.  I've taken quite a few with that combo.

Mike

I wouldn't hesitate to shoot an elk with your set up. I have been using the Woodsman Elite heads now for 2 years and have no complaints with them. I will be going to a 2 blade Grizzly though this year after watching the videos of Dr. Ashby's lectures at Kzoo. Those slides seriously impressed me and have me convinced I need to atleast try the Grizzlies.

I have taken quite a few wild boar,that IMO are tougher than the elk,with them and they worked flawless,I like the Elite 250 a little more,easier to sharpen and tougher too.

Good shot placement with a sharp head and you will have a downed Elk.

A WW B/H dropped this years elk in about 200 yards.
A couple of years ago I killed a bull with a ww and when I got to that dead bull I could still see my tree stand!  yes WW work well on Elk.

my arrows are about 675 gr. as well as i can remember

Just asking a question without detail really doesn't give course to the best answer.  

Now that we have the bow weight and arrow weight....

What about draw length?....BIG difference in 25 and 30.

QuoteOriginally posted by Terry Green:
Just asking a question without detail really doesn't give course to the best answer.  

Now that we have the bow weight and arrow weight....

What about draw length?....BIG difference in 25 and 30.

Also an important factor to consider is arrow speed. An arrow that weighs 675 grains that is going 170 fps has a lot more energy than a 675 grain arrow going 140 fps.

i have a 28.5" draw.

I shot an elk last season with a 160 gr Woodsman Elite, total arrow wt 685gr - 59 lb longbow, 30 yards, Total penetration. Recovery distance 25 yards!!!

Up here in the group I run with, Three blade broadheads are frowned upon for big bull elk.  Everyone that has shot enough elk with a stickbow has a broadhead failure story.  Many include a woodsman.    

Prepare for the worst and accept the best rather than the other way around.  

My 2 cents.

Good luck on your hunt either way.

I love woodsman elites I have been carrying them the last two years for elk and will be for a long time. I think there has been a broadhead failure with every brand. I have seen four elk in the last two years shot three were recovered one was not all were shot with two blades three were hit in a more or less fital area one in the guts. One of the kills was the same guy as the gut shot you could blame the head but it was shot placement to fault. Of all four there was hardly any blood trail I will stick with my woodsman and try to put it in the vitals that is was matters.  Widow