Hey all,

I'd like to pick up some of the broadheads with the 3:1 ratio to use for hog hunting.  I have never killed a hog before and need advice on the best gear to use.  I know the most important thing is to have a very sharp head and put it in the armpit and high of the hog.  If possible try and get a quartering away shot.

Now that that's said, what head would you recommend I put in my quiver?  I will be shooting a 48 pound Dave Johnson longbow or a 47 pound vintage Bear Grizzly.  I will be using aluminum or carbon arrows in the 500 spine or 2016 size.  No weights or other inserts, just standard weight heads as they come from the maker.

In the new 3-Rivers catalog I saw the re-introduction of those HUNTER HEADS and they looked like a good head to use, but what do I know?

If you were going on a hog hunt and wanted to use 3:1 ratio head, which one would you choose?

If you feel these heads are not the best choice for me, feel free to add your recommendation on other heads.


Feel free to PM with any advice, help or knowledge sharing.  I can use all of it I can get.

Thanks all.

Nalajr

Really any quality head you would use for deer will work for hogs.  I have taken them with 200 grain VPA 3 blade, 200 grain VPA 2 blade and Magnus Stinger with the bleeders.  I am heading back to GA in FEB and will have the 2 blade VPA in the quiver.  

Not sure what you mean by armpit and high but you will find better kills if you hit low and as forward (tight) to the shoulder  as you can get on hogs.

any quality head you would use for deer or bear would work well for you.  If you are set on the 3:1 ratio or similar....I only have experience with Grizzly Kodiak (200gr) and Ribtek (190) heads for hogs, deer and bear.  

I had full length penetration on a wild boar a couple years ago that turned to run at the last moment just as I released...instead of hitting behind shoulder I hit right rear ham and it disappeared inside of him going forward towards the left front shoulder.  Never found that arrow in the hog, in the pluff mud or anywhere.

Most recent is bear hunt in June in Saskatchewan...shot a very large black bear at 10 yards high in shoulder and the arrow penetrated through muscle and bone and exited low behind the left armpit with fletching up top and broadhead sticking out low of my 30 inch arrow.  Arrow broke off 1/4 of way from head so did not recover head but did remainder of arrow.  Bear was 50-65 yards in the bush stone cold dead.

both of these were out of 50 and 55 pound bows respectively.

I would think the broadheads already mentioned by previous person and myself...plus Tuffhead all in 2-blade configurations would serve you well with your 45# bow weight in designs that are near that 3:1 ratio you seek.

Biggest thing is shot placement and being able to put a very good edge on whichever head you choose.

Not sure why you are saying high on the hog...don't want to shoot over the spine, and high on a hog from a tree stand will be too high for sure as hogs are much rounder than deer and you will high higher than you think.  Also, not sure why you think you need to get a quartering away shot when broadside is just as good.  You need to check out the hog shot placement thread stickied at the top and see for yourself.

Also, if you do decide to use ribtec heads, make sure you use enough glue to fill in between those ribs on those furrels as thick shields and those perpendicular ribs on those ribtec furrels don't go well together, you need a slick furrel.  Trust me, I found out the hard way.

I would recommend Grizzly all the way... either the 3 blade Instincts or the single bevel 2 blades are bad to the bone....and beyond....

I was a big woodsman fan for years until i got some hog hunting under my belt and folded a couple of those heads up.... Grizzly broadheads wont do that.

Funny, I've never folded any woodsmans, but have a grizzly.  And I've killed a lot of hogs.  How many you killed Kirk?

Nothing against any other head, but they ALL will fold if given the right scenario ......I have a lot of heads I've folded 'goofing off' and testing them....but I pyramid my Wensels tips a bit and I've yet to fold one....not ONE.  But I'm sure I might some day, but its certainly not a common occurrence.  I could also show pics and name names of other heads that I've destroyed but I wont cause as I said, they all can be destroyed.

Here's a few animals I've killed with them.

 

   

   

   

     

       

   

   

Oh, and I should add that that's also no reflection on Grizzly, they make a great head, but I've also bent and chipped a lot of other well made heads.  Like stated above, any can fail due to the right conditions.  I'm also glad Grizzly is making a 3 blade head now.

Thanks all.

Cool hat there Terry in a few of those pics.  I think I saw Phyllis Diller wearing something like that a few times.     :cool:  

Anyway, I have some of the 3 blade Woodsman heads at 125gr., should I pyramid the tips on them or sharpen them when I sharpen the edges?

Thanks

Nalajr

When I talk about the "arm pit" and "HIGH" on the hog, this is what I am referring to:

I really am a fan of the Tuffhead or the Woodsman elite (VPA).  I have taken hogs with both.  I think with the lighter bow weight you would benefit from a true 3:1 broadhead for a hog.  Tuffheads are not the cheapest, but really are scary sharp out of the package and are a true 3:1 advantage.  I am shooting Vintage Archery Meathead out of longbow, VPA out of a curve.

Tuffhead Boar

Woodsman's are very hard to beat.  I've used them on hog, deer, elk and a variety of other critters.

They work great.

Mike

I don't understand why everyone is so crazy about the little heads?  I head down in a little over a weeks time, and have 12 tree sharks, 18 snuffer 160s and 3 VPA 175 2 blades (just for the off chance I run into a monster.

I think for the most part if your shooting over 50 lbs a bigger head is wayyy better for 95 percent of the pigs a guy will shoot.

I don't understand why everyone is so crazy about the little heads?  I head down in a little over a weeks, have 12 tree sharks, 18 snuffer 160s and 3 VPA 175 2 blades (just for the off chance I run into a monster.

I think for the most part if your shooting over 50 lbs a bigger head is wayyy better for 95 percent of the pigs a guy will shoot.

Nala,
 Shot the original Hunters Heads on hogs for some years in HI with success. Watched TG member Bill Carlsen 'torture test' the originals when they first came out by shooting them into cinder blocks. They stuck into the block without curling, breaking or bending. Tough heads - can't speak about the new issue.
 Good hunting!
           Todd

I would have to agree with Adam, although if you run into one of the monsters, maximizing your penetration can help.  It just isn't very likely that you will run into that situation.  I almost never use 3:1 heads, but shoot a little more energetic setups.

QuoteOriginally posted by gehrke145:
I don't understand why everyone is so crazy about the little heads?  I head down in a little over a weeks time, and have 12 tree sharks, 18 snuffer 160s and 3 VPA 175 2 blades (just for the off chance I run into a monster.

I think for the most part if your shooting over 50 lbs a bigger head is way better for 95 percent of the pigs a guy will shoot.

The OP is shooting 48 pounds with a Hill style longow.  Penetration is why one would shoot a narrow 3:1 head with that set up.  A wider head, given all other varibales being the same, will not penetrate as easily.  Pentration is one key element in increasing your success at recovery of the animal.

Oh, I am not disputing that improved penetration can improve recovery. All I am saying is that it is the rare hog that causes you to worry about penetration so much.  Nothing wrong with maximizing your setup for penetration, especially with lower poundage bows.  I just wouldn't let it stop me from chasing pigs or anything, lol.

Just make sure your arrows are well tuned and your heads are razor sharp and you won't have anything to worry about. I've killed big hogs with 125 grn 2 blades and small hogs with 200 grn 3 blades, Cheap heads, and expensive heads. And every  combo inbetween. They will all kill if you do your part!

They aint made out of steel. RC