I see that the back of the new Ashby broadhead is single beveled and sharpened.  I've read that feature is to rotate the shaft (if the arrow doesn't pass through) if/when it begins to back out the wound channel, thus retarding its ability to do so.  In other words, it's intended to keep the arrow in the animal, and/or do additional cutting as it backs out. Don't know if it actually works that way, but looks like it would.

I know that beveling (both single and double)and sharpening the back of broadheads has been done for quite some time, but it does raise a question in my mind.  It seems to be the same principle/intent as the barbed head, and I believe that's the reason barbed heads aren't legal in some states, Wisconsin for example. (Received updated information in a subsequent post.  Apparently barbed heads are legal in Wisconsin now.)

Of course, a lot of expandable heads, once they lock open, might be considered barbed heads as well. I haven't read where either of these features have become a regulatory issue in this state or elsewhere.  May be another area where regulation hasn't kept pace with technology.

Difficult to decide where to come down on this issue.  If the arrow stays in the animal and does additional cutting, it might lead to recovering animals that maybe wouldn't have been recovered otherwise.  On the other hand, on otherwise non-lethal hits, it's likely to cause unnecessary damage and trauma, and may ultimately lead to a dead, but unrecovered animal.

Not to mention how nice an arrow sticking out of a running deer looks to a family driving home from church.

"Difficult to decide where to come down on this issue." from Orion

Me too. I'm scratching my head on this one AND I wonder about a sharp edge pointing back at a klumsy-klutz like me.

QuoteOriginally posted by Orion:

barbed heads aren't legal in some states, Wisconsin for example.  

wisconsin abandoned it's barbed head rule years ago with the advent of the expandable heads. It was removed from the regs books almost a decade ago.

QuoteOriginally posted by Old York:
"Difficult to decide where to come down on this issue." from Orion

Me too. I'm scratching my head on this one AND I wonder about a sharp edge pointing back at a klumsy-klutz like me.

Been there and done that with my homemade heads.
       

Ron:  Any more info on how Wisconsin dropped the reg?  Was it just a matter of being in the regs one year and not the next?  There's always a caveat in the regs that says something to the effect that, "These aren't all the rules and regulations.  Check with the DNR for more information."  I'd be interested in knowing the agency's rationale behind the change.

I looked through all of Chapter 29 of the State Statutes located at:

http://nxt.legis.state.wi.us/nxt/gateway.dll?f=templates&fn=default.htm&d=stats&jd=29

I noticed this change from a few years ago when reading the Regs. booklet and saw the barbed rule was missing and called the DNR in Madison and was told that rule had been abandoned.

It must have happened at least 12 years ago because I read all the Hunting reg. booklets online all the way back to 1996 at this link

http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/regs/pastregs.htm

The Barbed head rule is missing. Like you, I remember reading the reg. booklet and seeing that heads must not be barbed and that is what prompted me to call  Madison. The guy on the phone said it was because of all the new heads on the market that were expandable that might be considered barbed and what an enforcement nightmare it would be to keep up with all the new designs each year.