Hunting Fun

Bowhunting has become a very popular sport all across the country. Sportsmen have found that Bowhunting allows them to practice the woodsman skills at a completely new level because of the limited range at which a bow is an effective weapon. There are many factors to consider when choosing the right bowhunting arrow.

The first consideration when choosing a bowhunting arrow is what material should be used for the arrow. Aluminum has been used since the late 1950s and has proven to produce the straightest arrows coming from the factory. One drawback to aluminum shafts is the fact that they can be bent if not careful. Carbon shafts are not quite as straight as aluminum. These, however, can not be bent further from the true without breaking. This eliminates the effect of a bent arrow firing off to the side. Some arrows today are made of aluminum coated with carbon. These are very nearly as straight as solid aluminum shafts and they will bend a little but the carbon is likely to crack revealing the flaw.

The type of bow being used is another consideration when choosing a bowhunting arrow. Certain compound and crossbows have such a heavy pull to them that they could actually split an arrow made of too weak a material or with too thin a wall to the shaft. It is important to choose a heavy enough arrow to withstand the stress of being fired.

It is also important to know the draw length of the bow being used. Arrows come in different lengths to be used with different sizes of bow. Only arrows of an appropriate length for the bow will fly properly when fired. Arrows too long for a smaller bow will drop too quickly and arrows too short for a larger bow will allow the bow to reach its maximum draw length, and consequently draw weight.

There are two different types of fletching available on modern arrow. Many use smooth plastic vanes to stabilize the arrow in flight. These are often applied with a very slight twist so that they will induce a spin in the arrow when fired. The other type uses natural feathers just as was done centuries ago. The method of fletching will cause some differences in the arrow flight, so choosing the one that works best for you is essential.

Different types of arrow heads are also available for use on bowhunting arrows. All large game hunters are required to use broad heads when hunting. This usually means either three razor blades at 120 degrees offset or 4 at 90 degrees. Some do not deploy the razorblades until impact. All of these features will affect the way an arrow flies slightly.

For those wishing to hunt small game or to target practice, field tips are usually adequate. These arrow heads are normally either shaped to a needle fine point or shaped similar to a bullet. The absence of the razorblades used to hunt big game will also make the arrows fly a little bit differently, making it essential to practice regardless of the type of game being hunted.

Choosing the right bowhunting arrow is not always an easy task. There are several different factors, including material, fletching, arrow head design, length of shaft, etc that must be considered in order to make the correct choice of the right bowhunting arrow for you.

By: David F. Hugo

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