HOW MUCH ARROW WEIGHT IS ENOUGH?
Matt Bateman from Grim Reaper Broadheads spends a lot of time bowhunting. Bateman lives in Utah and almost every year he bow hunts in his home state as well as many other states. This year he killed multiple mule deer, an antelope, and a mountain goat in Canada. Bateman is known for successfully taking long range shots with a bow. “Many of the hunts I go on require me to take shots that are 50 yards and beyond”, said Bateman. “Antelope, mule deer, elk and many other western game animals are tough to sneak up on. As a result, I find myself taking long distance shots often.”
To maximize the odds of recovering the animals he shoots, Bateman tries to shoot an arrow that provides plenty of kinetic energy to kill what he is hunting but he doesn’t like shooting an extremely heavy arrow. “Many bowhunters are shooting arrows that weigh more than 500 grains and although that is fine, I find that a heavy arrow isn’t always the best option for bowhunters who are taking longer shots. I prefer an arrow that weighs around 400 grains. If I misjudge distance slightly at 40 or 50 yards, my shot is still going to a good shot. Heavy arrows drop much faster at longer distance. Making a good shot is more difficult on animals if I misjudge the distance by a few yards. When it comes to my bow and arrow setup, I prefer being middle of the road. My bow is fast, but not crazy fast. My arrows pack plenty of punch but aren’t super heavy.”
The same can be said about Bateman’s broadhead selection. Many bowhunters want to shoot a mechanical broadhead that offers a 2-inch cutting diameter or even larger. Bateman, on the other hand, prefers a Grim Reaper Broadhead with a 1-3/8’s cutting diameter. “Large cutting diameter broadheads can offer several advantages, especially at close range. When shooting at longer ranges, I prefer a moderate cutting diameter that is deadly but flies like a field point even at 50 yards and beyond. Some bowhunters like to tinker with their arrow setups depending on what type of animal they are hunting. I like to use an arrow and broadhead that can do a good job of killing a wide variety of species because over the course of a month, I might be hunting three or more different types of animals,” Bateman explained.
More bowhunters are going to extremes. Many bowhunters want super heavy arrows, large nasty broadheads, and a bow that shoots well beyond 340 FPS. Although that is fine, many of today’s top bowhunters like Matt Bateman prefer shooting a middle of the road setup that is extremely accurate and forgiving. “Accuracy trumps everything else in my opinion which is why I shoot the arrow setup I do,” Bateman said. “I know if I do my part and make a good shot, the odds of tagging the animal I am shooting at are extremely high.”
