Elk set up?

[bjpfamily]

I'm going on my first bow hunt for elk this year. I've always favored a heavy set up for penetration but have obviously compromised speed and trajectory. I've taken 4 whitetails @ 40 or more yds. and have bow hunted for for approx. 25-30 yrs. I'd like the input of you tech. guys as to the the best setup. I shoot a 70# 29.5" Hoyt X-Tec. I was tinking about something like a grizzly stik tapered shaft. with a heavy broadhead, but have no idea how this would fly and if I'd be going to far into the mass/momentum side of the tracks for a modern compound. Would like to achieve pass-thru's or lethality on a misplaced shot encountering heavy bone mass. Also, is this the bow for the job or would another be preferable. Intrigued by the new PSE X-Force! Thanks all.

[Greg Krause]

I would most liely go with a 28.5"- 29" Easton Axis 340, with a 100 grain RM Turbo and 3, 3" Duravanes. That should get you to around 430grains and probably around 270+ FPS. You would be spined perfect and getting at least 70#'s of KE. I shot in the 270 area last year and it's still pretty flat. No problem at all with a rangefinder. You very well may come in faster because of your long draw, I am guessing....on the conservative side.

[michihunter]

I'll give you the specs of my setup and you can determine if it fits your needs. I shoot a 29"/71# Bowtech Tech 29 with 28.5" Carbon Express Terminator Select arrow with 100gr Montec and 5" Duravanes. Total arrow weight is 455gr. Out of the Tech 29 I get 292 fps for 86#'s of KE. Your Hoyt will be slightly slower with that setup but I would think it would still be in the 280 range with about 78# of KE. I'm a big believer in finding a median that compromises both weight and speed and I believe that can be found at about 6.0- 6.4 gpp.

[BT]

bjpfamily said:

Would like to achieve pass-thru's or lethality on a misplaced shot encountering heavy bone mass. Also, is this the bow for the job or would another be preferable. Intrigued by the new PSE X-Force! Thanks all.

We are going to be doing an in depth momentum V.S. K.E. Test this summer so that will show you the answers to your questions.
BUT....
The Grizzly stick is going to be a pretty strong choice under some of the worst circumstances.

Here is a Pic of an animal that was hunted by two archers using 450 grain arrows and then one man (who finished the job) with a grizzly stick at the same relative yardage.





Notice that the 450gr. arrows didn't even pass through and those were 80# compounds
See what the guy who took it is shooting

Here is another....

Water buffalo with a recurve.
Below is the real deal on how the head and arrow worked in making it through the baddest ribs on earth







I may have all the faith in the world in my set up but I would still consider the evidence

[bjpfamily]

What about 2 blade vs. 3 blade for penetration. And how well will the 2 blade fly a high speeds? I'd like to be effective at the longest range possible. Sure can get expensive to experiment, looking for the right combo.

Michihunter, have you used your setup on elk or large game and how did it perform?

BT, How's that saying go? A picture 's worth a 1000 words. Is that a rib bone or a piece of wood?

[michihunter]

Sure haven't bjp. Only whitetail. But I can assure you that it would certainly be effective!!

[BT]

bjpfamily said:

What about 2 blade vs. 3 blade for penetration. And how well will the 2 blade fly a high speeds? I'd like to be effective at the longest range possible. Sure can get expensive to experiment, looking for the right combo.

That's why we have this testing
A two blade head is going to outperform due to the lower mass be it in flight or penetration.

BT, How's that saying go? A picture 's worth a 1000 words. Is that a rib bone or a piece of wood?[/quote]

That's a rib

[Greg Krause]

I love the look of those Silver Flames.........may have to get some this year.

[shaman]

admin said:

Here is a Pic of an animal that was hunted by two archers using 450 grain arrows and then one man (who finished the job) with a grizzly stick at the same relative yardage.

What was the distance.
Either that guy was a great long distance trad shooter or the other two guys were terrible reasonable distance shooters..

[royden]

bjp -

I am a western montana elk hunter myself and have shot a number of 'em myself. I used to shoot a parker huntermag at 70#/29" draw (too short for me!) - I used easton epics with it and killed 2 elk (sorry no pics - I'm not a camera/gadget kinda guy) the first one (with a montec) hit and chipped the upper part of the front leg and broke two ribs - mister elk went about 60 yards. Another bull was a complete rib cage pass thru with two broken ribs (sonic and 29" 6075 terminators). Another bull at 8 yards was a perfect heart shot that deflected off of a rib and exited out the far side with a liver shot. I think that sonic was dull after rattling around in my quiver too much. That was also a CX terminator. My advice is to aim for 6.5grns/pound draw weight and use scary sharp broadheads that are solidly built. I prefer the wound that a three blade gives because it opens up to a mostly round hole where a two blade stays more like a slice and doesn't bleed as well. Personally I think you have a better chance of hitting leg bones on a deer 'cause of the size of the boiler room on an elk. Wait for the broadside or quarting away shot and avoid the front leg. thats my .02