There is plenty of joy in Mudville tonight!!!!

[bowhunter44]

Thanks for the warm words of congratulations and encouragement! I'm still in a state of disbelief, but the realization of what lies ahead is sinking in. I have some mountains to climb (literally and figuratively) before September!

So, which broadhead am I going to run into Billy? The NAP Nightmare, which I read amazing things about, perhaps?

[smj]

I look forward to your story! You could have a couple challenging days out ahead of you...

Congratulations on your draw! I've put in for sheep, goat, and moose but never did actually see a tag. Seems like with a point system, someone out there always has more than I do.

[bowhunter44]

Thanks so much for your encouragement and congratulations! I'm very excited for the adventure. I spoke to a friend of mine tonight that had a goat tag for the same unit two years ago, that told me that there were four mature bullies and two good up and comers then! I hope I can sleep tonight!

So, BT, someone... - which broadhead is THE choice for an Idaho billie??

[smj]

Which broadhead??? That is a tall order, since I don't know what you are going to be shooting! Also, how long a shot are you willing to take - I ask because a broadhead that is off a little at 20 yards, will no doubt be off by twice as much at 40 yards. (We don't really need to know how far you intend to shoot, or not shoot. Just understand why I asked! )

For a compound, I'd look at the NAP NightMare just reviewed. For a longbow or recurve, something different for sure!

Let's face it, you need a head that will:

after you to climb a 1000 vertical feet in a hurry and get off a quick shot at a fleeting target in the middle of a thunderstorm, or snow strom... while standing on the edge of a 500 foot drop with foggy glasses...

fly perfectly true for you.

[BT]

I will assume that (as smj points out) conditions are going to run the gambit as well as shot opportunity's.
For your compound .... If it were me?
Number one is flight and forgiveness during flight.
Secondly is penetration.

Myself....I would look at an expandable with a moderate cut of 1 1/4 or less and low profile that equates to a 2/1 or better when deployed.
Yes I do understand that this is the hunt of a lifetime with one shot opportunity.
Provided that I have 55# K.E. , I would go this route.

For a fixed head alternative...
I have done testing on a number of heads in cross winds and the Wasp Boss Bullet was one of the best with top shelf penetration potential when compared to other heads.
I would take the wasp in Bows down to 45# of K.E.

I cant speak for other heads which may or may not be able to perform well in cross winds which you are likely to encounter on your trip but expandables (by and large) and the Wasp are tops for all around IMO for this endeavor.

JMO

[bowhunter44]

Thanks for the replies y'all. Sorry for not providing much info. to accompany a question...

I shoot a Black Ice or a Vectrix. My max. range is 50 yards. Yes there will be a possibility of cross winds, after all the hunt is in Idaho! But being as the hunt is in Idaho, expandables are illegal!! You are right, flight (exceptional flight) and penetration (lots of penetration - I have played the dying blood trail game) are the primary orders of the day. During the sleepless hours of the night I was running broadheads through my mind and the name that kept coming up with a once-in-a-lifetime hunt was Silver Flame. What are your thoughts?

[smj]

The Silver Flame is one of the tips I took caribou hunting in Canada. I took the Silver Flame and the (now named) Blitz. I would not take the Blitz again. While it did punch through a caribou, it didn't have a lot of energy left over and just dropped on the other side of the animal. (around 290 fps with a ~450 grain arrow out of the compound) Still, the Blitz went right where I shot it every time. Very good flier! The Silver Flames I used on my longbow, didn't get the chance to try them out. (I hunted one day compound, the next with longbow. Animals showed up while out with the compound.) However, others have shot animals with the Silver Flame and found it to work great. I don't think you'd go wrong with it...

[red]

May 19, 2008 7:14:15 GMT -5 smj said:

The Silver Flame is one of the tips I took caribou hunting in Canada. I took the Silver Flame and the (now named) Blitz. I would not take the Blitz again. While it did punch through a caribou, it didn't have a lot of energy left over and just dropped on the other side of the animal. (around 290 fps with a ~450 grain arrow out of the compound) Still, the Blitz went right where I shot it every time. Very good flier! The Silver Flames I used on my longbow, didn't get the chance to try them out. (I hunted one day compound, the next with longbow. Animals showed up while out with the compound.) However, others have shot animals with the Silver Flame and found it to work great. I don't think you'd go wrong with it...

Congrats and BEST OF LUCK! I agree with the Silver Flame...I trust them on any game. Having said that, those NAP Nightmares really have me thinking. Looks like an extremely good flier in case you end up with a long shot opportunity. Make sure you take plenty of pics to share.