6 replies to this topic

[GrimmReaperSound]

I have been hunting moose for twelve years, I joined a group that have been at for twenty years. Last year we took up crossbows and bagged a nice sized cow.
We know how to get them in our sights and we can all hit 4 inch groups at forty yards offhand, good enough for moose.
The cow we took was hit with a Rage expandable low in the chest from forty yards. We only got about ten inches of penetration from a 300 fps Ten Point crossbow.
Before we got the cow, we put two arrows high into a nice big 48 inch buck using 300 fps Horton TRTs with NAP Nitron broadheads from thirty yards. We never found that buck nor the arrows.
Now the questions
1. We think we might have hit the shoulder or ribs of the buck. Would the Nitrons go thru the shoulder or ribs of a moose?
2. I'm thinking to go to a two blade fixed broadhead (Zwickey Eskimo) fo get better penetration, even if a bone is hit. Would this be a good idea?
3. When we dressed the cow, the Rage was busted up pretty good and had just nicked a rib before getting buried in a single lung. The cow had travelled half a mile, So we obviously need fixed blade broadheads to get it thru a moose. Any suggestions? Keep in mind that a moose is one tough critter.
4. We're going back next year with crossbows and I don't want to risk a wounding, I want a solid high penetration shot. Should I go with heavy (600+ grains) arrows with fixed two blade broadhead or fast light arrows?
5. One problem we had with the buck was that we were 15 minutes past dusk (we can hunt until 30 minutes past dusk here) and we didn't see exactly where the two arrows hit him. Which lighted nock should I use?

[georgiaboy]

Short answer...slick trick mag, luminocks & a HEAVY arrow!!!
Good luck!!  

[jdmax]

I would go with either 2219 aluminum or gold tip laserIV arrows. With the gold tips depending on what broadhead weight you decide on you could use either brass or aluminum insert. As far as a broadhead, I would suggest the 175gr Simmons Tiger Shark. After 25 years of shooting bows and now crossbows, I have found this head to be the most consistently accurate broadhead I have ever tried. Not only is it accurate, but it is tough, easy to resharpen, penetrates like no other, and has a 1 9/16" cut. I have shot this head from 260 fps to 325 fps, with different arrow weights, it is scarey accurate to 60 yards out of my Excalibur Vortex. It may not shoot to the same point as my field points on some arrows, I don't mind changing my scope for hunting season.
JDMAX

[HogBane]

"Short answer...slick trick mag, luminocks & a HEAVY arrow!!!" by georgiaboy, Which Seems like a good combo to me.


long answer...
Definitely use a heavier arrow. As far as broadheads go, I use the Excalibur bolt cutter. It's 150 gr with a 100 grain brass insert behind it. The total weight of this arrow is around 534 gr. The bottom line of my post (in the signature) is the arrow formula that I use. The slick trick 175 gr would do the trick also. Both are three blade which makes for better penetration. The tips on These Broad head's are stainless steel Strong. I Hunt large hogs So I asked around and studied what would be the best arrow formula for penetration as opposed to what would be best for distance and speed. When hunting large game you definitely want dependable and to complete penetration. I just don't trust expandables when it comes to wild boar hunting which is the Texas is equivalent to wild bear hunting.(We don't have any many bear In Texas) Excalibur makes field Points that are weighted the same as the bolt cutter broadhead so that when you practice you get the same results when hunting. I also use small brass washers that help me align the fletching with the blades for better accuracy. 600 gr may be a little more weight than your crossbow can handle. I would go with at least 500 grains but no more than 550 gr total arrow weight. My Predator shoots at about 375 FPS but that's with a light arrow. With the setup I use I'm probably shooting at about 325 FPS. With Plenty of kinetic energy, somewhere around 160. An added bonus to a heavier arrow is a quieter crossbow. The last big 300+ pound boar that I got with this arrow formula was a complete pass-through. He made it about 75 yards and dropped like a large sack of lead, at least that's what it felt like when I tried to move him. It was worth it though, he tastes great.

Edited by HogBane, 16 January 2012 - 04:06 AM.

[Brubaker]

georgiaboy, on 15 January 2012 - 09:27 AM, said:

Short answer...slick trick mag, luminocks & a HEAVY arrow!!!
Good luck!!  

X2! Take a look at firenocks.

[the dog]

I've killed two moose with bows

the first one I killed with a longbow, 560 grain aluminum shaft with a two blade bear cut to the point broadhead, that was flying at 160 fps. 50 yard shot did not pass thru
moose ran 200yards and piled up

the second one was with a 60lb compound with a carbon arrow and a g5 montec.450 grains total. pass thru and animal ran 50 yards and piled up

shot placement, arrow weight  and one piece broadheads are the ticket.


both moose were double lung shot.

any crossbow should do the trick if the shot is right

[H&S Archer]

If I was going to beat on deepest penetration performance broadhead I would consider Ram Cat 100. I am going on a Alligator hunt with a guide that averages 11 FOOT gators. He has shot several with his {old school crossbow 80#} no pass threw. I think I may have a fair chance of a pass threw with 145# KE and the Ram Cat. Time will tell..