Undertaker Broadheads!?!?!?!?!?!

ADDICT · Sep 19, 2008

First archery elk tag and I've shot the 100 gr Trophy Ridge Undertakers at deer and love them. I want to know what the experts think of the following scenario: (I shoot a PSE X-Force with 200gr radial carbon x-weaves and it's flying at just below 350fps)

I shot a big 6x6 at 50 yds yesterday and the arrow flight, hit, location etc. looked perfect. As the bull ran out, I saw the fletchings sticking out of his side and I watched him for 150yds through the pines before I lost him. By the arrow, I figured that it must have penetrated deep bu not a clean pass-through.

After an hour, I began tracking and found very little blood. Infact, his tracks were easier to follow in the pine needles than blood so I got nervous. After 30 min we found the trail but it was very light. Dime sized drops every step and then I found my arrow. I was covered in blood from the tip till about 10" up the shaft and the blades were in-tact, functional and fully-deployed. After the arrow the blood totally stopped and after a solid day of hiking I had nothing. By the lack of blood, I figure I must've stuck him too far forward And smashed his shoulder bone.

QUESTIONS:
Shouldn't that arrow have pentrated better than that or are elk that tough? Has anyone had experience with these broadheads on elk and are they too light weight? What about rib bones?

Could/should a broadhead be able to penetrate and kill an elk in let's say a spine or shoulder balde shot?

With ten inches of shoulder penetration and the bull ran with the arrow in his side or shoulder for over 150 yds do you think he could survive that?

I ask because I am heading back out all of next week and I will look for buzzards in the hole he ran into and I also want to switch to fixed broadheads this weekend if necessary before I blow another great elk opportunity.

Congrats to everyone on their elk this year and thanks in advance for FEEDBACK!

JDElec · Sep 19, 2008

I shot an elk last weekend at 55 yards the shot looked perfect but when the arrow got there it looked like I may have hit 6 to 8 inches back but it was ok the elk was quartering away. When I found the elk my broadhead was sticking out 3 inches on the exit side and the fletchings were sitcking out the entrance side. I don't know about the Undertakers broadheads but I was using the NAP Crossfire's 100 grains. I have chronoed my bow at 320 fps the arrow didn't look to have hit hard bone maybe just 1 rib on the exit side. I'm no expert but this is just what I experenced with another brand of broadhead. My guess is most broadheads would be similar at that range. Last year I shot another elk at 60 yards with the same exact bow setup and had complete passthrough that was a bigger 6X6 bull so who knows? Good luck in your hunt If you shoot those arrows good I would keep with them and stress shot placement and shot distance.

ADDICT · Sep 19, 2008

Thanks-- good feedback. I'll post by Thursday!

LowCountryElk · Sep 20, 2008

I shot Slick Trick 100 gr magnums for the first time this year and got a really big bull with one at 22 yds. Realizing that it is primarily shot placement that matters when taking the animal down, broadhead effectiveness really helps and from the results of my shot, the Slick Trick couldn't have done more damage (it is a fixed 4-blade); the bull went no more than 30-40 yds and seemed to have almost totally bled out in that distance. The best part with them is they shoot absolutely dead on with my field points and arrow flight seems totally identical at least out to my max. effective range of 70 yds (assuming your bow is properly set up).
These were so impressive to me after seeing how effective they were for my kill that I gave all my other broadheads to my brother; about $150 worth and I'm kinda a cheapskate! Not saying others aren't as good, but they do it all as well as possible so I'm not messing with this part of the formula anymore.
So if you are worried about the Undertakers, I don't think you'd be hurting yourself by trying Slick Tricks. Anyhow, that's my 2 cents............

ADDICT · Sep 20, 2008

Thanks! I'm looking down the barrel of the final four days of my hunt so a switch might be a little unsure. What about the elk kill/penetration questions, any ideas?

hntbambi · Sep 21, 2008

What is your draw weight? Shooting a 200 gr arrow is very lightweight.

BIGJOHNT · Sep 21, 2008

Elk shoulders are tough. They use elk shoulders to test bullet penetration on high powered rifles. In other words high powered rifle cartridges having a hard time poking through one a bow wow thats asking a lot!
Just my 2 cents

ADDICT · Sep 21, 2008

I draw 68lbs. I know the arrows are on the light side but I went with the the guy's at the shop opinion. The KE on the bow is insane.

I figure I need to just hit the elk right and shoulders won't be able to affect anything! I know arrows penetrate and demolish mule deer bones often--elk don't mess around! 3X as heavy, the bones have to be tougher!

One more week. I hope to tag out and post some pics! Thanks again guys.

Steelermadman2002 · Sep 21, 2008

I believe you arrow is to light, your probably only around 360 grains, IMO you should be closer to 450 for elk....but changing now would almost be impossible.

Hope you find it, what a bummer.