Had a bad experience with Slick-Trick broadheads this year and after my experience I would not recommend them to anyone.
Let me start with a description of my archery setup:
Bow: Bowtech Patriot #70
Arrows: Carbon Express Maxima 29?
Broadheads: Slick-Trick 100 gr.
Last weekend I called in a cow elk and shot her at 30 yards. It was a broadside side shot with a complete pass through but I hit her back further than I would like. I new it would still be a fatal shot but she would need some time to expire.
Upon making the shot, the elk ran about 80 yards and stop along the edge of some Aspen trees so I figured I could ease in and get another arrow in her which I did. She gave me a good 40 yard shot that was nearly broadside. I'd say she was quartering away at about a 5 degree angle. Still a very good ethical shot. The arrow hit here perfect right behind the shoulder. I thought to myself, that should kill her quick. She jumped and ran about 20 yards and stopped. Upon closer inspection with my binos, I could see that the arrow had only penetrated about 2 inches. I could not believe it.
As I watch the elk I could tell she was not going to go far. She was having a hard time simply standing there. I hung back but kept an eye on here. She eventually disappeared through the trees down below me. In an effort to keep tabs on here I eased down to where she disappeared. I didn't want to loose track of here because she was not bleeding externally at all. It turns out she had actually bedded down about 20 yards from where she disappeared. I again eased in on her and when she stood up I put another arrow in here on the opposite side from the previous arrow. This shot was a bit more of a quartering shot probably about at a 45 degree angle. Still it was a good shot with plenty of room to get the arrow in the vitals. I placed the arrow perfectly but again the arrow did not penetrate. At this point I backed out and left the elk alone. I knew she was not going to go far and if I gave her some time she expire.
I came back 6 hours later and found here not 20 yards from where I'd last shot here. Upon inspection of the two quartering shots I found the arrows had simply hit ribs and stopped. On the shot that was @ about a 45 degree angle, the arrow hit a ribs and simply skipped along the outside. It make a long cut through the skin along here side until the arrow hit the shoulder and stopped. I was amazed at how poorly the broadheads performed.
The 4 blades on Slick-Tricks are at a steep angle with a short chisel tip. I'm guessing the blade angle must inhibit penetration when the arrow does not hit perpendicular to its target.
Anyway, I thought I'd pass my experience along. Fortunately the first hit was good enough to kill the elk and enabled me to harvest the elk.
I will never use those broadheads again for any kind of big game. Maybe I'll keep one on my arrows for shooting grouse. Hopefully I'll get good penetration on a grouse.
Let me start with a description of my archery setup:
Bow: Bowtech Patriot #70
Arrows: Carbon Express Maxima 29?
Broadheads: Slick-Trick 100 gr.
Last weekend I called in a cow elk and shot her at 30 yards. It was a broadside side shot with a complete pass through but I hit her back further than I would like. I new it would still be a fatal shot but she would need some time to expire.
Upon making the shot, the elk ran about 80 yards and stop along the edge of some Aspen trees so I figured I could ease in and get another arrow in her which I did. She gave me a good 40 yard shot that was nearly broadside. I'd say she was quartering away at about a 5 degree angle. Still a very good ethical shot. The arrow hit here perfect right behind the shoulder. I thought to myself, that should kill her quick. She jumped and ran about 20 yards and stopped. Upon closer inspection with my binos, I could see that the arrow had only penetrated about 2 inches. I could not believe it.
As I watch the elk I could tell she was not going to go far. She was having a hard time simply standing there. I hung back but kept an eye on here. She eventually disappeared through the trees down below me. In an effort to keep tabs on here I eased down to where she disappeared. I didn't want to loose track of here because she was not bleeding externally at all. It turns out she had actually bedded down about 20 yards from where she disappeared. I again eased in on her and when she stood up I put another arrow in here on the opposite side from the previous arrow. This shot was a bit more of a quartering shot probably about at a 45 degree angle. Still it was a good shot with plenty of room to get the arrow in the vitals. I placed the arrow perfectly but again the arrow did not penetrate. At this point I backed out and left the elk alone. I knew she was not going to go far and if I gave her some time she expire.
I came back 6 hours later and found here not 20 yards from where I'd last shot here. Upon inspection of the two quartering shots I found the arrows had simply hit ribs and stopped. On the shot that was @ about a 45 degree angle, the arrow hit a ribs and simply skipped along the outside. It make a long cut through the skin along here side until the arrow hit the shoulder and stopped. I was amazed at how poorly the broadheads performed.
The 4 blades on Slick-Tricks are at a steep angle with a short chisel tip. I'm guessing the blade angle must inhibit penetration when the arrow does not hit perpendicular to its target.
Anyway, I thought I'd pass my experience along. Fortunately the first hit was good enough to kill the elk and enabled me to harvest the elk.
I will never use those broadheads again for any kind of big game. Maybe I'll keep one on my arrows for shooting grouse. Hopefully I'll get good penetration on a grouse.
