Practice w/ broadheads?

[ckhanna]

I am just curious, but alot of the conversations here revolve around broadhead flight. Are you guy's shooting the same broadheads that you hunt with for prctice and then just sharpening them before hunting? And are you shooting into an actual broadhead target?

[SHANK]

I practice with last years broadheads or use the blanks that come with my Muzzy's. I also practice with last years arrows (aluminum) and hunt with all new equipment.

[don]

I always shoot the same broadheads and arrow combination I will be hunting with.In the past I have shot replaceable blade heads{thunderheads} and used dull blades for practice.This year with Montecs I am shooting their practice heads.I am using a Morells Yellow Jacket broadhead target and a bag target for field tips.

[Steve]

I shoot one broadhead followed (always follow your broadhead with field point if you don't want to start slicing vanes off) by 5 field points. I make sure they hit the same spot over and over. Then I sharpen that broadhead back up for the hunt.

[Erik]

Yeah I practice with the same stuff I hunt with. It gives me a lot more confidence. I usauly end up sacrificing a few heads and my targets are a little worn for it but I think it's worth it.
I have a delta broadhead buck and some assorted homemade foam targets. I set them up in my woods behind my house and walk around and shoot them from every angle I can think up. When I set a new stand I like to take a small target out to it and make a few shots where I think deer will pass. Just to get an idea how I should be aiming for it. Just a small foam target will do. If you miss and hit the dirt its usauly not a big deal and the arrow and head will be okay. Of course carbons arrows definitely last longer than aluminum ones.
When hunting season starts I always make a few practice shots before I go out in the afternoon. I have a rule that I have to nail three heart shots in a row from different angles and yardages before I can go.

[marksman72]

Do NOT, I repeat, Do NOT shoot at the same target dot with broadheads. Get the paper sheets with 4-5 dots and shoot at them seperately. You'll have better accuracy w/o worrying about shooting your nocks and vanes off. Maybe you don't worry about it, but I wouldn't want to pay for more arrows than I have to.

[ckhanna]

Thanks for the information guy's. I was thinking along the same lines of practicing with what you hunt with for reliablity factor.

[bersh]

I practice with last years broadheads or use the blanks that come with my Muzzy's. I also practice with last years arrows (aluminum) and hunt with all new equipment.

How do you think those Muzzy practice blades fly compared to real blades? I've been shooting my practice blades and some heads from last year (4 blade 100 grn) and I'm not sold on them flying the same yet. I will say that they don't tear up my rinehart target as bad pulling them out though.

[Michihunter]

ALWAYS shoot at least one of your broadheads to determine EXCTLY where its gonna fly. Broadhead flight tuning is HIGHLY recommended. I personally use Montecs andd will sharpen them after every round.;)

[deputy]

MY muzzy practice blades do not fly the same there close. very close about 2 inches low replace blades and bamm back in the spot. i have had some that flew the same but not all.

[swampstand]

ERIK,

Nice response. Sounds like you are serious about making that all important moment of truth count. You are doing everything in your power to put the odds in your favor. If something does go wrong, you can at least know you put the practice time in and then some. Nice.

I think we all should be as diligent. I want to start shooting three consecutive arrows in the heart before an afternoon hunt too.

[soggybtmboys]

I am trying the montecs this year, and I bought the preseason montecs as well and have been shooting them at my target. Its a broad head target, I just shoot a different spot from my field points. The preseasons are exact to the hunting Montecs, except they are not sharp.

[TnRidge]

I set aside a few broadheads strickly for practice . My Slick Tricks fly exactly like my fieldpoints , so I just shoot them a few times to make sure they are still on , to save wear and tear on the target .

[Chuck]

I use Thundeheads and I do shoot my hunting arrows to make sure they are flying true. Before I hunt I put new blades on them and spin test them to make sure they are set up right. I shoot at a Yelow jacket target for broadheads and a bag target for field tips. I dont shoot at the same spot any more it just ruins to many arrows.

I hunt on the ground and this means I have to practice shooting from my knees and sitting and standing from all different yardages. I also practice shooting threw gaps in tree branches at different yardages as I have had to thread the needle a few times.

I also study deer anotomy every single year so its imbeded in my subconcoiuse.

There is nothing like having the confidence factor when that deer walks out. Some years I may only get one chance at a deer all season so its very importent to me to make that shot count. It alwasy amazes me how much practice and time will go into that one shot. But when the animal is laying 50 yards from where you shot it with a perfect shot placement its so worth it.

[TrekJeff]

Since I never throw any hunting stuff out I have a box of old blades that I can switch on for targeting. Then switch out for the flesh slicers.

[kbotta]

I shoot the same muzzy's I hunt with. Just touch em up a bit. Works well.

[sbooy42]

Practice. sharpen, then hunt....