What is a Broadhead (and How to Choose One)

About that sharp point: what is a broadhead? They are the arrow points used for hunting, and modern versions are typically made of stainless steel or aluminum. Broadheads can come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and configurations depending on the size and type of game hunted.

How do you choose the right one for your hunt? Let's take a look at the types used for medium and large game. We'll cover three types: fixed blade, mechanical, and hybrid.

Fixed Blade Broadheads

Fixed blade broadheads have two or more immovable blades. They are favored by traditional archers and big game hunters alike for their durability, simplicity, and ease of use.

These broadheads have no moving parts that can fail and can pierce deep into larger games like elk, where penetration is key. This style of broadhead retains all of its kinetic energy at impact. It can translate to an increased likelihood of a complete pass-through.

Because the blades are fixed in position, they are more likely to catch air and cause the arrow to drift away from where a field point would impact. This increased profile can affect accuracy, making broadhead tuning your bow a crucial step before moving from the practice range to the hunting field.

My first ever archery deer was a doe taken with a fixed blade and I still recommend this style to new archers because they simply work.

Removable Fixed Blades

There is a subcategory of fixed blade broadheads that I think is worth mentioning here, and that is the removable fixed blade broadhead.

As the name suggests, these heads have blades that can be removed and replaced from the ferrule of the broadhead when damaged or dulled instead of manually resharpening each blade after use.

I'm a big fan of these types of fixed-blade applications because I know my arrows will be razor-sharp from the factory every time I go out in the field. There is no need to replace the entire expensive broadhead when I can swap out used blades for new ones.

Mechanical Blades

Mechanical broadheads have scalpel-like blades tucked closely to the ferrule of the broadhead and open on impact.

Blades can be held in place using a number of different methods, such as gasket-type O-rings, ball and socket joints, or plastic collars. This style of broadhead generally flies better than fixed blades because of their more streamlined profile. You may see these advertised as "field point accurate" because they require less tuning than traditional fixed blade broadheads.

Another benefit of mechanical broadheads is that they generally have a larger cutting diameter than fixed blades. This can come in handy if a shot is marginal, leading to quicker blood loss and recovery — but this all comes at a cost.

Mechanical broadheads use up some of the arrow's kinetic energy on impact to deploy the blades. This style should only be used on bows with a draw weight of fifty-five pounds or greater to ensure there is enough kinetic energy for the blades to deploy and have sufficient penetration to do their job.

Mechanical blades may also be prone to failure if they do not open properly and aren't as durable due to their reduced points of contact on the ferrule.

Practice Heads

Most mechanical blade sets will come with a non-cutting practice head that can be used to tune and practice without fear of damaging or dulling the actual hunting broadheads.

This is my preferred style of broadhead for hunting whitetail deer. I have used the G5 Deadmeat V2 for the last two seasons and have really been impressed with how it flies compared to my field points.

Hybrid Broadheads

Hybrid broadheads try to combine the best of both worlds of a fixed blade and mechanical.

These can generally fly better than a fixed blade due to their lower profile and still carry larger blades that will deploy for sizeable wound channels and easier-to-follow blood trails. I used a NAP DK4 hybrid on a public land bruiser of a ten point with a double brow tine on his right side — the largest archery buck I've ever taken.

Test and Practice to Find "What is a Broadhead" That's Best for Your Hunt

Always test and practice with the arrows and broadheads you plan to hunt with before going afield. This can make you more confident when the pressure is on to execute the shot for a quick and humane kill.

Then, broadhead tuning is crucial to make sure that your hunting arrows impact exactly where your practice arrows do. I even go as far as to number the vanes on my arrows with a marker so I can know if it is one particular one that may be giving me trouble.

Use HuntWise and the Right Broadheads for Your Next Bow Hunt

In addition to my tried-and-true broadheads, HuntWise is my preferred e-scouting tool — not just before I do my boots-on-the-ground scouting in person but also for recording a walking path when blood trailing a deer after I make my shot.

I love to change from satellite imagery to topographical maps to see what it looks like under the tree canopy for a deer's path of least resistance. Plus, HuntWise's gear program also offers great discounts on all your broadhead needs from brands like Muzzy, Slick Trick, and Rage Broadheads.

Download HuntWise and explore it free for a week to help you tag out this season! Consider a Pro or Elite subscription to save up to 40% on the best gear.