I'll hopefully be passing a broadhead through an elk this year. Since I'm new to bow hunting, I'm wondering what meat damage is typical of a broadhead verses a bullet, assuming a passthrough shot in the kill zone.

In my experience with a bullet there will typicallybe a smallarea around the wound with inedible bloodshot meat that I trim away.

Meat damage from a broadhead is negligible, but the open wound does allow for some dirt and debris to contact the meat.

However, hopefully your shot will be through rib meat only which most don't eat anyhow, so there SHOULD be no meat loss at all!

There are some precautions to take if you are shooting carbons however, especially if your arrow breaks.

Check out this link for carbon arrow issues when bowhunting:
http://www.beman.com/safety/

what you described happening with bullets happens the same with broadheads. Usually the meat loss is minimal, and usually less than that from a bullet. Of course that depends on shot location and what not, but typically that is the way of it.Best of luckwith the elk.