First off lets remember how an Animal dies when we shoot them with an Arrow, Hemoraging......not blunt force trauma from launching a dull object at them at 300FPS.

There will be more blood, more quickly with a razor Sharp edge, than with a dull edge, because more blood vessels and veins will be cut, and deeper penetrataion will occur. Now regardless if you get a pass through or not with a dull blade, more bleeding will happen, more quickly with a Super sharp broad head. Ethically we all have a duty to ensure that we use the sharpest blades possible for the fastest and more ethical kill possible.

Quote from
Bowhunter's Guide to Accurate ShootingBy Lon E. Lauber
I'm certain most bowhunters have killed a deer or 2 with a less than Optimally sharp broadhead and gotten the job done. In spite of that Succes, there are several reasons for having acute blade-sharpness standards. Sharp edges reduce friction and increase penetration. Super-sharp blades are more likely to slice arteries and veins upon the slightest contact. Rubbery blood vessels roll or "give" without being sliced by dull blades. A finely honed blade makes a surgeon-like clean cut. This causes more profuse bleeding because there are no jagged edges for blood platelets to clot on.

Furthermore, clean and sharp cuts cause less initial trauma to the body's natural repair system, Thus, more profuse blood loss occurs quickly, before the animal's clotting mechanisms kick in to stem the bloow flow. Conversly, if you happen to make a non-lethal hit, a super-sharp blade wound will bleed profusely at first, but heal more quickly than a jagged one.

MW ... you just slipped a notch down in my eyes [&o]

"with the speed most of us compound shooters are using" Heck You can kill with a field point .....the same one .....over and over again ...what would you think of someone doing that???


With what some of you are saying, you would be BETTER OFF using the practice blades than sharp ones!!

10 pages to debate the most BASIC concept of bowhunting [:'(]I got a few pages in and can't stand to read any more. USED THE SHARPEST BLADES YOU CAN! [:@]

I think maybe I did not explain myself better in my first post....this is what I wrote, " "unless the blades are really really sharp, there won't be much of a blood trail on pass through"."

I was really just comparing very very sharp broadheads as compared to those "less" sharp. "less" sharp meaning those that are still sharp, just not deadly sharp like some of you like to have them. By saying "dull" I meant comparitvely to the extremely sharp heads. BELIEVE methat is what I meant

Im pretty sure guys are upset with some of the answers youve been getting, not the fact you were asking for an explanation as to why sharp=better.

VA season in yet?

You know what, somehow that doesn't suprise me. [:-] [&:] Sad.

I can't believe there would even be any kind or argument. Any hunter that doesn't buy quality sharp broadheads or atleast make sure they are razor sharp to the best of their ability is a moron.

Yes TEmbry, VA season came in yesterday..in 2.5 hours, saw three doe, 10 turkey, and a bobcat! Never in my life had I seen a bobcat in the woods. Beautiful!

I saw my first bobcat(s) last year. It was two of them. They came to investigate my "can" calling. Pretty amazing to watch.

Did you have a shot on the cat?

A cat came 5 yards from my tree while onstand Friday PM, but it was of the black and white house variety. Looked pretty scragly and most likely wasa feralbut I didnt want to chance killin some kids pet....though the thought did cross my mind to draw back...I despise cats.

Bobcats amaze me, I have seen 3 in last 2 seasons and after deer season comes to a close for me, I am making it my sole mission in life to try and down a bobcat this winter.