I’ve invested in some TuffHeads with high hopes of putting a Blacktail in the freezer. I’m trying out some wood shafts right now and if I don’t have it figured by August I’ll switch to carbon. This will be my first season in over 30 years.

I ran some numbers on the calculator and with that setup I would start with 100 grain insert and 150 grain broadheads assuming a 29 inch arrow.

With the limited experience of only one kill on a small doe, I’m going to recommend the Tuffhead. Straight through and embedded 5 inches into the dirt on the other side. The only thing is, oddly enough. The Tuffhead is about 3 3/16 inches and only 3 inches long is legal in PA. I’m betting on not getting busted for 3/16 of an inch. dwc

Most, if not all, states have a minimum width requirement for broadheads. But I never heard of a maximum length…

But I believe you are right. You will get away with it, you scoundrel 🙄 😆

I think a single bevel broadhead of whatever make is a major advance over a double bevel head. I have shot 10 big game animals in the last 3 years with them, and not one has travelled out of sight. I cannot say I have ever had a streak like that before. Hopefully it will continue this year…

First, I agree about the TuffHead broadheads. I’ve had the exact same experience as Steve with EFOC very sharp single bevel broadheads. In over 25 years of bowhunting I’ve never seen animals expire so fast and travel such little distances-always down within sight!!!

I live in PA. I know it’s bizarre but the maximum length of a broadhead cannot exceed 3 inches. I’ve asked Game Commission Officers WHY? What’s the reasoning behind such a ridiculous regulation? Not only was each and every officer unaware of the regulation they could not give me a logical explanation. Since it is a regulation and not a LAW I was told that I could attend a Game Commission meeting that is open to the public and ask that changes to the regulation be considered. Not wanting to open a can of worms and approach this subject single-handed I’ve never pursued the idea. If there are any other PA hunters that would like to pursue this issue PM me and I will get a petition together to present to The Game Commission. With enough support I believe we could make this change happen. Btw- I actually grind the point and reshape the tanto tip on my TuffHeads to make them “LEGAL” and exactly 3 Inches.

Thanks, Steve

Mr. Smiley,

I’d sign that. I’m in the Poconos, right up the river from you, I’m sure. Seems like a silly regulation to me. dwc

Agree wholeheartedly on the single bevel broad head advice from Steve. I’m an Ashby shooter from ABS ( and various folks here who so graciously sell me some of their “excess used inventory” from time to time 8) ). That’s a big money saver on an expensive but really well built head 😆

Standard insert with 190 grain simmons tree shark. I hear a lot of skepticism about this broadhead…..except from everybody who has ever shot it into an animal.

Etter, have you ever experienced a full-on scapula hit with one, better yet from an angle? Not a challenge, just a curiosity. The heavy concavity of the blades leads to a long narrow front end, which means a weak front end. What we’re trying to do working with the Ashby research is shoot broadheads that are basically armor-piercing and will not break or bend under any circumstances. The Simmons also lack a smooth straight cutting edge, and have a flared back end, again due to the concavity, which Ashby’s testing showed to greatly slow penetration. With a heavy arrow and “good shot placement,” meaning you get it in the lungs and are lucky and don’t hit any heavy bone, most broadheads on the market today will do a good job on deer. I’m sure Simmons are among them.

Etter, I’m one person who has shot game with the Shark broadheads and had problems. As Dave alluded to, those problems came on heavy-bone hits, especially at an angle. I had one, on a long, quartering away shot, result in the shaft abruptly swinging around, creating a large, shallow wound, then falling out. That was during the Natal Study, and the animal was immediately dispatched by the back-up rifle shooter. It would have definitely been a very nasty, non-vital wound. The curve of the broadhead’s blade hit a rib, causing the shaft to swing forward, with the shaft slapping the animal before coming lose as the animal ran.The Sharks are a tough, well made broadhead but their profile does limit penetration on high-resistance hits. They are, however, one of my my favorite turkey heads.

Ed

I put a simmons tree shark through a broadside buck last year. It went directly through both scapulas and buried 6″ into the ground on the other side of the deer. I posted a picture of that buck and the hole in the shoulder last year. It was sent from a pretty light arrow also. It was a 32″ 3555 arrow with standard carbon insert and 190 grain tree shark from a 1960’s Damon Howatt Monterey at 46lbs.

If I were hunting elk-sized game, I would definitely pick a better penetration head, but because I hunt white-tails, mostly, I would rather shoot a head that does so much damage, on a small animal that can move so quickly. I’ll find the pic of the shoulder shot.

This has been my experience.

https://www.tradbow.com/members/cfmbb/messages.cfm?threadid=1CC1E8A8-1422-1DE9-ED9C7E5E81B09F9D

I have seen nothing but the best from these heads.

Good to know !!!