Hunting Arrows

There are two things to consider when choosing the right arrows for bowhunting - what arrow weight you want to shoot, and how stiff the shaft needs to be to complement your draw weight and arrow length. Not every bowhunter wants the lightest and fastest arrows - shooting feather-weights can actually damage your bow. Light arrows absorb as much of the bow's energy as heavier arrows do, so if your arrows are consistently too light, the vibrations can damage your bow.

According to The Archery Manufacturer's Organization (AMO), the standard minimum arrow weight should be roughly six grains for lighteach pound of your bow's maximum draw weight (in other words, a 60-pound bow should take a 360-grain arrow). A heavy modern hunting arrow weight about 8 to 10 grains per pound - if you're interested in speed, you can go as light a 5 grains per pound, but that should be as light as you go.

Shaft stiffness is important because of the pull-and-release manner in which arrows leave the bow. With a finger-released arrow, it has to go through a series of oscillations called "paradox" that begins when the string leaves your fingers - bending of the arrow's shaft has to be timed perfectly so it passes around the bow without hitting the riser. So, to achieve good flight, your arrow shafts have to be an exact match for your bow and your release style. It's different for mechanical-release bows - there's less flex, and it's almost all confined to an up-and-down movement, so you you can get away with a wider range of shaft stiffness and still get good arrow flight.

Point weight is also an important element of choosing the correct arrow stiffness, especially if you release with fingers. Determine what broadhead weight you'll be using to hunt with before buying your arrows, and then get some off-season practice with field points of the same weight. If you'll be hunting whitetail deer, you'll be shooting from an average 20 yards, a distance that a mid-weight arrow can handle easily. A heavier arrow will require more accuracy on your part as it's slower, but you'll have a quieter shoot with maximum penetration. Lightweight arrows are great for target practice, but unless you have keen eyesight and regularly shoot at 25 yards or more, they're best left alone. Choosing the right arrows for bowhunting is a matter of style, what kind of bow you have, and simple trial-and-error.