Bud recommends a sharp one, regardless of anything else

It seems like every time you turn around there is a brand new broadhead being introduced. Golly, when I started bowhunting back in the early 1960s, there were just a few, and some of those were very hard to sharpen.

We have to realize that broadheads are used for hunting purposes, and in order for them to dispatch big game animals, they have to be razor sharp. Compared to a bullet that harvests game animals by expansion and shock, an arrow with a broadhead point must harvest the animal mainly by hemorrhaging and causing massive blood loss.

Most of the early broadheads were pretty simple. They were oner piece and eventually they became more updated with a smaller second flat blade that acted like a bleeder. That was indeed beneficial in aiding the bowhunter with success. These were referred to as fixed blade broadheads.

Over the years, these fixed bladed broadheads went through design and engineering changes to what is now accepted as a fixed blade broadhead with replaceable razor-sharp blades. It was a pretty accepted fact that many bowhunters could not resharpen the broadheads to attain the sharpness required to ethically harvest game animals.

Fast forward to today, and we have the opportunity to use what is referred to as hybrid, or mechanical, broadheads. Once again, archery has taken another step forward. This option has revolutionized archery and bowhunting by offering unbelievable flight characteristics, and the blades actually stow away inside the ferrule.

The blades will deploy from the front or back once the arrow strikes the target. This allows the arrow to fly accurately just like a field or target point. The blades can be replaced with new, razor-sharp blades, and hunting can be resumed quickly with confidence of the broadhead being lethal.

I am constantly asked, "Which broadhead is best?" That is a tough question. Like so many other things in life, it is personal preference. I suggest you ask other bowhunters what they prefer and experiment and decide what works best for you!

What works for me might not work for you, and what your friends like might not be the best choice. You are the person who has to be satisfied, but what I can recommend as the best broadhead is a sharp one that is well-placed.

With the newer options available, they can be tuned to achieve superb arrow flight, assuring more accuracy. To be an efficient bowhunter, the archer needs to practice and acquire a responsible attitude in decision making to ensure they dispatch an animal in a humane and ethical manner.

Being a long-time archer and bowhunter, I confess to falling into the category of being a "gadgeteer." I am often impressed with just about anything that comes along that is promised to increase my success as an archer/bowhunter. I am going to shell out some money and give it a try.

Sometimes, it can be a scam, but oftentimes it is as advertised. I can assure you that most of the present broadhead options are legitimate, and if you are in the right place at the right time, you can harvest just about any big game animal with modern-day archery equipment.

Just remember, the best broadhead is a well-placed, sharp one. I would rather shoot a 35-pound bow with a sharp broadhead than shoot an 80-pound bow with a dull one.