Building Arrows for the 2023 Deer Season: How Heavy is Heavy Enough?

For this deer season, I'm once again going with Black Eagle Carnivore arrows, cut at 30-inch length, with 100-grain brass inserts. That will bring my total arrow weight to 390 grains minus the broadhead. Depending on which broadhead I ultimately choose, that should put my total arrow weight at 490-540 grains, which I think is the perfect mix of weight and speed for consistent passthrus on whitetail deer.

[@glennflake5732]

Great content. Keep up the great work. I have done similar on my Xbow bolts. I’m a Swahacker guy.

[@MobileDeerHunter]

Thanks Glenn!

[@YoureSoVane]

If you have proper grip on the bow, you can safely shoot an arrow 2.5" shorter than your draw length. This helps for giving you more options for spine and weight.

[@glennflake5732]

If you own or can borrow a chronograph, I think a video shooting those arrows with three different weight broad heads to see the difference in speed from the same bow would be of interest and make for good content.

[@nelsonchandler1015]

great job mine are 424 grains gold tip hope you have a great season !!

[@MobileDeerHunter]

Thanks Nelson. Hope you have a great season as well!

[@stick__shooter]

I was really pleased with my results last two years shooting a 445 grain VF TKO with 125 grain Exodus and Grim Reaper Pro 1-3/8 heads. This year I have a few 100 grain heads I want to try so I'll be at 420 grains or so launching at 290 fps. I do have some Valkyrie Blood Eagle 150 grain heads I want to try which will put those arrows at 470 grains, but shooting out to 40 they are only hitting about 4" low, so easy enough to compensate at hunting distance if I decide to try them. I mainly bought those for elk next year, but may try them on a deer first.
I'm hoping to find a buck to go after early season since my county is one that switched to buck only the first two weeks. Good luck with you season this year!

[@MobileDeerHunter]

Good luck to you as well!