Why Broadheads Fail: Arrow Penetration and Recovery with Dr. Ed Ashby

<p></p><p>Last Day to Win a Custom Bow! Enter at:<br><a href="https://www.getdrawnwest.com/giveaways">https://www.getdrawnwest.com/giveaways</a></p><p>And get 10x entries when you shop Drawn West Apparel!<br><a href="https://www.getdrawnwest.com/shop">https://www.getdrawnwest.com/shop</a></p><p>Your broadhead might work great when everything goes right. But what happens when an elk turns, your arrow catches a shoulder, or the blood trail disappears?</p><p>I sit down with Dr. Ed Ashby to talk arrow penetration, single-bevel broadheads, and building a hunting arrow for more than a perfect broadside shot. I’ve followed his research since I started changing my arrow setup for elk hunting, and I brought out a box of broadheads to ask the questions I’ve always wondered about.</p><p>We get into the Natal study, why structural integrity and arrow flight come before chasing high FOC, and what the roughly 650-grain heavy-bone threshold actually means. I also push on the other side of the equation: if my arrow already passes through, could a wider cut help me recover a deer in thick Minnesota cover? Ashby shares his perspective on blood trails, bleeder blades, and why breaking through bone doesn’t guarantee lethal penetration.</p><p>What we cover:</p><p>·         How four unrecovered whitetails sparked Ashby’s arrow-performance research.</p><p>·         Lessons from testing 32 broadhead designs during the Natal study.</p><p>·         Why you shouldn’t sacrifice arrow flight for higher FOC.</p><p>·         How tip shape, ferrule design, and single bevels affect penetration.</p><p>·         What the 650-grain threshold does—and doesn’t—tell you.</p><p>·         Cutting width, blood trails, and recovering animals when the hit isn’t perfect.</p><p>If this gives you something to think about before your next hunt, follow the podcast and share it with someone working on their arrow setup. Follow @getdrawnwest on Instagram to keep up with what we’re doing.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Stay Ahead of Hunting Season with the Drawn West Newsletter.<br>Get practical emails on deadlines, draw strategy, new episodes, and giveaway updates.<br>Join Here: <a href="https://www.getdrawnwest.com/newsletter">https://www.getdrawnwest.com/newsletter</a></p><p>Looking for more content from Drawn West? Check out our latest article!<br></p><p><strong>Check out Drawn West Apparel:</strong><a href="https://www.getdrawnwest.com/shop">https://www.getdrawnwest.com/shop</a></p><p><strong> </strong>