Accuracy with broadheads. (Modern Bowhunting).

The bow review article I was reading sounded great until I reached a paragraph about halfway through the report. At that point the author started talking about the bow's accuracy. He said it shot great one-shot groups. "Wow," I thought. "I could throw rocks and get splendid one-toss groups".

In fairness to the bow, the fellow didn't even try to shoot groups simply because he doesn't feel that they're important. He pointed out that groups are not meaningful in hunting situations, and that he was therefore only interested in where the first arrow hit. It's true that groups are not important in individual hunting situations. But they are a vital part of the process that helps us put that first arrow in precisely the right place.

Ironically, while typing the above paragraph I received a phone call during which the caller quizzed me about broad-head accuracy. The fellow who called was preparing for a musk ox hunt and was shooting 2-inch groups with fieldpoints at 20 yards, but 6-inch groups with his broadheads at the same distance. I made some suggestions, which I will cover later, while thinking about how different my approach is from that of the fellow writing the bow review.

Speaking of shooting accuracy, I just returned from a week in the field with Randy Ulmer. That guy can shoot! He may be more accurate than my shooting machine. My stay with Randy made me revisit the meaning of accuracy with a bow and arrow. Without reasonable accuracy, shot placement is nothing more than luck. And luck is not a commodity bowhunters should depend upon.

I am often surprised at the different approaches bowhunters take to accuracy, as the above two scenarios illustrate. A closer look at accuracy will quickly tell us that there is a huge difference in our individual shooting abilities, as well as significant differences in the accuracy of different equipment. But I must say that most well-tuned and matched archery equipment has the potential to shoot more accurately than the archers behind the equipment are able to shoot.

An exception might occur when broadheads are attached to the arrows. I am surprised to see how many bowhunters take to the field each season without knowing whether their broadhead-equipped arrows will shoot accurately.

Without a doubt, shooting skills influence perspectives on the importance of accuracy. For example, let's start with two bows and two sets of broadhead-equipped arrows. One set of equipment is capable of shooting only 10-inch groups at 20 yards, while the other combo is capable of shooting 1-inch groups at that distance. In terms of the equipment's abilities, we obviously have a huge difference here. A person skilled enough to shoot only 12-inch groups at 20 yards would have a difficult time identifying the more accurate equipment. But a person with the skill of a Randy Ulmer could quickly distinguish the accuracy levels of the two setups.

That may be an extreme example, but it does make a point: when the equipment's potential crosses paths with an individual's shooting ability, the issue of accuracy, especially with broadheads, becomes complex. Anyone who can't hit the proverbial bull in the butt with a bass fiddle is probably more than eager to gauge his ability with one-shot groups. On the other hand, the majority of bowhunters tale their shooting skills seriously, and many can shoot tight groups -- the true gauge of shooting ability -- inside normal bowhunting ranges.

With this background in mind, let's try to answer the most important question you face as a bowhunter: Do your broadhead-tipped arrows match your shooting ability?

This question is easier to answer than you might think. And best of all, answering it is both good practice and fun. First, your bow should be well tuned and you should be in reasonably good shooting form. Now, simply shoot both broadheads (BH) and fieldpoints (FP) until you are sure the hunting arrows shoot as accurately as the target arrows.

I like to shoot two or three arrows of each type at a broadhead target, making sure everything, including the arrows, is well tuned. Using an aiming point in the center of the target, I shoot both arrow types and pay no attention to point-of-impact differences between them. For a precise answer to this accuracy question, shoot all arrows of both types about 10 times. Be sure to alternate arrow types for each shot (BH-FP, then FP-BH for the next series, etc.). This approach eliminates discrepancies caused by muscle fatigue, first shot litters, and most other outside influences. In other words, it ensures that each arrow type is given an equal opportunity to perform to your average accuracy level.

Measure and record the group size for each arrow type separately. Follow this procedure each time you shoot, and, after shooting several times, total the group sizes for each arrow type and divide by the number of times you shot.

Here is a suggestion: Number your arrows before the test and then watch the groups closely. Make sure the same arrow is not always hitting the greatest distance from your aiming point. If you find a bad arrow of either type, replace it and start the test over.

If the groups for both broadheads and fieldpoints are similar, you're all set. Just keep working on your shooting skills. But if your broadhead groups are larger (more than one inch in the 20 to 30-yard range) compared to your fieldpoints, check and adjust the following:

THE BOW

1) Fletching clearance through the rest area.

2) Cam synchronization (does not apply on single-cam bows).

3) Nocking point location.

4) Center shot adjustment.

5) Cushion plunger or rest side tension.

6) Rest launcher tension.

7) Tiller.

THE ARROWS

1) Make sure your shafts are straight.

2) Make sure your shafts are properly spined (slightly stiff arrows tend to group best for release shooters).

3) Make sure the broadheads and nocks are perfectly aligned with the shaft.

4) Check nock fit on the string. Snug fitting nocks (not tight) may improve accuracy.

5) Try smaller or vented-blade broadheads.

6) Try feather fletching.

7) Reduce draw weight slightly.

8) Try helical fletching.

9) Make sure you have an adequate amount of fletching.

10) Try a high-quality, open-on-impact broadhead.

11) If you use three-blade broadheads with three-fletch arrows, align the fletching with the blades.

12) Check balance point of your arrows, Ten percent or more forward of center (FOC) is best.

13) Check arrows for consistent size, weight, and length.

When your broadhead groups are nearly as tight as your fieldpoint groups, you can make final sight adjustments for your broadhead-equipped arrows. Good results in the broadhead accuracy test will improve your confidence and prepare you to deliver great one-shot groups in those real hunting situations.