Wood arrows for hunting

[boar hunter]

I am new to the traditiona archery hunting. I used compounds for 20+ years. I am now shooting a 55 pound long bow and loving it. My question stems from hearing so many different opinions from people near me on the use of wood arrows for hunting. I need opinions from people who have actually used them on similar game to what I hunt. I generally hunt deer, bear, hog and small game. Are wood arrows the way to go or do most people go for the aluminum and carbon arrows? I like the traditional feel of the wood arrows but want to ensure the equipment I use is effective.

[Ted A. Young]

Wood arrows are the way to go if it pleases you.  I hunt with wood, aluminum, and carbon.  It is all up to the person behind the bow.

Wood is effective.  I have taken deer with woodies.

[madness522]

I am new to trad too and like the wood arrows.  I have some carbon and aluminum arrows but would rather shoot the woodies.  I enjoy making them and that is the main reason I shoot them. Once you get the equipment to make them the cost of each arrow goes way down.  I have busted a couple and have them on my rack as a reminder of the errant shot and also how much fun it was to make them.

The choice is yours alone to make.  Shoot what you prefer.  Arrows made of any material will give you good results as long as they are tuned to your bow.

[ChuckC]

As Ted says.  

This is a game and you make your rules.  Whatever pleases you is the way to go.  

I use wood arrows nearly exclusively. Wood arroes will kill something just as dead as any other shaft materials.  Yep.. They work just fine, plus, when hunting small game, or practicing (stumping), since I make my own, I have no cares about whether I lose / break it or not.  Helps me to better enjoy what I am doing.

Where bout you from, up north there ?

ChuckC

[Aggie1993]

I shoot'em all too but personally feel a bit more gratification when harvesting an animal with a cedar arrow.  I have taken deer, hogs, javies, coon, squirrel, rabbit, etc with all three types but now shoot either wood or carbon.  The carbon, from my experiences, will penetrate better than the wood but shot placement is the key regardless of arrow type. It's all good!

[Ray Lyon]

Wood will do just fine. I've killed bears, lot's of deer and small game with wood arrows. I've also been pleased with carbon arrows.

Key points to consider:

1) Make sure the arrows are matched in spine and pretty close in grain weight.

2) Make sure they're made from the best shafts you can afford (if for hunting big game) if making your own, or from one of the recommended arrow makers (like Arrow Art, Elite Arrows, ect. of which many reside here in the sponsors section of Tradgang).

3) Learn how to straighten wood arrows so that you can keep them in top shooting condition (this is not tough, so don't let it scare you off)

4) Make sure you understand broadhead mounting onto wood arrows. 99.9% of the time, when you screw one of the modern screw in points like a Muzzy or Razorcap into an aluminum or carbon arrow, it'll spin true without any issues. When I mount broadheads onto a wood taper, it may take a little tweaking to get it to spin true. The better your tapering system, the less likely that there will be issues.

Good wood arrows are a joy to shoot and one of the pleasures of traditional archery in my opinion. Learn a few of the key tricks and you'll enjoy them as well.

[Orion]

People have been killing critters with wood arrows for at least 10,000 years, pretty good proof that they're effective.  I've used them on everything from grouse to moose.  As others have already pointed out, it takes more skill to make a good wood arrow.  Only you can decide how much effort you want to put into it.  The efficiency of wood is a non-issue.

[Ron LaClair]

Wood is good.
 http://www.shrewbows.com/autumnlegend/index.html

[RRock]

Theres alot to be said for cedar arras. I always carry 4 of them in my bow quiver, one of which is an old beat up stumper full of scrapes and dings and the finish pretty well worn. Many has been the time sitting in a tree or in a ground blind or just sitting in the deer woods when I've held that old stumper to my nose and smelled the cedar.
Some day when I can no longer get to the deer woods I'll just pick up that old cedar shaft and hold it to my nose, close my eyes and I'll be in the deer woods again. Yes, theres alot to be said about a good cedar shaft.

[Bjorn]

I have missed animals with all of 'em. LOL! I am back to wood for good.

[NY Yankee]

I just can't see shooting carbon arrows from a longbow. You can do a fine job with wood arrows and I would suggest trying them but you can't just get some and stick them in your quiver and forget them. They take some work, some maintenance, some attention to detail. You care for them like a good camera or a fine shotgun, not just hung from a nail in the barn. If you don't feel like doing a little extra work with your arrows, get some aluminum.