Cedar for Hunting

[swampthing]

I've been quite busy over here shooting and trying new things. I have a question on Cedar arrows for hunting. Most cedar shafts in my spine range, these days, and at my hunting length with 125g heads are right at 500g. I know, at the 183fps my bow gets them to, they will do the trick, but, are they reliable game getters at that weight? Would one be better off with 600g with the wood arrows? Not looking at breaking down a Cape Buffalo, or  Whitetail Legbones, just reliable thorax penetrating arrow weight for deer/pigs.

[reddogge]

How much througher do you need to get to result in a dead animal?  That should drive through any deer or pig plus shoot without a bananna trajectory.

[Prairie Drifter]

I buried it to the fletching, had the arrow hanging out the other side on a quatering to shot, after it passed through one lung,liver and a grass filled stomach. The arrow weighed 511grs out of a 44# bow at 12 yds. You will be fine.

 

[magnus]

Although I shoot a heavier arrow, your set up is more than sufficient. It's all personal preference. I think the pic above says it all.

Keeping the Faith!
Magnus

[centaur]

I don't recall ever shooting an animal with anything but cedars. None of them are complaining. If you want a heavier arrow, look at Woodyweights. You can add a good amount of weight to the front of the arrow with them. My cedars weigh around 620 grains when I use 125 gr. Woodyweights.

[Bjorn]

My hunting cedars are right at 600 with a 145 gn point. Cedar comes in a variety of weights-they can vary 100+gns at the same spine.

[Stumpkiller]

I use cedars of about 580 gr (30.5" BoP).  Half the time they break and I find a portion on the bloodtrail . . . but only after the head has exited the far side so it is a worthwhile price to pay.

I am currently using a 125 grain "Slim" profile Ribtek head and have shot clear through NY whitetail.  I had the shorter & wider 125 gr hang up at the fletch twice.  Never had the fortune to hunt hogs.

[smokin joe]

Don't fret. You are fine. Go hunt with them.

[Warchild]

I love cedars and have killed literally dozens of whitetails with them. I shoot a 56# Schafer Silvertip recurve and shoot 568 grain cedars.

[Pointer]

Absolutely...

[Terry Lightle]

Cedars have done it for me on bear and deer

[fedora]

I have shot hogs with a 50# recurve with cedar arrows and zwickey eskimos 125gr.  Had no problem with pass throughs and if they didn't they sure were hanging out both sides.  Deer the same and many elk and moose have fallen to cedar arrows.  Remember there was a day when there was nothing else.  I am even thinking about going back to cedar because I can't stand that I have to spend 100 bucks for a dozen carbons.  The other think is if you make your own you sure can be proud of the craftsmanship of the arrow you tapered, stained, dipped, crested and fletched.

Fedora

[Ben Maher]

I punched this hog clean through with a tapered cedar at 510 gns .

Your set up sounds fine .

[LookMomNoSights]

Cedar + sharp broadhead = GOOD!

[swampthing]

Almost had first hand experience this year. An unseen twig from an unseen branch deflected one of my most exciting shots at game, sending it 5 feet off course and burying the broadhead in to a tree. Definately had no problem with tree penetration. Thanks again, can't wait till spring to get to try again.

[Vig]

Swampthing- I've had similar luck with cedars on trees. Seems like the penetration is less on granite!

[Shinken]

Cedar poisoning has killed many large and small game animals....

Shoot straight, Shinken

[JGoemaat]

Go for it, there is something special that cedars seem to complete. I shoot 52 lbs and had a cedar pass thru both sides of a great big buck. The cedars made the hunt that more special to me.

[badbadleroybrown]

My cedars are 563 grains total using 175 gr Abowyer single bevels out of a 50# longbow.  I have no problem with my arrows blowing through deer.  Someone above me already mentioned it, but a sharp broadhead is of paramount importance to killing deer.

[Fletcher]

Kinda like Magnus, I like more, but your 500 gr cedars will do the job.  If you want a little more weight, add a little more spine and go up in point weight.  You will want about 5 lbs spine to go from a 125 to a 160 gr point.  Just tune them up like any other arrow.  Good arrow flight trumps all the other factors for penetration.