New Guy to this site with a Question - Woodsman or Snuffer?

[IronCreekArcher]

Hey guys longtime reader first time registrant.  I have a question for anyone who would care to respond on the topic.  I am debating over the pros and cons of hunting with Snuffers or Woodsman broadheads?  Currently I am shooting a 49 lb @ 28" Black Widow PMA III and cedar arrows of my making tipped with Magnus II 125 grain two-blade heads.  Hunting weight is around 520 grains.  I am leaning towards the Woodsman but my father has had great success and easy trailing with the Snuffers.  Let me know your thoughts and experiences, with emphasis on experience.  Awesome site by the way...can't get enough!

[BOWMARKS]

Scroll down answers below

[TomMcDonald]

http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=066719

[30coupe]

Both are great broadheads. I have killed deer with both. With your setup, either should be just fine. They both leave wicked entry and exit holes. I shot a large doe this morning with a woodsman and she might have lasted 10 seconds after the shot.     The broadhead clipped a nearside rib, took out both lungs and liver, punched through the center of an offside rib, then ripped a gaping hole in her hide. The blood trail was impressive, though pretty short (maybe 50 yards).

The Woodsman may penetrate a bit better, otherwise you can't go wrong with either, IMHO.

Just pick one, make it sharp and fill the freezer.

[Bill Carlsen]

I used Snuffers for many years. However, on occaision I would get very poor penetration when hunting from tree stands. I tried the Woodsman and liked them better for penetration and the blood trails were just as good. I now favor the Razorcap for a 3 bladed head because they are well engineered, take and hold a better edge than the Woodsman (IMO) and come in a variety of weights depending on the ferrule you use. But, back to the point, between the Woodsman and Snuffer I would go with the Woodsman if you are a tree stand hunter. Both are great heads.

[overbo]

Depends if you want big holes or bigger holes.Either way shoot the one you get the sharpest and tunes the best.

[coconutdave]

I've used both, and I got better penetration with the WW"s. That's with a 57# recurve. But both heads are good and they fly great.

[Guru]

with your set-up....I'd go with the WW

[Thebear_78]

I'd go with the WW too.  I really like the snuffers, never gotten better blood trails with anything else but the WW will leave a large hole and probably penetrate better.

[Recurve50 LBS]

Both are good heads but I've been told not to use them with a bow under 50#s. Thats why I stick to quality 2 blade broadheads. But since your bow is 49#s I won't argue over 1#. IMHO I'd choose the head that shoots best and the one you can get the sharpest.

[flyfish1]

When talking snuffers you have to remember that 4 sizes are offered and the smallest is not much different than a woodsman. If refering to the biggest snuffer then you would be better to go woodsman in my opinion. The small snuffer is a gret head on whitetail also. When this topic comes up, I never hear mentioned that R. Rothaar shot 4 fletch arrows to help straighten the big snuffies quickly out of the bow. You will always see someone mention penetration close/out of tree. Four fletch sstabilzes the big ones and thus maximizes penetration at close ranges. There are accounts of the big heads sometimes not penetrating @ closer ranges while the  same setup wold penetrate fully at further yardages. Both great heads.

[flyfish1]

I didnt mean to speak of Mr. Rothaar in the past tense. He is a wealth of knowledge on big bucks. Check out his books on the subject.

[Teacher_of_the_Arcane]

Hi All,

I bought a dozen Snuffers from Mr. Rothhaar at a Bowhunters Rondevous in Wheeling, West Virginia when he was still directly involved in the manufacture and sale of them.  I shot them from my Bear Kodiak Magnum (50# @ 28") for twenty years before I lost the last one. I've never shot anything but whitetail deer with them, and never had a problem!

[Morning Star]

With your setup, which isn't much different than mine.....Woodsman for deer and Snuffers for turkeys.  

[Frenchymanny]

At 56#, I use Snuffers:
"Holy Moly, look at this bloodtrail!"

--My friend Drifter2 (Serge)--

[Night Wing]

Originally posted by Recurve50 LBS:
Both are good heads but I've been told not to use them with a bow under 50#s. Thats why I stick to quality 2 blade broadheads.

Not trying to stir the pot, but I've seen the above statement alot on many archery forums and after bowhunting deer for the past 42 years, it's simply not true based on my personal experience. Bow killed my first deer when I was 16 years old. I'm now 58 years old. When I started bowhunting, I used a 40# Bear Super Kodiak and an old MA3 broadhead. Took my share of deer with that setup and the blood trail was always a good one. My present setup is a 550 grain aluminum arrow, tipped with a 150 grain screw-in three blade Wensel Woodsman, shot out of my 66" long, 42# Blacktail bow at my 30" draw length. This setup comes to 13 grains per pound so my arrow is considered heavy. My arrow zips right on through a deer, but I must say, I aim for the lungs and my favorite shot, which I will wait for, is a slightly quartering away shot or a broadside shot where the deer looks in the opposite direction of me. The WW makes large entry and exit wounds with a massive blood trail a blind man can follow. Now, my buddy uses a 50# bow with a two bladed Magnus head and every now and then, when he shoots a deer and gets a complete pass through, he doesn't always get a good blood trail. The two bladed Magnus makes a long slice that sometimes closes up when the deer runs off and he literally has to get down on hands and knees to find the specks of blood to follow the downed deer. A deer is a thin skinned animal. It's not a thick skinned and muscled african rhino. I will probably take some heat for this post, but 42 years of hunting with a bow under 50# and a three blade head is what I will stay with when it comes to bowhunting deer. With that said, I'll now get out my flame retardant suit and see if it still fits me.    

[KentuckyTJ]

Hit em in the right spot and a field point will kill 'em. Go with Magnus!

[flyfish1]

I agree w/ nightwing. If Sandy Karch is killing big african game at 47# w/woodsman you will blow through deer and get more blood w/woodsman/ 3 blades. Many guys actually say they penetrate as well as two blades, so why not increase your cutting surface, and I will tell you in my experience if you do get a marginal hit, and it happens to everybody sooner or later, thats when you will appreciate 3 blades.

[Chimaster]

Hey There,

I've shot many animals with the snuffers and never had to worry about having a good blood trail. They leave a monster hole!!!!

[IronCreekArcher]

Thanks for all the input guys...the experience and opinions have all helped me in forming my decision.  I too have had marginal blood trails with the two-bladed heads.  I hunt a very thick swamp and have come close to losing deer that were double lunged; had I not watched them fall the outcome could have been drastically worse.  A pack of Woodsmans are on the way, should be here tomorrow hopefully.  Now, any advice on how to get the best edge on them?  I also ordered the X-Block system from 3-Rivers in hopes that it can get them shaper than my ol'milbastard and Jewel Stick routine.  Again, emphasis on experience...