Today it seems there are nearly as many broadhead designs as bullet types, and manufacturers introduce dozens of new ones each year. And just like bullets, every hunter has a favorite. With that in mind, I asked 10 bowhunters with an average of 19 years of experience to pick their go-to broadheads for whitetail deer. Surprisingly, there was considerable overlap in the choices. Those three broadheads made the cut below (plus two more based on their record of success in the field). It's hard to argue with proven performance, but I'm sure you'll have fun trying.
1. New Archery Products Thunderhead 100
The three-blade, 100-grain Thunderhead was on the list of five of the hunters I polled, making it the most popular in my less-than-scientific survey. New Archery Products (NAP) says the micro-grooved ferrule increases accuracy, and several hunters who listed the Thunderhead among their favorites confirmed its accurate in-flight performance. Couple accuracy with super-sharp blades that result in a 1 3/16-inch cutting diameter, and you have the recipe for short, heavy bloodtrails. MSRP: $39.99 per 5
2. Muzzy 100-Grain 3-Blade
Muzzy's well-known "Bad to the Bone" reputation largely comes from the three-sided, hardened-steel Trocar tip the company puts on its broadheads. It's designed to blast through bone for deep penetration (important for quartering shots on even lightly built game like whitetails) and mechanically locks the .020-inch-thick blades to the aluminum ferrule. The 100-grain, 3-blade version has a 1 3/16-inch cutting diameter and has been my top broadhead for almost two decades. With a properly-tuned bow, I've always found it flies true. Three other hunters in the poll had it on their lists, too, for the same reasons. MSRP: $39.95 per 6
3. Rage 2-Blade
Some bowhunters are reluctant to try mechanical broadheads, but those who settle on Rage rarely go back to fixed-blade designs. Such was the case with two of the hunters I polled, who trust the company's SlipCam blade-deployment system and love the broadhead's field-point-like accuracy. On top of that, the 100-grain, two-blade version offers a wide cutting diameter of more than 2 inches when fully deployed on impact. The only downside seems to be cost. MSRP: $44.99 per 3
Honorable Mention: New Archery Products KillZone 100-GrainTwo-blade mechanical with spring-clip design that doesn't require O-rings or rubber bands for blade retention in flight. Two-inch cutting diameter; available with a cut-on-contact tip or a pyramid-shaped Trophy Tip. MSRP: $39.99 per 3
Honorable Mention: G5 Outdoors Striker 100-GrainThree fixed, .030-inch-thick blades offer a 1 1/8-inch cutting diameter and lock inside a solid-steel ferrule for toughness. Edges of triangular-shaped tip align with blades to provide performance similar to cut-on-contact broadheads. MSRP: $42.99 per 3
