Author Archives: Ed Hale

About Ed Hale

I am an avid hunter with rifle and Bow and have been hunting for more than 50 years. I have taken big game such as whitetail deer, red deer, elk, Moose and African Plains game such as Kudu, Gemsbok, Springbok, Blesbok, and Impala and wrote an ebook entitled African Safari -Rifle and Bow and Arrow on how to prepare for a first safari. Ed is a serious cartridge reloader and ballistics student. He has earned two degrees in science and has written hundreds of outdoor article on hunting with both bow and rifle.

The Slick Trick Crossbow Broadhead vs Muzzy MX-4 Broadhead

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I am testing the 100g Slick Trick Crossbow 4-blade broadhead against the 100g Muzzy MX-4  Broadhead.

 

Both are 1 1/8 cutting diameter. Both are hunting broadheads for use with any Crossbow, Compound, Recurve or Longbow say the manufacturer.

 

Slick Trick Crossbow 4-Blade Broadhead 4=Pack. Cost $45 or $12.50 per broadhead Unassembled

 

Test Observation

Assembly: Requires assembly, no tools provided.

Extreme care needed to avoid getting cut. Needs threaded arrow insert to hold the broadhead blades together.

Tip – Steel 4 edge align with blades. Not true cut-on-contact

Blades: 4 stainless

Blade thickness 0.035″

Weight: 100 grains

Cut on contact tip edges not cutting sharp

grouping  – 4.5 inch drop from field points and 2.5 inch right at 25 yards

Reuse – Yes 

Made in USA

Notes: The Slick Trick ferrule is made of steel. This is needed as the wider slot cuts for .035″ blades would significantly weaken an aircraft aluminum ferrule. Small metal ring to hold blades in place. Don’t lose them. 

 

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Muzzy MX-4 Blade 100g Broadhead 3-Pack Cost 29.99. Cost $9.99 per broadhead Assembled. 

Test Observation

Assembly: None needed.

Trocar Tip – Hardened Steel 3 trocar edge with true cut-on-contact

Blades: 4 stainless

Blade thickness 0.025″

Weight: 100 grains

grouping  – yes but 4.5 inch drop from field points, zero lateral drift at 25 yards.

reuse- Yes

Made in USA

Conclusion

Both broadheads work but fell 4.5 inches below field point. I prefer cut-on-contact tips and lower cost and ready assembled Muzzy. Slick Tricks were a headache to assemble and fall apart if not screwed into an arrow. Looked like Slick Trick tips would be cut-on-contact but not so. They are not cutting sharp.

 

Clear Winner: Muzzy MX-4

 

Cut-On-Contact Thoughts

Why do some hunters believe cut-on-contact broadheads are is so important?

 I believe, for example, like using an ultra sharp laboratory needle to draw patient blood, the pain nerve signal was never sent to the brain as it was cleanly severed on needle contact and the patient rarely feels much. 

However, a really dull needle used to draw your blood; Imagine that for a moment!! The patient or deer will scream and adrenaline along with coagulants will rush like an ambulance to the wound site. And your trail to recover game will be much longer. 

Big Game Animals have those same nerves. Cutting-nerves on contact (on game) before the pain signal is sent. VERY SMART!!

Good Hunting!!

Broadheads: Some Thoughts

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The upside of mechanical broadheads are massive entrance wounds and copious blood to trail seen, even on an entrance wound only. Many love them. Me? Read on…

 

The four most obvious documented downsides can be the following:

  1. the blades did not open/deploy
  2. the poundage of bow or striking energy (long shot) was insufficient to open/deploy
  3. the arrow did not fully penetrate vitals, spending energy on opening instead of all important penetration.  
  4. mechanical blades broke on entry

Mechanical broadhead Cost? The engineering that goes into a great mechanical broadhead translates to much higher cost for fewer broadheads (three per pack) and no practice heads. Three broadheads are commonly sold in the $50 to $60 category and reuse as a broadhead is one and done throw away.

 Reviews by many hunters are a tell all to quality and reliability. Some swear by them. 

Fixed Blade Broadheads – There are fewer downsides of modern fixed blade broadheads particularly with cut on contact tips and they have been used for tens of thousands of years. They cost less than most mechanical heads and fixed blade broadheads often can be reused. 

I contend that sharp bullet or pencil points seem sharp but push/tear their way till razor sharp blades cut flesh. I avoid these pencil pointed heads.

I advocate cut on contact tips on fixed blades, like sharp trocar/scoop or the sharp blade tip itself cuts nerves and tissue on contact, thus the deer is often not aware of the wound.

I used Muzzy 4 blade trocar tipped heads in Africa with great success. Both the red hartebeest and gemsbok fell dead in less than 50 yards.

 

I will be bear hunting in Alberta with crossbow in June 2025. I will used fixed blade broadheads to ensure complete penetration. Likely Muzzy. 

Doing your homework by reading online web reviews can aid in your choices. Once I trust a broadhead, I try to stay with it. 

Good Hunting

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Choosing A Basic Hunting Laser Rangefinder

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There are dozens of basic hunting laser rangefinders out there. Most rangefinders accomplish both close range e.g 4 or 5 yards to the furthest rating of the model you are interested in. All at a cost from 50 dollars to many hundreds. My criteria is simple. Compact, reliable, battery operated, handles angle distance, cost effective.

If you are going to spend thousands on hunts in far off lands, you need quality and reliability. 

Usually that means a brand name like Leupold, Nikon and SIG for example among many. As a bow and rifle hunter consider the following criteria;

Good customer ratings. e.g Amazon.

Ease of use

Light weight

Reliable measurements

Angle compensation

Display in a bright color

Some magnification

Battery operated

Water resistant

A lanyard for carry around neck

Carry case.

Warranty

You can accomplish all of this today for under $200. Seek to find youtube video reviews to narrow your choices like below.

 

 

Good Luck!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Air Travel with My 10 Point Turbo S1 Crossbow, Arrows/Bolts and Broadheads

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Perhaps you are considering a crossbow hunt and need to fly to your destination like me.  I have booked a 2025 trophy spring black bear rifle/crossbow hunt in Alberta, Canada.  I will bring my 10 Point Turbo S1 Crossbow along. Hunters in Alberta are allowed two bears.

I went online to look for a hard crossbow case.  This case below is said to fit all 10 Point Crossbows since 2019. The cost was $250, a bit high. However, the case was designed for specific 10 Point crossbows. The internal dimensions allow similar crossbows with varying fit quality like mine. 

 

 

 Ten Point says the case is hard enough for air travel, as a checked bag, but must have TSA airline approved locks. The case does come with some protective foam. I have added more. The case also has some exterior connection points for strapping to an ATV. 

Some air-traveling  crossbow hunters suggest to keep arrows and broadheads separate in other checked luggage. We shall see. I purchased a broadhead case from Muzzy below for $10.50. Keep those blades razor sharp. 

Fly Safe.

 

 

 

 

 

SIG SAUER Platinum Hunter Ammo – Partnership with Meateater

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New Platinum Hunter Ammunition Now Available Created in Partnership with the Hunting Experts at MeatEater

New Platinum Hunter Ammunition Now Available
Created in Partnership with the Hunting Experts at MeatEater
The new Platinum Hunter line of ammunition was created in partnership with the hunting experts at MeatEater. This premium offering is precision-loaded with a Nosler Accubond projectile, delivering unmatched weight retention and deep penetration on big game. Each round is enclosed in a corrosion-resistant nickel case for smooth cycling, ensuring reliability in all conditions. And with waterproofing for extreme weather resistance, nothing will stop you from making the perfect shot.
Precision loaded by SIG SAUER, a trusted provider of sniper ammunition to the U.S. Military.  SIG’s exacting standards deliver ultra-low SDs – providing shot-to-shot consistency you can depend on to make your once in a lifetime hunt a success.
New Platinum Hunter Ammunition Now Available Created in Partnership with the Hunting Experts at MeatEater

 

October Scouting New Hampshire Deer Sign – Finding Medicinal Birch Polypores

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Well, I found a few deer tracks but not rubs or scrapes in a new area. On the way back to my truck, I found a few new birch polypores, a mushroom like fungus growing on dead birch trees.  As a kid, I called them steak mushrooms. They are easy to identify correctly as they have no look alikes.

As it turns out humans have been using birch polypores across Europe and North America as medicine for centuries. Most famously, Otzi the Iceman of 3300 BC used polypores for whipworms he had in his gut and carried pieces of the polypore on his necklace. One species for medicine and the other for firemaking called a tinder fungus.

They look like a radial fan growing on dead birch trees. A tawny brown color, like deer fur color on top and white on the bottom.

 

The birch polypore is a wonder of nature. It is anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory etc.. And when fresh and sliced thin can be a bandaid applied to a cut or scrape it can aid in healing minor wounds. As a tea it has several medicinal qualities.

 

https://www.mushroom-appreciation.com/birch-polypore.html

 

Check it Out!