Project Bison (American Buffalo)

[Rancid Crabtree]

I’ve been asked by a friend (the guy who shot the deer with the broadhead in the brain) To outfit him with a arrow and broadhead combination for a February Buffalo hunt out West. He is using his current whitetail bow but wants more than the 350 grain arrow/broadhead set up he uses for deer. I agree with that. Everything I have heard and read about Bison is that you should be shooting for the heavy carpet that covers the front shoulders. I would expect that this hair is thick and matted and since the hunt will take place in February, that it might also be ice covered. For this reason, I will be shooting for an arrow weight over 700 grains.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w124/bow_project/bisonarrow91.jpg

After looking around for arow shafts, I settled on Carbon Express Heritage with the wood grain look. These shafts weigh around 12 grains per inch. The shafts are on order. Next, I picked the Wensel Woodsman as the broadhead for this hunt because I wanted him to use a strong, cut on contact head. The 3:1 aspect ratio of the woodsman means greater penetration. I ordered from 3Rivers, a half dozen 125 grain Woodsmans and since he will be screwing these into a carbon shaft, I also got some 100 grain steel adapters that are needed to mount a glue on style head to a carbon arrow. For added weight, I also got 50 grain brass arrow inserts instead of the normal 15 grain aluminum inserts. I also got him some brass weight washers.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w124/bow_project/Bisonarrow.jpg

I am trying to create a front heavy arrow (FOC moved forward) after reading Dr. Ashby’s report on extreme FOC arrows and their increased ability to penetrate. So far, that adds up to 285 grains at the tip alone. The shafting weighs 12 grains per inch and he uses a 29 inch shaft for 348 grains of carbon. He is using a luma nock and (3) 5 inch barred turkey feathers so that should add another 30 grains putting us at 663 grains so far.

Since my son and I are working on a broadhead collection, I used one of the Wensel Woodsmen to do a little testing. The woodsman has a very sharp tip but bison bones are big so I filed a secondary tip angle which shortened the head by about an 1/8 of an inch but will make the tip less likely to bend or curl upon impact with a large bone. I am planning on a worst case scenario in that he hits a rib on both sides of the bison.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w124/bow_project/bisonarrow4.jpg

Next, I took the woodsman and sharpened it to a fine edge and then lapped it on ceramic plates to get a mirror finish on the cutting edge.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w124/bow_project/bisonarrow3.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w124/bow_project/bisonarrow5.jpg

In an effort to show my friend the benefits of a cut on contact head, I set up an experiment where he and I used two very common and popular heads on the market. A Muzzy and a Thunderhead that were in my collection. I used a short length of shaft and some sponges to keep the arrow from sliding around on the scale.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w124/bow_project/bisonarrow7.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w124/bow_project/bisonarrow2.jpg

I used a very thick and heavy piece of boot leather as the test medium. I placed the leather over each broadhead and by holding the leather out at the edges, pressed down until the head passed thru the leather. My friend watched the scale to check the poundage. I started with the Muzzy. I pushed down until I reached 30 pounds of force and I could not get the tip to go thru the leather.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w124/bow_project/bisonarrow8.jpg

Next, I used the Thunderhead and when I applied 24 pounds of force, the head came thru but ripped the leather until the blades could start cutting. The thunder head hole is to the left on the picture above.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w124/bow_project/bisonarrow6.jpg

Lastly, we used the Woodsman and It went thru the leather so fast and with such ease that we repeated the test several times to make sure we could trust the results. After 4 tries, we kept coming up with the same results. It took 6 pounds of force to slice thru the leather and there was no tearing, just clean cuts. There are other heads on the market with cut on contact tips that are just as good but I think the Woodsman was a good choice for this hunt.

I hope to have the shafts in a few days so I can begin to construct the arrows. In order to reach the 700 plus final weight, I have decided to use a few 27 inch lengths of .065 string trimmer (weed whacker) line that will be placed inside the arrows. This will ad length from front to back but will not change the arrow spine which is 350. I will post more as the project progresses.

[Rancid Crabtree]

Well, it seems that I was not re-inventing the wheel with my broadhead test. Watch the attached video. Dale Karch from 3Rivers does it with a soft (and thinner) tanned elk hide. My hide was full grain so it took more force for my test. He also did his test with what looks like a Magnus head. I think the bones and heavy carpet over the shoulder of a bison warrants going overboard in terms of penetration.

I should have known Dale would have done this sort of test. He is as anal as I am. Dale's Parents live about 5 miles from mine. I saw him at Compton last year. He still occasionally hunts in my home town.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpHpVR5SUX8



http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w124/bow_project/bison8.jpg

[Rancid Crabtree]

When the shafts arrived in the mail I cut them to length and epoxied the 50 grain brass inserts in place. On Sunday, while smoking 15 pounds of bacon, I had some time to work on the bison arrows again. The fellow asked that I use barred feathers and crest the arrows. The colors he picked were black, red and silver cresting to match the fletching.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w124/bow_project/bisonarrow94.jpg

While the cresting was drying, I assembled the 125 grain Woodsmen and the 100 grain steel adapters. I also placed 2 brass weight washers on the heads. Total head weight: 235 grains.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w124/bow_project/bisonarrow95.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w124/bow_project/bisonarrow97.jpg

Over the course of the day I was able to get two of the shafts fletched.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w124/bow_project/bisonarrow96.jpg

To boost the arrow weight, I am messing around with string trimmer (weed eater) line. 4 strands is the max I can fit inside the shaft. I plan to weigh the arrows tomorrow. My guess is that 4 strands might be too much.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w124/bow_project/bisonarrow92.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w124/bow_project/bisonarrow93.jpg

[woody]

Ron,
A Bison hunt, sounds interesting. Big animals.
I like your shot placement, maybe an inch and a half more forward, but the height looks good.

I personally would be thinking along the lines of a two blade broadhead and an arrow of at least 800 grains, maybe a 1000.

Ed Ashby's reports on Asian buff recomends Grizzly broadheads.

I have shot an asiatic buffaloe, not as big as a bison, and my arrow specs were 750 grain, 2 blade broadhead from a 74 lb compound.

I think from memory, arrow speed was 182 feet per second, if the mathematics are of any interest to your planning.

Shot angle was broad side and placement pretty much where you have your red dot shown.

Penetration was almost out the far side, but I think a heavier arrow would have improved it, and bison are bigger........

Anyway, good luck with your friends bison, should be an interesting hunt.

[Rancid Crabtree]

Thanks Woody. The finished arrows came out just over 750 grains and when we shot through the chronograph, we got 200 Feet per second. He is using a 70 pound compound. I would have liked to have this chap use a 2 bladed head but I could not talk him into that.

[rory]

I rekon any of those arrow combo's will smoke it.... I rekon he's right with the big 3 blade :)

[rinaldo]

How thick are the ribs on a Bison and can you smash through them with an arrow? Do you need a licence to hunt Bison and is hunting Bison regulated? Thanks in advance.:P

[howie]

Several years ago I tried a packet of woodsmens 125 grain heads and bent some blades on average size game, - which didn't impress me much, didn't use them again. When I went to South Africa I used 3 blade Magnus Snuffers - 160 grainers with 125 grain steel inserts with a super heavy arrow/bow. No dramas with penetration and the wound channels awesome, the animals looked like I shot them with a star picket, (steel fence post). Good luck........Howie

[RazorX]

Like Howie said, the wound channel from a snuffer is insane! I love it and use them from my recurve.

Have you tried using 4mm drip irrigation tubing for weighting your arrows? I use it and it can be found at your local hardware shop.

Cheers,

Jase.

[Bowfly]

Good one mate .I hope he gets a beauty. Everything I have heard about big boned game suggests a strong two blade.
You can use a tiny bit of accetone to remove the Carbon Express writing of those heritage shafts without damaging the buff tuff coating to make them look that bit more trad if you wish. Good luck
Rod

[Rancid Crabtree]

There are now longer very many wild herds of bison. It is difficult to draw a wild bison tag. This will be a ranch hunt.

How thick are the ribs on a Bison and can you smash through them with an arrow? Do you need a licence to hunt Bison and is hunting Bison regulated? Thanks in advance.:P

[Rancid Crabtree]

I finished all the bison arrows/broadheads and they were picked up by the hunter yesterday. We shot a few test arrows in my shop. The final weight came out to 760 grains. By using (4) 10 inch lengths of weed eater line bundled together and positioned in the front of the shaft, I was able to get a 15% FOC. All the heads are razor sharp and ready to go. I had him take a few shots through the chronograph and he was consistently shooting 200 FPS with his 70 pound Jennings. He will practice with the broadheads for a few weeks and the I will give them one last hone before he leaves for the hunt.


His new arrows will have 67 foot pounds of KE at point blank but more importantly, they will have .674 Lb/Sec. of momentum even at 40 yards he will still be at 63 foot pounds of KE and .654 Lb/Sec. momentum


His whitetail arrows weigh 353 grains and shoot 285 FPS, giving him 64 Foot pounds at point blank but only .446 Lb/Sec of momentum. At 40 yards, he drops to 55 Foot pounds and .414 Lb/Sec of momentum.


That is a 150% increase in momentum at point blank and 158% increase at 40 yards. These will be deep driving arrows. Now he just has to hit the right spot.

[HOOD]

You could also try 6mm sash/awning cord which I have used in my GoldTip shafts.

Great write up to by the way.;)

[Rancid Crabtree]

The hunter stopped by my house today to drop off some pictures of his bison and to show me the arrow (all 3 pieces of it) The broadhead was as sharp and as good as new.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/jay_bison1.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/jay_bison2.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/jay_bison5.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/jay_bison4.jpg
As stated, the entire head came thru the far side but the arrow did not completely pass through and out of the bison.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/jay_bison3.jpg

[Clemo]

Nice work, awsom animal.:cool:

I didnt know Keither Sutherland was into Bow Hunting.:P

[Benno]

wow that is one serious setup going into a hunt, and one massive animal. bloody impressive for a single arrow kill. Makes me think my setup might be a little light.. tho i dont shoot stuff that big.
He got amazing penetration for a 3 bladed arrow.. Do you know if he hit any ribs?
Also do you have a rough idea what it would cost to do a hunt for a trophy bison like that?? would be really good to have a crack at one once!

[howie]

Super cool stuff, no doubt about it...Cheers 4 sharing.....Howie

[Ben Kleinig]

Nice bull, alright! Well done to your mate!

Benno, I have a hunch that a good bull camel would be every bit as heavy as a bison... something for me to look into on Wikipedia, anyway!

[Bowfly]

OOOOHHHHH YEA! What a ripper mate. Congrat's to your mate
Rod

[Ben Kleinig]

Well, I stand somewhat corrected, having just examined that infallible guide, Wikipedia:

American bison can grow up to 408 kg, with the biggest on record being a whopping 1140 kg.

The dromedary camel can grow up to 600kg (no mention of the record weight).

I wonder if these weights are recorded wet or dry? A camel can drink 200 litres if thirsty.

Well, that bison sure is a worthy game animal! It would be nice to go after one someday!

[spiderbait24]

WOW!

thats bloody wicked mate, you did a cracker job on the arrows and has paid off heaps congratz to you both!

[grimmobow]

you must be very satesfied(sic) with the arrows that you built.what a fantastic looking animal congrats to both of you.