Ashby Bowhunting Foundation Newsletter

March 2025

President’s Message

A particular manufacturer of inefficient broadheads recently stated to ABF that a broadhead only needed to penetrate “just enough” for an ethical kill. When we implored further, that manufacturer prefers pass-through shots and quick kills like we all do. ABF tested their head and showed the manufacturer the outcome and where they could make improvements. The simple notion of “just enough” is seriously misleading and oversimplifies the complexity of real-world hunting situations while highlighting the broad definition of “ethics” from one hunter to the next. When anyone promotes “just enough” penetration as adequate, they are encouraging hunters to use underperforming equipment. Hunters should be wary of marketing (because that is how they make money) and focus on real-world outcome driven test results when building their arrow systems as the animals we hunt deserve our very best. Ethical hunting requires gear that maximizes effectiveness, not equipment built to meet the lowest possible standard for success. We can hope the “just enough” thought process becomes a thing of the past. 

Good hunting and as always, have a nice day. 

Rob Neilson

Donations​

The Ashby Bowhunting Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) education and research organization. 100% of your donation will go to the Missions of Ashby Bowhunting Foundation. No salaries are paid by the Foundation. We realize there are many worthwhile organizations out there, and greatly appreciate your consideration and support.

Newsletter Tip

Take a young person scouting with you this spring and summer. There are many things you know that over the years are easy to take for granted. Many years ago I ran into two young bowhunters with brand new compounds. They hadn’t seen a single elk in two weeks. I was seeing 15 to 20 elk per day in the same area. I shared a few tips that swung the odds in their favor and a few months later they bought me a burger and beer to thank me. It reminds me I need to do more of this.

Events

→ (Date Corrected) May 3, 2025: Texas Hunter Education Instructor Association Conference - Workshop on Maximizing Arrow and Broadhead Terminal Performance

Ashby System Results - Bowhunter Interview with Kay Gaido

1. How long have you been a bowhunter?

I started bowhunting in 1988.

2. Do you hunt with traditional equipment, compound, crossbow, or a combination of these?

I use a compound bow only.

3. What is/are your favorite animal(s) to hunt?

Feral hogs. They are plentiful and they have a smaller kill zone than most big game. Tough animals. Night hunting them is even more challenging .

4. What is/are your favorite bowhunting method(s): stands, still hunting, spot and stalk, pure stalking, or other?

Stalking is preferred on most big game . On whitetail deer stand hunting prefered . 

6. Could you describe your typical arrow setup(s) for hunting big game?

I use a 5mm stainless steel carbon shaft with 75 grain stainless collar and a 100 grain Iron will double bevel . Total arrow weight is 464 grains.

7. Overall, what has been your experience using Ashby-style arrow setups?

 At first I was disappointed with the speed of my arrow until I started seeing the results. Complete pass throughs on all big game including large hogs. Overall, I was very pleased.

8. Do you have any bowhunting tips you would like to pass along?

Practice like you're going to hunt. Shoot sitting down. Out of a tripod. Set up ground blind or however you plan on hunting and practice that method. 

From the Field - Merriam’s Turkeys

Bowhunting Merriam’s turkey is one of the greatest challenges a hunter can face due to the bird’s exceptional eyesight and wary nature. I’ve found these birds to be much more difficult to hunt than elk. These turkeys, found in the mountainous regions of the western United States, have vision that rivals some of the sharpest in the animal kingdom. Their eyes are specially adapted to detect the slightest movement, even at great distances, making it nearly impossible for a hunter to draw a bow undetected. Unlike deer, which may rely more on scent, Merriam’s turkeys depend heavily on their keen vision to detect danger, scanning their surroundings with quick, jerky head movements. A bowhunter must remain perfectly still and take advantage of natural cover or a blind to avoid detection.

Adding to the difficulty, these turkeys are highly unpredictable in their movements and responses to calling. Unlike Eastern wild turkeys, which tend to follow a more consistent pattern, Merriam’s turkeys cover vast territories and often roost in different locations each night. This nomadic behavior makes patterning them difficult, forcing bowhunters to scout thoroughly and be adaptable in their setup. Their habitat—often consisting of open ponderosa pine forests, rugged ridges, and meadows—provides them with ample opportunity to see danger coming. Spot-and-stalk hunting is nearly impossible in these conditions, requiring hunters to set up ambush locations carefully.

However, there is a brief window each spring when Merriam’s turkeys become unusually vulnerable. During March, when the first grasshoppers emerge, these birds become so focused on feeding that they momentarily drop their guard. This feeding frenzy lasts for about seven to ten days, giving bowhunters a rare advantage IF the season cooperates. The birds’ obsession with gorging on the abundant insects makes them less aware of movement and potential threats in their surroundings. For those who understand this behavioral shift, it presents the best opportunity to get within bow range without being detected. This year the turkey season in Colorado begins on April 12 and runs through May 31. Often, the green up is fully underway by April 12 and this unique window has already passed.

Once this window closes and the turkeys return to their usual wariness, the challenge of bowhunting Merriam’s turkey becomes as difficult as ever. They quickly resume their sharp-eyed scanning of the landscape, making every movement a potential giveaway. For the dedicated bowhunter, taking a Merriam’s turkey with archery equipment is a true test of skill, patience, and knowledge of the bird’s behavior. Those who can capitalize on the brief feeding distraction in March may find their best chance at success, but for the rest of the season, these mountain birds remain one of the toughest trophies to take with a bow.

I’ve tried numerous ways to hunt these birds. I find it tough to sit in a ground blind for hours. I’d rather spot and stalk these birds and hopefully get in front of where they are feeding and use natural ground cover to draw my bow undetected. My successes have been very limited but I enjoy the challenge and it’s a beautiful time of year to be in the field.

Celebrating the WILD in wildlife,

David Neils

Doc’s Ramblings

Doc's Ramblings 

Now, the audio series on the Study Updates has begun, and the first installments are on ABF's YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@ashbybowhuntingfoundation6420). 

 Over the next year or so, I intend to move progressively through each study update, part by part. I will try to add the overviews weekly. These brief audio overviews will be AI-generated presentations of a single part of just one update. Most will be between 10 and 15 minutes long and touch only highlights from that portion of the testing.  

While far from comprehensive, the overviews will walk the listener through the evolution of the testing and what we have learned about arrow terminal performance along the way. Hopefully, it will indicate which of the Update series they might be interested in going to the ABF web page (https://www.ashbybowhunting.org) to read in depth. 

On other fronts, Chris Melton has a video from his Asian Buffalo hunt posted on his YouTube channel, Personal Best Outdoors. Here is the link to that video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3j6NxsLTo1k&t=2s. 

In Chris' video, the anatomy discussion, presented by Troy Fowler, begins at 18: 25. Troy's discussion highlights the strong build of a buffalo and provides insight into the impact such an animal can have on your arrow system. The question is always, not what your arrow did to the animals but rather what the animal did to your arrow. It should also give every bowhunter something to think about; just how vital a broadhead's skip-angle is, especially for anyone hunting any big game animal from an elevated position, such as a tree stand. 

There Is another video on YouTube that I encourage you to look at and comment on. It is one posted by Easton. Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_NqdV30rIM. When you watch it, you can figure out why it made me angry and frustrated. 

The archery industry continues to disseminate information (or disinformation) that inevitably will result in a higher wounding rate for animals shot with such arrows. They unfailingly promote the concept that being able to hit the animal is everything, with total disregard for what is going to happen from the time the arrow hits the animal until the arrow comes to a stop. In other words, they ignore the terminal ballistics of hunting arrows. 

You owe it to the animals you hunt to use an arrow that has the most effective terminal ballistics possible. Your arrow is the only piece of hunting equipment that comes into contact with the animal. It's not about hitting the animal; it is about killing the animal in the most efficient, effective, and humane method possible. Using, by choice, a hunting arrow that yields less than optimal terminal ballistics is, in my book, unethical. 

Good hunting, my friends,

Dr. Ed Ashby