according to big game archery equipment regulations in the state of South Dakota "Mechanical broadheads are prohibited from use while elk hunting, and mechanical broadheads with a cutting diameter greater than 2 inches are prohibited for any hunting." The new rage extreme advertises at cutting diameter of 2.3+" inches. your thoughts? Does anyone else hunt in a state with a similar regulation on mechanical broadhead cutting diameter?
I found this last year. Theres a bunch of states with rules like that. I am not sure why they have rules like that. I can only assume they believe bows will not produce enough energy to shove 2+ inches of blade through something. Kind of like a lot of other things. The laws are always behind the technology.
I think its good. Many hunters think because they have a newer bow they can shoot expandables. I made the mistake myself last year and it was part of what cost me my buck. My set up was far from right. Arrow was to light and it kicked out at about 10 yards n straightened back at around 20, didn't hurt accuracy much but took energy from me. But, being someone who didn't know a lot about the tech side of shooting and hunting, I thought my new 70lb draw bow would open a 2" swhacker just fine. I was wrong. I think if you are going to use them, ur how should b inspected first, to make sure your set up is right. Soooooo many videos and storys of lost game due to heads bot openings
Was watching arrow affliction one night, and I think it was in south Dakota where he took snips and cut the ends of his rage blades off just to he legal.
I don't think the laws are behind the technology. I think the law is to protect our sport from knuckleheads trying to shoot a huge head from a 50 pound bow and injuring deer verses killing them. There's a huge number of guys our there that just don't have a clue. (and it's not entirely their fault) Example: My Uncle. Nearly 60, in great shape but not gonna pull more than 50-55 lbs. He wants to shoot so he shows up at my house for me to help him sight his "new" 50.00, hand me down from a friend bow. Nothing wrong with that, lots of deer have been killed by such bows. BUT, he then pulls a pack of 2" Rage BHs out and said, the guy at Gander says these things are awesome and my friend _______ uses them. Ganderboy doesn't know or ask my uncle's setup and my uncle's friend is pulling 65-70 out of a much more efficient bow. The result, a perfectly nice uncle and outdoorsman getting ready to run out in the woods with a broadhead that needs more KE than he can muster.
As it should be. I wish MT would outlaw mechs on Elk. These heads keep getting bigger and bigger. That means less blade material to maintain weight. ie. weaker blades. Not for me.
In the recent past, the law was actually that the maximum broad-head cutting diameter size was 1 7/8". Rage 2 became popular and because of its popularity people lobbied to get the max bumped up to 2"... Kinda hope they just leave things where they are and not make any more changes to the regs... For anyone hunting turkeys in SD, the gobbler guillotines style heads are legal - long as they aren't mechanical... Officially, the law reads "Mechanical broadheads are prohibited from use while elk hunting, and mechanical broad heads with a cutting diameter greater than 2 inches are prohibited for any hunting."
Ageed. Ohio has the same. And honestly, I've done quite well with my 2" Rage heads. Plus, they come with a practice head and cost less
