Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Bowhunting Mechanicals in cold weather?

Hunted for many, many years but I'm new to the bow, actually a crossbow, therefore this amateur question. But do mechanical broadheads ever freeze up in cold temps or say in wet snow or a cold rain to the point where they will not work? Or is it advisable not to use them in such conditions? We have a late deer and muzzleloader season in Dec/Jan and this occurred to me since I plan on using the crossbow this year.

i used a mechanical in a xbow last year on a large buck and it worked just fine it was in the end of december and 15 below that afternoon ,but i am always careful to keep them dry.this was my first season with a xbow because of my bad shoulders too.

If you can shoot a fixed balde, do so.
They penetrate better and baldes are sturdier.
If you have to shoot mechanicals, then just apply a tiny drop of 0W-20 oil on the pin where the blades pivot and in the groove for the blades.

Kinda what I was thinking. Good. Going to look into some fixed heads just in case.

your very right i like fixed blades , its just that my new Ravin xbow is too fast for fixed blades and i wish it shot slower so i could use a fixed broadhead .

I suppose it could be an issue if hunting in freezing rain.

I've hunted some cold days, into February in ohio, and never had an issue.

-Jake

Good to know Pete as I'll be shooting a Ravin.

I used a swacker mechanical last year on a doe in 4 degrees with no issue. I guess Freezing rain could be an issue but when the temps are way below freezing snow should not cause a problem. I don’t hunt in the rain since it makes blood trails hard to follow so have no concerns with mechanicals. Also, mechanicals typically off a much wider cut and still penetrate very well on deer with heavy arrows and modern bows. Use whatever groups best with your bow and don’t worry about the fixed vs mechanical comments.

duplicate

I shot a polar bear with a NAP Spitfire 3-blade 1.5" mechanical at -40*F in Nunavut in February two years ago. The Inuit guide said he never saw a bear go down so fast. 65# Prime Rival bow with 475 gr Easton Carbon Injexion arrows. Big boar too, #17 all time in P&Y records..

Pictures or it didn't happen

Sounds like perfect conditions to stay home!