Last Updated on March 20, 2023
Our Favorite Fixed & Mechanical Broadheads for Deer Hunting in 2023
So, you’re looking for the best broadheads for deer hunting in 2023? Well, fellow hunter, good on you. It’s never too early or late to tinker with your gear and get your archery setup completely dialed in.
Whether you’re a whitetail hunter sitting in a frozen tree stand in the plains of Wisconsin or a run-and-gunner backcountry hunter searching for that monster muley in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, you’ve come to the right place.
There are few items in your archery kit as crucial as your broadhead. After all, a second-rate broadhead that guides your arrow astray or breaks off in the heat of the moment might send you home frustrated and defeated. Worse, it could wound that deer you’re after but not drop it for good, forcing it to suffer or expire too far away for you ever to find it.
I’ve never met a hunter who wants to take an unethical shot, and I don’t think I ever will.
To help you put together a proper kit for deer season, we’ve recommended top-notch arrowheads, both fixed blade and mechanical, from trusted names like Rage, G5 Outdoors, Slick Trick, Tooth of the Arrow, NAP, and more.
None of these products will guarantee you fill your deer tag this season, but they will help enhance your bowhunting game and put one more piece of the puzzle in place for your upcoming hunt.
Stick around; it’s time to take a good look at the best broadheads for deer for the 2023 season and beyond.
Table of Contents: Best Broadheads for Deer of 2023 [Show/Hide]
- Why Does Your Broadhead Matter?
- Best Fixed Blade Broadheads
- Best Mechanical Broadheads
- Extra Accessories
- Fixed vs. Mechanical Broadheads for Deer Hunting
- Factors We Considered When Reviewing & Analyzing Products
- Tips for Tuning Your Broadhead
- Final Thoughts: Best Broadheads of 2023
- More Hunting Gear & Resources
Why Does Your Broadhead Matter?
You’ll need some serious hardware if you plan on piercing through a deer’s meat, tendons, bone, and gristle. And you might want to consider getting your head checked if you think a cheap Chinese broadhead from Amazon is going to cut it. (No pun intended.)
As a backcountry big game guide, I’ve seen my fair share of off-target shots and wounded animals that were never found, none so tragic or preventable as those that fell victim to a subpar broadhead. Maiming animals and letting them get away is no way to live life.
The bow hunting industry has become overwhelmingly popular in the past few years. With the rise in the number of hunters, we’ve seen an increase in coyote scavenger companies trying to turn a quick buck by churning out cheap, crummy gear.
These companies buy broadheads in bulk from China and use flashy advertising and repackaging to market their crap to you. If a company you’ve never heard of has to use an infomercial to sell its product, that’s a big red flag. A good broadhead should sell itself.
Why put so much time, work, and money into your shot, only to be undermined by your gear?
Only consider well-known brands when considering a broadhead purchase for your upcoming deer hunting season. Are you going to grab well-made points that stand up to the test, or will you roll the dice with a cheap imitation to save a few bucks?
Best Fixed Blade Broadheads for Deer
G5 Outdoors Montec
Material: Steel
Grain: 85, 100, 125
Number of Blades: Three
Cutting Diameter: 1-1/8″
The G5 Outdoors Montecs are one of our favorite fixed blade broadheads, primarily due to their incredible reliability. Not only are their blades sturdy and sharp, but they can be resharpened many times to extend their life. They’re fairly priced and make for a solid value buy for whitetail or mule deer hunters.
When it comes to the G5 Outdoors brand, complete pass-throughs are the rule and not the exception.
The Montec tops our list as the best fixed-blade broadhead for the money thanks to its punishing cut-on-contact single steel design. Don’t want to fuss with blade changes? These are the ones you want.
NAP Thunderhead
Material: Stainless steel
Grain: 85, 100, 125
Number of Blades: Three
Cutting Diameter: 1-3/16″
All NAP points are spin-tested and hunter-approved to maintain a high level of consistency, and the Thunderhead is no exception. Check out this tried-and-true replaceable three-blade broadhead if you’re looking for a long-term solution for your bowhunting setup.
New Archery Products Thunderheads are among the easiest broadheads to tune right out of the box. And, once correctly dialed in, my shots have practically zero arrow drift, even after hitting the target dozens of times. The cutting diameter is decent, and their high-strength diamaze-sharpened blades cut through meat like butter.
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Wasp Archery Havalon HV
Material: Stainless steel
Grain: 100, 125
Number of Blades: Three
Cutting Diameter: 1-3/16″
To say the Wasp Archery Havalon HV broadheads are sharp is a drastic understatement. During production, their thin edges are lined up like a laser with a solid ferrule tip, making for a deadly combination. The cutting power of these bad boys is nearly unmatched.
Wasp Archery produces some of the most trusted broadheads on the market, and their extraordinarily sharp and durable Havalon HVs are among their most popular choices among deer hunters.
The folks at Wasp Archery have been making great broadheads for as long as I can remember, and their products continue to impress me every season. I love the overall function of the HV and can’t wait to drop a deer with the pack I purchased a month ago.
These come in three packs that include two extra sets of blades, making them a great value buy.
G5 Outdoors Striker X
Material: Steel
Grain: 100, 125
Number of Blades: Four
Cutting Diameter: 1-1/4″
The G5 Outdoors Striker X features four replaceable blades and insane cutting power. Its razor-sharp fins ensure this no-frills broadhead will fly true and sink deep into its target on contact. These are an attractive option for budget-minded individuals who don’t want to skimp on quality.
The Strikers Xs are similar to the Montecs in that they cut on contact, however, these utilize replaceable blades and the Montecs do not. If you don’t want to fuss around sharpening your blades often, choose these.
Muzzy 3 Blade
Material: Aluminum body, Trocar tip
Grain: 100, 125
Number of Blades: Three
Cutting Diameter: 1-3/16″
Travel to the intersection of price and functionality, and you’ll find the Muzzy 3 fixed blade broadheads. These were the first arrowheads I ever used for big game, and I still carry a few around in my broadhead case today.
Their replaceable blades are sharp and will cut into your prey like a hot knife. They’re my favorite value option on this list and would make a great addition to any archery setup.
If you’re a beginner deer hunter or have kids who are just starting to learn bowhunting, you’ll be going through loads of broadheads. At such an approachable price point, you won’t get bent out of shape if you miss your target and lodge a Muzzy or two into a tree. (I can’t say as much for the broadhead.)
Tooth of the Arrow XL
Material: Steel
Grain: 125
Number of Blades: Four
Cutting Diameter: 1-3/16″
If you’re tired of dealing with flimsy broadheads breaking in the field, give these reliable buggers a shot. These no-nonsense Tooth of the Arrow XL broadheads are easy to tune and fly consistently every time.
They’re milled from a single piece of steel, which is then coated in black oxide. They have no moving pieces and are an excellent option if you want to run a heavier arrow that truly packs a wallop.
I’ve had my eyes on the Tooth of the Arrow XL for a while, and I might pull the trigger on a three-pack this season. I was torn between these and the Annihilators until I heard the latter have penetration issues.
Dead Ringer The Butcher
Material: Steel
Grain: 100
Number of Blades: Two or three
Cutting Diameter: 1-1/16″
The Dead Ringer The Butcher broadhead comes in a 2 or 3-blade design, but I prefer the two-blade. With a cutting surface of 1-3/4″, this point will open up a deer like a can of tuna, and its blades will penetrate deep thanks to its aerodynamic design.
These have a solid cut-on-contact design and can work nimbly through bone and cartilage on their way to a deer’s vitals. Some hunters I know have doubts about 3-4 blade fixies as they think the extra blades can almost push organs out of the way while passing through. Maybe I’m just splitting hairs here.
Any options on this list will drop a deer dead in its tracks with a well-placed shot, but I’m just an archery nerd constantly trying to fine-tune my setup. This obsession is what led me to The Butcher.
Slick Trick Standard and Magnum
Material: Stainless steel
Grain: 100, 125
Number of Blades: Four
Cutting Diameter: 1-1/8″
Several hunters I’ve come across on the mountain swear by Slick Tricks, and they all tell me the same thing: they report reliably and fly true. I witnessed a hunter use one of these to (accidentally) shoot an elk with a Texas heart shot.
The arrow came out the front of the elk and buried into the ground. I know that’s a one-in-a-million shot, but the Slick Trick got it done nonetheless. Buy these, and you can expect reliable performance for a reasonable price.
Best Mechanical Broadheads for Deer
Rage Hypodermic
Material: Stainless steel
Grain: 100, 125
Number of Blades: Two
Cutting Diameter: 2″
The Rage Hypodermic is hands down my favorite mechanical broadhead. Why? Because I’ve seen them work in the field, season after season. These little buggers pack the power to break through bone and slice deep into the body of your deer with their razor-sharp talons.
The Rage Hypodermic flies much like a field point and shoots true every time, making it easy to tune in. And, if you struggle tracking game after you shoot it, don’t stress. These points are known for the prominent and easy-to-follow blood trails they leave behind.
Ramcat Deep Six
Material: Stainless steel
Grain: 100, 125
Number of Blades: Three
Cutting Diameter: 1-3/8″
When researching products for this post, I came across several hunters who swear wholeheartedly by their Ramcat points. Why? Because they’ve had a heck of a time finding anything else as consistent as their Deep Sixes. I’ve never used one of these myself, but I’m definitely intrigued.
These bad boys feature a large and punishing ferrule that won’t slow your arrow with drag like you might expect. Thanks to three aerodynamic lobes that draft wind seamlessly over the blades, this large and in charge arrowhead should fly true when properly tuned.
One small caveat that bowhunters find annoying with the Ramcats is that they must constantly tighten the blades with a tool. Doing so can be a headache in the field but shouldn’t be that big of a deal if you’re not taking many shots.
Swhacker Levi Morgan Series
Material: Stainless steel
Grain: 100
Number of Blades: Two
Cutting Diameter: 2″
I’ve been eyeing these broadheads for a while, and I might try some of them out at the range soon. I’ve shied away from expendables in the past, but I know a few guys who run Swhacker and love their functionality. I figure they’re worth a shot.
I like how these can be locked in the upright position, which should help a lot when shooting at the range. You won’t have to worry about removing them from your archery target, which, as I’m sure you know, can be very frustrating.
These have a large cutting diameter and a super strong head that can punch a hole through a metal drum-like a wet paper bag. I’d love to recommend their new LRP series (released in 2022), but until they’ve proven themselves, I’ll hold off on putting them on this list.
Grim Reaper RazorCut
Material: Stainless steel
Grain: 100, 125
Number of Blades: Three or four
Cutting Diameter: 1-1/4″
Discerning deer hunters want mechanical broadheads that penetrate deep and have blades that open reliably. That’s a lot to ask, but Grim Reaper didn’t shy away. Their RazorCuts are seen as the industry standard, thanks to their four razor-sharp talons that deliver clean pass-throughs and short blood trails.
These blades won’t open until they hit the deer and don’t have any fussy bands or clips. This means you won’t need to worry about anything moving parts freezing, snapping, or failing you in the field.
If you’re worried about needing to punch through bone on your shot, the RazorCuts should help alleviate any anxiety you may have. The ferrule is designed to punish bone, plain and simple. A deer’s scapula will stand no chance.
NAP Killzone MAXX
Material: Stainless steel
Grain: 100, 125
Number of Blades: Two
Cutting Diameter: 2-3/8″
Reliability, strength, and penetrating power — you get it all with the Killzone MAXX 2-blade mechanical broadhead from NAP. Just wait until you see its gigantic 2-3/8″ cut-on-contact blade open up the side of a deer. There will be blood.
This absolute unit opens up without bands, meaning there will be less chance of mechanical failure in the field. This point is designed for elk hunting, so rest assured you’ll have all the penetrating power needed to make quick work of a whitetail or mule deer.
The Killzone MAXX is designed for arrows with 350 FPS and a draw weight of a minimum of 60 pounds, and you’ll likely need a total arrow weight of 450 grains or more. These are incredibly heavy-duty but will get the job done when paired with a burly arrow.
G5 Outdoors Deadmeat
Material: Stainless steel
Grain: 100, 125
Number of Blades: Three
Cutting Diameter: 1-1/2″
Thanks to G5 Deadmeat’s snap-back design, I find it to be one the most reliable 3-blade expendables in terms of opening on contact. I’ve seen hunters drop both deer and elk with this broadhead, and I’m sure I’ll see plenty more in the future.
The blades on this arrowhead are replaceable, making it a great value purchase that will be useful for multiple seasons. These also fly true to a field point, making them a valuable broadhead to practice with at the range.
Broadhead Accessories
SKB Series Broadhead Case
Take care of your broadheads, and they’ll take care of you. I picked up this burly case at the ATA convention last year, and I love it. It’s rugged, waterproof, and could probably survive a grenade blast. Even if I’m exaggerating a little, this is a serious case for professional archers. It’ll hold nine broadheads, all your tools, and plenty of extra blades.
EZE-LAP Broadhead Sharpener & Tool
Shoot a deer or elk with a dull blade once, and you’ll surely regret it. Keep those blades nice and sharp at all times! I like this option from EZE-LAP because it’s small, compact, and can sharpen various blades. Stash it in your pocket or toss it in your broadhead case before you hit the range or field. Never go shooting without it.
Fixed vs. Mechanical Broadheads for Deer Hunting
The majority of recommendations I gave are fixed-blade broadheads. I know many hunters favor mechanical, and this may ruffle their feathers, but the truth is that less can go wrong with a fixed broadhead. A solid fixed blade is what your Grandpappy likely used, and if it was good enough for him, it’s good enough for you.
I may be partial on the subject of fixed-blade vs. mechanical, as I missed a shot opportunity because of my mechanical broadhead a couple of seasons ago. Its rubber band froze and partially broke off, and I had one blade forward and two back when I drew back my bow. When I fumbled around for a split second to fix it, the big buck I was stalking had already run away.
I also prefer fixed broadheads because their blades cut on contact. They don’t have to spring open, which will give the arrow a little extra mustard since it doesn’t have to waste any kinetic energy before entering the critters’ hide.
Mechanical blades aren’t bad at all if they work correctly. Countless hunters drop deer while using them every year. Mechanical blades create a larger cutting diameter, which easily exceeds the cut diameter of a fixed blade. The more extensive wound they create makes for easier-to-follow blood trails.
A better blood trail could be the difference between finding your kill or losing track of it and letting your kill go to waste. To this end, I’ve recommended several mechanical points for deer hunters who prefer them to fixed blades. I’ve seen hunters take down multiple mule deer with the Rage Hypodermic, so I can attest to its effectiveness in the field.
Mechanical broadheads should be just as effective at taking down an animal as fixed broadheads are when used correctly, but I still prefer fixed blades since they have fewer moving parts that could affect your shot. Fixies are my personal preference, but every hunter is different. Who the heck am I to judge your reasons for choosing one over the other?
Factors to Consider When Picking a Broadhead
There is a lot to consider when picking a broadhead for hunting deer. The truth is that an accurate and ethical shot is the most critical factor, and the type of broadhead is secondary. Any broadhead will kill an animal if you punch it perfectly in its vitals, but, as I’m sure you’re aware, not all shots are perfect. Because of these variables, analyze your broadheads for the following factors.
Blade Material
High-strength carbon steel is the way to go, although titanium is also an excellent option for your heads. Try and steer away from aluminum blades or blades that are too thin. The Wasp Havalons listen above would be the exception, as they’ve proven reliable enough to stay intact when they hit bone.
Cutting Diameter
Some people scoff at a small cutting diameter, but they shouldn’t. Arrowheads with small cutting diameters can sometimes be a blessing as they’ll have less friction while passing through deer. Now, that’s not to say you should seek out a smaller number. We recommend at least a 1-1/8″ cutting diameter.
Grain
Grain, or the weight of your broadhead, is essential to consider when putting together your setup. The larger the grain, the more power your broadhead will have behind it. We recommend pairing 100-grain broadheads with lighter, more nimble arrows and pairing 125-grain broadheads with more substantial arrows. Check out this helpful article if you’re having trouble deciding which grain to use.
Ferrule
Pick a point with a ferrule that is not only heavy and sharp but designed to allow maximum airflow over your blades. The combination of an aerodynamic ferrule and a heavy tip can be deadly in the field.
Spring Loaded Expandables
As I mentioned, clips and retention rings can be a pain in the rear. There’s nothing more frustrating than hiking 2.5 miles into your hunting spot to learn that you’re missing an o-ring. If you want to avoid this variable, grab a mechanical broadhead that doesn’t require rings or bands in the first place. Most of the recommendations on this list follow these guidelines.
Tips on Tuning Broadheads for Your Next Deer Hunt
Nobody wants a bunch of slop between their broadhead and arrow insert. A misaligned broadhead can be unpredictable, and when the overall goal is an ethical shot, you simply can’t allow this to be a factor.
I prefer broadheads that mimic the flight of my field points. They give me the muscle memory needed to drop my arrow into the sweet spot every time without adjusting for each individual broadhead.
But I’m certainly no expert. If you have any questions on the process of tuning, check out this informative video above after you purchase your broadheads to ensure you get them dialed in the right way.
Which Broadhead Suits Your 2023 Deer Hunt?
Your broadhead could be a lethal difference maker in your 2023 deer hunt
Look at you; all schooled up on the best broadheads for deer hunting in 2023. What’re you going to do with all this info? Hopefully, you paid attention and grabbed a few sets of points that’ll fly true, slice deep, and get the job done this upcoming season.
If you’re having trouble deciding between a couple of the options on this list, grab a few different types, take them to the range, and see what works best for you. The time to be fussing over your gear is now and not when you need it most come deer season.
The options I’ve provided from top brands like Wasp, Muzzy, NAP, G5 Outdoors, and Grim Reaper truly run the gamut. From fixed blades to mechanical points, there are points here for all styles of archers.
Don’t stress, though. No matter which product you choose from this list, you can’t go wrong. Everything we’ve recommended is trusted and well-reviewed by deer hunters like you and me.
Now that you’ve enlightened yourself about the best broadheads for deer for 2023, check out some of our other buyers’ guides below. If you want the skinny on all the hottest gizmos and gadgets the hunting industry offers, you’re in the right place. Hunters are notoriously stash with information, so we strive to unclog that bottleneck for our readers in the simplest way possible.
Thanks for stopping by!
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