I am the principle author of the Broadhead Study (my two co-authors are professional wildlife biologists), and am surfing the discussions about it in Hunting Forums on the web. I would like to put out some information for your consideration.
The presentation I gave at the SEDSG meeting in Athens, GA, was based on a research paper, "A Comparative Study on the Effectivenss of Fixed Blade and Mechanical Broadheads". This was a retrospective study on bowhunter performance - the events had already occured - could anything be learned from the data? (Read Dr Ashby's prologue about outcome-driven studies for additonal insight: http://www.tradgang.com/ashby/Momentum%20Kinetic%20Energy%20and%20Arrow%20Penetration.htm). The paper's research methodology, data analysis, results and conclusions were independently reviewed by University wildlife scientists under the purview of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. I presented the Study results at the SEAFWA conference in Oklahoma City last October. I expect the paper to be published online in the SEAFWA Journal April 2014(+/-). After the paper is published, it will carry the weight of scientific opinion.
This research is not the final word in the FB/mechanical debate! Like all lines of scientific inquiry, opinions today are subject to confirmation or refutation by additional studies. The unique hunting situation at the Naval Support Facility (where all hunting activity is monitored, including wounded deer tracking) allowed me to mitigate many of the biases inherent in such as study, such as reluctance to self-report shameful behavior (ask Bill Clinton or Eliot Spitzer about that one), skill level, willingness to take long shots, etc., etc. Anytime someone is monitored, it is reasonable to expect that they would behave differently under a different circumstance - again one of the many reasons not to apply these absolute results to the general hunter population. But I believe the Study's relative (or comparative) results carry weight.
I don't know of any published studies on broadhead performance. If you find any, please pass them on. Wendy Kruegar was the principle author of the oft-cited Camp Ripley Study that investigated bowhunter wounding rates. Here are a few quotes from her study:
“Wounding information is difficult to obtain.”
“It would be a logistical nightmare to collect wounding data in the field during regular seasons which take place from sunrise to sunset and last many weeks to several months.”
Try collecting data over 24 years! QDMA wrote their article based on my SEDSG presentation. I invite reasoned questions about the Study in the comment section of the QDMA article.
Andy Pedersen
(added in edit: there were no shots over 75 yards. The longest successful shot was 52 yards).
