I bought a bow today and will be elk hunting in september. Scheels asked if I wanted 4,5 or 6mm arrows and I have no idea where to begin. Also, with elk, are fixed blade or mechanical broad heads preferred? Lastly, what is the your preferred release?

lots of good arrows out there. 4mm is great but not necessary if you are a beginner. a great all-around arrow is the RIP TKO from Victory Achery. if for elk, I would suggest you target +/- 500 grain total arrow weight. you can add weight up front with inserts and impact collars (I recommend Iron Will). Many outfitters won't let you in camp with a mechanical. Iron Will fix blade single bevel is hard to beat. With a stout broadhead and a 500grain arrow, you can punch through a scapula if you make something less than a perfect shot.

as for releases, do you prefer thumb of finger? spot hogg wiseguy is a super popular finger release. several good thumb releases too. I shoot a Carter 4 finger grip.

hope that helps. lots of good gear on the market and you can find success with alot of different options..

Thank you. That helps a lot. Of course I am doing my own research as well but always nice to get input from other members as well. I know I want a finger release at least.

I'm not an elk hunter, so understand my experience is with deer and pigs (some of them pigs are pretty big and tough though). I prefer fixed broadheads for everything. Montec g5's are tough, resharpenable (is that a word?), and fly to the same point of impact as my field tips. As for arrows, I like golt tip xt hunters, simply because thats what the bow shop set me up with 25 years ago when I bought my first bow, and they've done everything I've ever asked of them.

I like a 5mm arrow myself. I did shoot micros for a few seasons and liked them as well but 5mm are fine.

For elk, the 500 grain weight is fine. I shoot 433 grain arrows myself. You didn’t say what weight your shooting or your arrow speed, so it’s hard to make a recommendation on broadheads.

A good 3 blade like a muzzy or G5 is fine….if your bow is turned and will shoot them. I like a slick trick myself for fixed. But whats accurate at 25 yards may plane off at 60. And a 60 yard shot on a elk is not uncommon

I shoot a heavier bow and prefer mechanicals like a 3 blade rage or grim reaper. I have no issues shooting animals with them. I am not a fan of single bevels; while they do penetrate, they leave poor blood trails.

As for releases, whatever you like. I shoot a cheap true fire caliper release. It’s what I like and what I’m comfortable with.

Gold tip hunter is all you need in the arrow department. You can spend more money but it won’t make the critters any more dead.

I’d probably go with a magnus stinger for a fixed blade, or something like the sevr 1.5” for a mechanical.

If you do decide to use a fixed blade, I would recommend NOT chasing speed—it’s a whole lot easier to tune a 260fps bow than a 300fps bow.

I shoot the Victory RIPs with 60 grain stainless outserts. I like the NAP Hellrazors for fixed broadheads.

5MM shafts offer the best of all worlds. The best components are all 5mm. I have had good luck with 4mm Easton Axis match grades with Easton titanium half outs, and I picked them for the lighter GPI and increased wind resistance. Realistically, the 5mm is probably a better and stronger shaft and again, the best components are 5mm. Regarldess of brand, I think 5mm is best.

As far as heads go, I think it is pretty hard to beat the QAD Exodus. But I have had good luck with the 125 grain Slick Trick Shift SB single bevel. If you are looking at a mechanical, I’d look at the Grim Reaper fatal steel in a smaller diameter of cut like 1 1/4”.

Sevr, Rage, G5, etc. all have a great following. I would not take anything from any of them, I just haven’t had real world experience with them.

A lot of people don’t like mech heads for bigger animals or lighter bows, but I happen to know a girl shooting something like 36 pounds out of a slower bow (Elite Ember) that has killed a lot of whitetails with a Rage Hypodermic and 400 grains total arrow weight. She has killed a crapload more animals than me and has 4 nice bucks on the wall, all killed with a no collar Rage Hypodermic. I would bet it would work on a elk at 60-70 pounds no problem.

Arrow diameter really doesn’t mean much in a large chunk of elk woods.

But let’s answer a few questions first. Can you tune a bow? How far can you shoot? And how what’s your group size at 40 yards?

****Actually never mind, I just actually read into it more.

Can’t go wrong with Axis 5mm and since you probably arent a tuning fanatic I would go with either Hyde broadheads from Evolution or Sevr 1.5 or Tihybrid. I’ve killed elk with both sevr 1.5 and Hyde. Sevr is a little more robust but evolution is little sharper.

Release - I use spothog wise guy(pro tip buy two, regardless have an extra release(even if cheap) in your pack).

There is no magic pill:
1) practice shooting from weird positions(on knees, crouched, etc).
2)Elk cover ground quick 30yard can turn in to 15 yards quick and 15 to 30 quick, so understand pin gap
3)equipment doesn’t kill elk, accuracy and good arrow flight kills elk

I shot axis 5mm for years but switched to RIP TKOs and really like them. Using stainless halfouts and fletching with Q2i Fusion X-II I'm right around 440gr TAW. For release I'm using a Carter Like Mike 2 and really like it. Very adjustable release. Looking at getting a thumb button like the UV or Stan Onnex for off-season practice.

Axis for me most of the time since I have a few dozen still in the box plus a dozen or so that still shoot good.

Release Trufire 4 finger thumb release or an old 3 finger thumb release built in Rockwall TX in late 70s or very early 80s and still works great.