Bloodflow 1.5 broadhead review

Let It Flow! | The Bloodflow 1.5 Broadheads Review

I’ve got a really cool broadhead test to recap in this article! It’s the Bloodflow 1.5.

I’ve been wanting to test this head for quite a while, but the introduction and rollout of this broadhead is really bittersweet. Let me give you the backstory.

A Bittersweet Broadhead Release

I had been talking to the designer of this head, John Smith, for quite a while. He owned and had been running the family business of Dead X Bowhunting for quite a while.

In the industry, you come across some really special people, and John was definitely one of those. He had such a passion for broadheads, for archery, and for coming up with all kinds of cool stuff over the years, but he was also just a really good guy, family man, and man of faith, so we bonded at that level as well.

Bloodflow 1.5 broadhead first look

But I’d been talking to him about this Bloodflow 1.5 design. He had already done the Big Game 3 and Big Game 2. They both tested well and are incredible broadheads. I’ve used them in the field as well.

But, he was working on one with a bit of a smaller cut and less weight. It was going to be more practical for everybody. And, we had been talking about the design. He was giving me updates every step of the way. And, then he told me he was just about done and he was going to send me some to test.

When the date I was supposed to receive the heads to test rolled around, I still didn’t have them, so I followed up.



I sent him a text, but he didn’t send anything back, which was unlike John.

And, then I sent him another text. He didn’t respond to that either. I was wondering what was going on.

And, then his son reached out to me and told me that John had just been tragically killed in a car accident.

I was devastated to hear that news. The industry lost a great man. Society loses a great man. Missouri loses a great man.

I loved this guy. I loved the family-owned business. And, everything was done right there in-house and in their own machine shop.

The sweet part about it is that this broadhead was his pride and joy. And so, it’s more than just a really cool-looking broadhead. It’s really like a tribute

It’s called the Bloodflow. And man, this broadhead is going to make some blood flow!

So, As I tested I was thinking about John and thinking about all that he poured into the design. So, I really felt honored to be the first one to test this broadhead and to introduce it to the market!


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The BloodFlow 1.5 Up Close

Let’s zoom in and go through some of the design features and specifications of the Bloodflow broadhead… And this is one beast of a broadhead right here!

I had been looking forward to testing the Bloodflow 1.5 for awhile. Man, it just looks so cool!

Bloodflow 1.5 Materials

Let’s first go through all the materials…

Bloodflow 1.5 broadhead ferrule

The blades are 1095 high carbon steel. They are brought to a Rockwell hardness of 55 and they are 0.062″ thick (really stout, thick blades). And, you notice they’re single bevel sharpened with a bevel angle of 37 degrees. That’s to maximize rotation and maximize edge durability, and to reduce edge chatter that can occur.

Bloodflow 1.5 broadhead short profile

When you go below and angle of 30 degrees, you’re probably going to get some edge chatter, because there’s just so much pressure as it rotates on that leaning edge. But, this is a nice 37-degree angle. The overall super-short profile maximizes penetration as well as flight, because there’s less exposed blade.

Bloodflow 1.5 broadhead scoops that increase cutting diameter

The fluted tip on the Bloodflow 1.5 gives you an edge that just goes up into the cutting diameter of 1.5″, but then you’re getting another little edge in between. And so, each little edge is between the other two blades. That’s giving you an extra 2/10 of an inch cut. So, if you multiply that times 3, you are getting an extra 0.6″ of cut between the blades total (and, all that in this short package!)

And, the total weight is 200 grains, so it’s also going to increase your FOC and it’s going to increase your momentum tremendously there.



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Now, another thing about these broadheads is that the owners are machinists themselves, and they have extremely tight tolerances. So, when you slide the blades in place, they actually slide and hold snugly in place without even a little O-ring holding it at the bottom. That’s so nice without that washer.

Normally with broadheads like this, you slide the blade in then you rotate around and it falls out. That doesn’t happen so readily with this one because of those nice, tight tolerances. But, also because of that, if you initially install the blades in the broadhead, screw it on to your arrow and spin it, it’s probably not going to spin very well and you’re going to think, “What’s wrong with it?”


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You have to keep loosening it and tightening it, loosening it, tightening it about 20 times or so, 20, 25 times. And you want to use the broadhead wrench that it comes with it. After you do that about 20, 25 times, then man, it spins like a charm! Just a perfectly balanced broadhead.

So, I was really impressed with the look and feel and specs of this head, which made me super eager to put it to the test and see how it performed!

Flight Forgiveness Test  

Bloodflow 1.5 flight test


Initial Sharpness Test

Bloodflow 1.5 broadhead initial sharpness test

Penetration Test 1   



Edge Retention Test (sharpness after Penetration Test 1):

Bloodflow 1.5 broadhead sharpness test after gel mdf test

Rotation Test

I shot the head into a block of ballistic gel. It rotated 40 degrees and penetrated 10-1/2″.

Penetration Test 2 (layered cardboard)

Bloodflow 1.5 broadhead rotation in gel


Angled Shot Test (1/4″ MDF Carpet)

Bloodflow 1.5 broadhead angled mdf test

Durability Test (1/2″ MDF max 3 shots)

Bloodflow 1.5 after 3 shots into mdf


Durability Test (22 gauge steel plate: Max 2 shots)

And here it is after the two shots through the steel plate, and it’s in great condition. The blades look fantastic.

Bloodflow 1.5 steel plate test

The tip got a little bit blunted as you can see there in the picture. And those holes, man, those holes! What incredible holes! You can even see the S-cut, the curvature of the single bevel through those holes. That’s going to be a wound channel that is really difficult to close up.


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Concrete Test

Bloodflow 1.5 broadhead after concrete block test


Final Thoughts On the Bloodflow 1.5 Broadheads

So, what do you think of the Bloodflow?

Man, I’ll tell you what… if you’re going to have a tribute broadhead, this is a good one to have. John would be super proud that his life’s work culminates in his best masterpiece ever. I mean, this thing performed really well.

It actually got one of the highest scores of any broadhead I’ve tested. It has the second highest score of any fixed blade I’ve tested to this point. The highest was the Trifecta Fixed. And, this was just 6/100 of a point behind it.



So, great work Dead X Bowhunting. And, great work, John. I really appreciate all the passion and creativity you put into this.

Another cool thing about this head is that it has interchangeable blades. They have 1-1/2″ of cutting diameter. You can even swap them out for a 1-1/4″ cutting diameter blade to give you better penetration.

So, here’s to you, John. Great work! I look forward to using your broadhead in the field.

Bloodflow 1.5 broadhead scorecard

And, to the rest of you, I really want to encourage you to check out Dead X Bowhunting. Go to their website and especially check out this Bloodflow broadhead. And, if you know the family, reach out to them and thank them for all they’ve done for the industry over the years.

John Lusk archery goat
John Lusk of Lusk Archery Adventures
coyote on the prowl

Coyote Hunting For Beginners: The Complete Guide

Did you know that coyotes have excellent senses, particularly smell and sight? As much as coyote hunting is an exciting and rewarding experience, these characteristics make hunting them a challenge.

To help you out, we’ll be sharing crucial tips for beginner hunters and experienced hunters alike to get you started in the right direction.

Key Takeaways

  • Successful coyote hunting relies heavily on calling techniques, certain equipment, and a hunter’s skills.
  • Coyotes have a keen sense of smell, so hunters must pay attention to wind direction to ensure their scent isn’t carried towards their prey.
  • Hunters must understand the regulations and obtain necessary permissions for hunting on both public and private lands.

The Correct Gun/Caliber

hunting rifle and rifle bag

When it comes to coyote hunting, the first thing to consider is your equipment. A reliable tool will help you hunt successfully and deliver a humane kill.

Consider an AR-15 rifle as an effective tool for a successful hunt. In addition, the ideal coyote hunting calibers are .223, .243, 223/5.56, and .308 calibers.

While you can also use a shotgun to hunt coyotes, consider a 12-gauge loaded with a number 4 shot as your best bet. Also, don’t forget to attach a high-quality, low-magnification scope to your rifle to improve your accuracy.

Aside from your choice of rifle, your hunting skills matter. You want to ensure you aim for a coyote’s vital organs, like the lungs or heart, leading to an ethical harvest.



Coyote Calling 101

Coyote calling is one of the most effective hunting techniques for locating coyotes. The aim is to mimic the sounds of other coyotes or distressed prey animals, forcing the creature to come and investigate the noise, giving you a shot to kill it. 

coyote on alert

First, you scout the area for coyotes. You can do this by looking out for coyote tracks and droppings, also known as scat. Coyote droppings typically contain bones, fur, and small animal remains. 

Once you have scouted a property, you’ll need the right equipment to call coyotes. Note that coyotes can smell or spot you from a distance, so ensure you’re concealed properly. 

Locator Calls

Now, coyotes use howls and barks to communicate with each other. A coyote hunter can take advantage of this trait to discover the location of any potential prey.

Many hunters argue that coyotes primarily howl at night or early morning. However, coyotes an and will howl at any time, as they have varying sleeping patterns.

coyote prowling

In fact, coyotes are most active during dusk and dawn, but those that live close to human settlements are often nocturnal. And those that live more remotely tend to be diurnal.

For a successful coyote trip, visit the hunting area before daylight. Let out different coyote howls at different points, preferably on top of a ridge or hill, as the sound will carry well. Listen keenly for a response.

If you do this two or three times with no response, keep moving and repeat the tactic at a different place. Once you get a response, mark the area. You can choose to be patient and wait for them or leave and return later. 



Distress Calling

Distress calling is an effective technique hunters use to attract or locate coyotes in the wild. The aim is to imitate the sound of animals in distress, in order to lure in a coyote.

Coyotes easily fall for this trick as they’re opportunistic animals, and a distressed call means that an animal is injured, and that translates to an easy meal.

coyote distress call

If you choose distress calls, you can opt for mouth calls or e-callers.

An e-caller is a much more effective solution as one might offer you different pre-recorded sounds you can use based on hunting conditions.

That said, do remember that while electronic calls are convenient, you’ll scare away your prey if you don’t use them effectively. One of the common mistakes we’ve seen in the field is using the same sounds used repeatedly by hunters. 

wary coyote

Another mistake we’ve seen people make is maxing the caller volume. Most people do this to attract as many coyotes as possible, including those miles away. Keep in mind that if you select the right hunting grounds, there will likely be coyotes nearby. So, when you blast an e-call, you may only be scaring them away from you.

Whatever type of predator call you pick, position yourself at a place with adequate cover, preferably downwind, as you await the coyotes to come within a good range to shoot.



Calling Sequences

Coyote calling sequences are a series of coyote sounds designed to mimic various situations that occur naturally in a coyote’s environment. To successfully attract coyotes, you need to mix up sequences. 

coyote in rocky terrain

Start off by using a lone howl in a low frequency and a high pitch. Do it two or three times, then sit in silence for a few minutes before trying a different vocalization.

Next, try out whines and yelps. Whines and yelps are versatile sounds that draw coyotes toward you and these sounds trigger different reactions simultaneously, including parental and territorial instincts.

Stay in one spot for about 15 to 20 minutes. If you don’t notice any coyotes approaching, try a different location.

Since coyote calling is a skill you learn over time, you need to experiment with different options until you find what works for you.

Aside from that, avoid making the mistake of calling too often or too little. You may end up scaring off coyotes or failing to entice some of them to come your way. If you’re in a closed-off area, avoid loud and long strings of calls as they might scare away the animals. But if you’re in an open area, louder and longer coyote calling sequences will come in handy. 



Wind Considerations

weather cock showing wind direction

Just like in deer hunting, wind consideration is crucial when hunting coyotes. You need to be mindful of your scent and the wind direction.

Coyotes are known to have a fantastic sense of smell that you’ll never outsmart. With this in mind, the wind should be blowing in your face to ensure your scent isn’t carried toward the coyotes. The last thing you want to do is to alert the coyotes of your presence and scare them away.




Adapting to Your Surroundings

You will need to adapt to the surrounding areas to hunt coyotes successfully. This is one of the basics essential to a successful hunt.

Farmland

coyote in open field

Farmlands resemble open fields with very little cover. This makes coyote hunting somewhat challenging, as the coyote can easily spot you. So, when hunting these areas, try to conceal your position.

In terms of coyote calls, use a distress call that imitates a small animal like a bird, rabbit, or rodent. 

Additionally, you may want to use decoys to draw the coyote’s attention. For example, a decoy dog will attract coyotes by giving them a visual representation of the prey. Such dogs act as decoys by mimicking the sound and behavior of distressed prey animals.



Wooded Areas

Unlike farmland, a wooded area is made up of dense timber. This provides a good cover for you, the hunter, but it also provides cover for the coyote as well.

When hunting these areas, you’ll want to move quietly, using the woods to mask your presence.

wooded area

Additionally, invest in camouflage clothing to ensure the coyotes don’t spot you easily. For example, choose clothes that match the terrain and also wear a face mask to prevent the coyotes from noticing your face outline.

Also, remember that sound won’t travel as far in dense woods. So, adjust your calling volume and use short and frequent calls.



Hills

When hunting in hilly areas, you have the advantage of high ground to spot and call coyotes. Usually, these animals will travel along ridges and valley bottoms in this type of terrain.

coyote on side of a hill

Position yourself well around three-quarters up a hill and preferably with something behind you, such as bushes or trees to help break up your silhouette. Also, pay attention to wind direction to ensure it doesn’t carry your scent toward the coyotes.



Land Access

You have the option to hunt in either public or private land. Most regions have public lands for hunting, including state parks, forests, and wildlife management hunting areas. What you need to do is familiarize yourself with the hunting regulations of different regions, including any applicable licenses you might need in that area.

fence post on private land

Coyotes have adapted to human environments and tend to eat pet food left outside or even garbage. That’s why private land makes a good hunting spot for these animals. But, if you hunt private land, always be sure you respect a landowner’s wishes.



Approaching & Setting Up Your Stand Correctly

As we’ve mentioned, be sure to set up your stand location in an area with good visibility to see your targets.

When looking for a location, look for coyote tracks to determine if they’re in the area you’re hunting. Since they travel in packs, it’s easy to notice their tracks.

coyote on dead tree

Preparing yourself properly before you start shooting is also key. Most hunters choose elevated positions or an area with enough cover to conceal them.

Also, approach your stand cautiously, avoiding unnecessary noise that could scare away coyotes in that location.



Final Thoughts On Coyote Hunting For Beginners

Hopefully, this Coyote Hunting For Beginners article has provided some helpful tips to get you started on what can be an exciting time outdoors with coyotes hunting.

Remember to focus on making sure you have the appropriate gun and caliber, honing your calling skills, and paying attention to wind direction as well as your setup.

And, always be sure to follow all local hunting regulations for the area in which you are hunting.

Good luck!

Rocky Boots review Lynx 400 in realtree camo

Rocky Boots Review [Lynx 400… In CAMO!]

When you’re I the woods hunting, the last thing you want to have to worry about is whether your boots are going to keep up and hold up.

We were excited to get a chance to review the Lynx 400 from Rocky Boots. Here’s what we learned….

Lynx 400 Features

Rocky Boots Lynx 400 profile view

Now, I’ve had multiple knee surgeries, and I’ll say it’s hard to find boots that are not only easy on my knees while wearing them, but also don’t leave me with sore knees after the hunt or hike. However, the Lynx 400 is definitely comfortable during the hike and/or hunt.



Rocky Boots Lynx 400 fiberglass shank
Rocky Boots Lynx 400 Thinsulate material
Rocky Boots Lynx 400 side and back
Rocky Boots Lynx 400 supportive cement construction
Rocky Boots Lynx 400 in water


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Check out our video review of the Rocky Boots Lynx 400 in Realtree camo on our YouTube Channel!


Final Thoughts On The Rocky Boots Lynx 400

We hope you’ve enjoyed taking a closer look at the Lynx 400 in Realtree Excape camo from Rocky Boots. We have really enjoyed wearing this boot in the field and think it’s one that should be considered if you’re looking for good, all terrain boots!

Rocky Boots Lynx 400 walking in woods

So, whether you’re hunting, hiking or just enjoying the great outdoors… in the Lynx 400 in Realtree Escape Camo, you get ruggedness, durability and comfort, all N1 boot!