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The Best Hunting Arrows of 2023

Finding the right arrow is just as important as finding the right bow. Here are the best hunting arrows for 2023.

The Best Arrows for Hunting(Photo/Josh Kirchner)
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I’m gonna be honest, I never put too much thought into arrows when I first started bowhunting. I just snagged up what the pro shop recommended and called it good.

The more time I spent behind the bow, though, the more I realized how important hunting arrow selection was. It’s another rabbit hole and a quite daunting one at that. That can make picking the right arrow for you not so straightforward. And the right arrow plays a huge part in bowhunting.

In light of that, we’ve put together our take on what arrows need to be on your radar for the upcoming 2023 fall hunting season.

Below is a list of my favorite arrows for a range of applications and budgets. This selection is evolving so be sure to check for updates, as new arrows will be added as they’re tested. At the end of our list, be sure to check out the comparison chart and buyer’s guide.

The Best Hunting Arrows of 2023


Best Overall Hunting Arrow

Victory VAP TKO Elite Arrows

Specs

  • Material 100% carbon
  • Outside diameter 0.166”
  • Spines 300, 350, 400
The Best Hunting Arrows of 2023

Pros

  • Great penetration
  • Pulls easy out of targets
  • Micro diameter bucks wind well

Cons

  • Stock inserts aren’t the greatest
Best Budget Hunting Arrow

Gold Tip Hunter

Specs

  • Material Carbon
  • Outside diameter 0.246”
  • Spines 300, 340, 400, 500
The Best Hunting Arrows of 2023

Pros

  • Affordable
  • Readily available
  • Performs with the best of them

Cons

  • Not offered in a micro diameter version
Best Deer Hunting Arrow

Easton Axis Long Range 4mm

Specs

  • Material 100% carbon
  • Outside diameter 0.229”(400 spine)
  • Spines 250, 300, 340, 400
The Best Hunting Arrows of 2023

Pros

  • It flies like a dart
  • Bucks wind well
  • Good durability

Cons

  • Expensive
Best Elk Hunting Arrow

Day Six HD

Specs

  • Material Carbon
  • Outside diameter 0.253”(300 spine)
  • Spines 250, 275, 300, 350, 400, 500
The Best Hunting Arrows of 2023

Pros

  • Wide range of available spines
  • Incredibly durable
  • Made in the USA

Cons

  • Can’t buy in a shop (direct to consumer)
Best Traditional Hunting Arrow

Black Eagle Instinct Traditional

Specs

  • Material Carbon
  • Outside diameter 0.248”(350 spine)
  • Spines 350, 400, 500, 600
The Best Hunting Arrows of 2023

Pros

  • Wide range of spines
  • Keeps the old-timey look of wooden arrows
  • Only arrow of its kind

Cons

  • Doesn’t come in the popular 300 spine
Best of the Rest

Black Eagle X-Impact

Specs

  • Material 100% high mod carbon
  • Outside diameter 0.209-0.256”
  • Spines 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, and 900
The Best Hunting Arrows of 2023

Pros

  • Very wide range of spines available
  • Light arrow for flatter trajectory
  • Allows for more point weight upfront

Cons

  • High mod carbon tends to be more brittle

Carbon Express Maxima Triad

Specs

  • Material 30-ton carbon
  • Outside Diameter 0.166”
  • Spines 300, 350, 400
The Best Hunting Arrows of 2023

Pros

  • Durable
  • Tri-spine/Red zone technology for ⅓ less oscillation in arrow flight
  • Laser checked for straightness, not averaged

Cons

  • Only offered in 3 different spines

Easton FMJ 4mm

Specs

  • Material Carbon core wrapped in 7075 aluminum
  • Outside diameter 0.240”(340 spine)
  • Spines 250, 300, 340, 400
The Best Hunting Arrows of 2023

Pros

  • Unique design
  • A long list of proven experience
  • Heavy hitter

Cons

  • Can bend and render the arrow useless

Gold Tip Velocity Pro

Specs

  • Material 100% carbon
  • Outside diameter 0.296” (340 spine)
  • Spines 300, 340, 400, 500, 600
The Best Hunting Arrows of 2023

Pros

  • Caters to speed
  • Flatter trajectory
  • Wide range of spines

Cons

  • Lighter weight may decrease durability

Victory RIP SS Elite Arrows

Specs

  • Material Carbon and stainless steel
  • Outside diameter 0.204”
  • Spines 250, 300, 350, 400
The Best Hunting Arrows of 2023

Pros

  • Unique design
  • Great momentum
  • Wide range of spines offered

Cons

  • Might be a little heavy for some folks

Hunting Arrow Comparison Chart

ArrowPriceMaterialOutside DiameterSpines
Victory VAP TKO Elite Arrows$180100% carbon0.166”300, 350, 400
Gold Tip Hunter$54Carbon0.246”300, 340, 400, 500
Easton Axis Long Range 4mm$156100% carbon0.229”(400 spine)250, 300, 340, 400
Day Six HD$234Carbon0.253”(300 spine)50, 275, 300, 350, 400, 500
Black Eagle Instinct Traditional$80Carbon0.248”(350 spine)350, 400, 500, 600
Black Eagle X-Impact$195100% high mod carbon0.209-0.256”200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 500, 600,
700, 800, and 900
Carbon Express Maxima Triad$30030-ton carbon0.166”300, 350, 400
Easton FMJ 4mm$200Carbon core wrapped in 7075 aluminum0.240”(340 spine)250, 300, 340, 400
Gold Tip Velocity Pro$169100% carbon0.296” (340 spine)300, 340, 400, 500, 600
Victory RIP SS Elite Arrows$130Carbon and stainless steel0.204”250, 300, 350, 400
testing hunting arrows
When the time comes, you need to have ultimate confidence in your arrows.(photo/Josh Kirchner)

Why You Should Trust Us

Bowhunting often reminds us that good gear is extremely important. Quality arrows can be the difference between success and an unfilled tag. We’ve used dozens of different arrows, and only the best earn our full trust.

Whether we’re hiking above treeline looking for mule deer, slinking down into the bottom of a canyon to call for black bears, or just simply spending time behind the bow at the range — arrows matter. 

Our lead tester Josh Kirchner has been bowhunting for ten years. Needless to say, he’s spent an incalculable amount of time fiddling with arrows to find out what works and what doesn’t.

When coming up with this list, Kirchner considered his own experience and that of those around him. He also examined market demand at a variety of price points.

At the end of the day, as bowhunters, we need ultimate confidence in our arrows. This list will cater to a wide range of hunters and cover every situation in the mountains, prairies, and hardwoods.

Buying Guide: How to Choose a Hunting Arrow

The hunting arrows listed above are wide in variety. There’s a little something for everyone. One of the major differences between some of these arrows is the arrow weight. Arrow shafts are measured in GPI (grains per inch). And some arrows have a higher GPI than others. This leads me to one of the most highly debated topics in bowhunting.

Should you use a heavy arrow or a light arrow?

We’re gonna suss that out to provide the tools you need for picking the right arrow weight for you and your hunting style.

A variety of arrows
Some experimentation is required to determine the proper arrow weight for you;(photo/Josh Kirchner)

Heavy Hunting Arrows Equal Momentum

In recent years, there’s a push for using heavier arrows for hunting. When I say heavy, I’m referring to arrows that weigh in around 500+ grains. There is a great argument for using a heavier arrow.

Weight equals more momentum, which is basically the force an arrow will retain going through an animal. More momentum means more pass-throughs and fewer chances of arrow flight being altered too much from ribs etc. This is not to be confused with kinetic energy, which is the amount of energy an arrow has on impact.

Heavier arrows are also more wind-resistant than lighter arrows. And along with that, they absorb more energy on the shot, which translates into a quieter system.

The Downside of Heavy Arrows

While there are no doubt benefits to using a heavier arrow, there are also some drawbacks. The first is that heavier arrows are just slower. This gives arrow flight a much steeper trajectory. So, there is much less room for error when it comes to judging yardage.

This could spell trouble when that elk is a few yards farther than what you thought. For the multi-pin sight users, that also means larger gaps between pins, which makes pin gapping (aiming between pins for odd yardages) much more finicky. The result is less precision accuracy when pin gapping.

As a rule of thumb, your arrow should be no shorter than the middle of your riser at full draw.(photo/Josh Kirchner)

Light Hunting Arrows Equal Speed

On the flip side of things, slimming down arrow weight is becoming shinier by the day. Less arrow weight means more arrow speed, which translates into a flatter trajectory. So, it isn’t as critical to be pinpoint accurate with yardage estimates.

In hunting situations, this can be the difference between notching a tag and following a fruitless blood trail. Along with that, you’ll also be able to stretch the tape on your sight much farther. Even if one doesn’t plan on shooting an animal at a great distance, practicing far shots hones shooting skills and makes shorter shots seem even shorter.

And when those shots land at odd yardages, therein lies another benefit, particularly for multi-pin sight users. Your pin gapping will be much tighter in the sight housing, which means precision will increase when doing something like aiming between the 30 and 40 pins for a 35-yard shot.

Cons of Lightweight Hunting Arrows

Less arrow weight does come at a cost, though. The first is giving up that momentum that we talked about. Lighter arrows don’t retain as much energy through an animal as heavier ones do. This could result in fewer pass-through shots and a higher likelihood that an arrow is thrown off course by, say a bone.

And on that note, a lighter arrow also doesn’t buck the wind as well. This is a potentially problematic situation in windy hunting conditions.

Then there is the shot. The moment of truth. When that arrow releases, it won’t nearly be as quiet as a heavier setup.

Lastly, durability seems to drop off the lighter an arrow is. So, if you miss or hit a bone, the chances of your arrow still being intact is slim.

(photo/Josh Kirchner)

Middle of the Road: A Hunting Arrow That’s Just Right

While you hold the wheel in terms of what arrow weight you’ll end up shooting, our opinion is this. Shoot a quality midweight type of arrow in relation to your setup overall.

I say this because a heavy/light arrow for one person might be a real heavy/light arrow for another based on their draw weight, draw length, etc.

By doing so, you’ll avoid many of the cons that come from the extremes on each end. It’s a best-of-all-worlds solution. There is one more thing, though, that is the most important to keep in mind.

Arrow Flight Is Everything

To cut to the chase, good arrow flight is way more critical than trying to shoot a heavy arrow or a light arrow.

There’s nothing wrong with having somewhat of a goal arrow weight in mind, but in the end, you need to shoot the arrow that is flying the best out of your setup. If your goal is 500 grains, but a 450-grain arrow is shooting lights out for you, it’d probably be wise to eat the 50 grains and go for accuracy and consistency.

Arrow weight doesn’t mean anything if you can’t put the arrow where it’s supposed to go. Focus on you and your shooting. Let your arrow weight reflect that;(photo/Josh Kirchner)

Frequently Asked Questions

Which arrows are best for hunting?

The arrow that is best for hunting is the one that you can be the most accurate with. With that said, we stand behind our top pick: the Victory VAP TKO. Check out our guides about broadheads and archery release aids to round out your kit. Both contain some great info to help you choose the right setup for what you’re hunting.

What is the best arrow speed for deer hunting?

Arrow speeds between 250 fps and 300 fps are ideal for deer-sized game and larger animals.

What is the best arrow for a 70# draw?

The minimum arrow weight recommended for a 70# draw is 350 grains. So, any arrow 350 grains and above — with the proper length and spine — will do well with a 70# draw weight bow.

Is a heavier or lighter arrow better for hunting?

You can refer to our Buyer’s Guide above for a more in-depth look at this, but heavier arrows are going to, by design, retain more momentum after impact than a lighter arrow. On the flip side, heavier arrows will have a steeper arrow trajectory than lighter arrows, thus lacking forgiveness when it comes to yardage estimation.

What is the correct arrow length for hunting?

In general, your arrow should be no shorter than the middle of your riser at full draw. Keep in mind though that with certain broadheads, this may not be possible. Larger profile broadheads might run into the riser on shorter arrows.

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