Umm, according to your pictures and info, LESS than 90 degrees is ILLEGAL. 90 or more than 90 would be legal. You have it stated as less than 90 being legal to use. You might want to edit that in your post so you don't confuse people. What makes the rage 3 blades barbed? They don't lock into place either, and the blades can flop closed and the arrow could come out? Just curious, that doesn't seem to make sense. Did you ask specifically about each of those heads, or did you draw your own conclusions on them, after getting the initial info from the PGC that barbed heads were illegal?

 

Maybe I can help with the Rage 3 Blade- one of the3 blades do not retract or flop back creating a barbed situation. The Rage 3 has long been determined to be a barbed broadhead by the NY State Game commission (precedent perhaps?)

I'm looking into the QAD Exodus- they make 2 heads- Swept ,which would be considered barbed, and the full (which even though the blades extend back past the shaft of the point, they are 90 degrees to the shaft of the arrow) which is not barbed.

 

The QAD Exodus swept is barbed, the full version is A. OK. to use. I use those heads and I LOVE them.

 

any updates or more info on this rule? does the game commission have a list of heads that are illegal, or is the barbed rule even legit? i'm real curious.

 

That picture used to be in the regs manual years ago didn't it? But now the manual says nothing about barbed heads. So I do not not how the PGC expects the average hunter that does not visit web forums to know barbed heads are illegal still?

 

Who is the bureau of wildlife
protection? To me they are not in charge.
game comm. Is.

 

They are a division of the pgc. But I can't find anything about the broad head regulation quoted.

 

I would be skeptical about any regs regarding "barbed" broadheads . The digest regs specify the minimum cutting diameter and that the blade must be in a continuous plane. Beyond that why would there be a question? I have a hard time believing it has anything to do with an arrow remaining in an animal as a high majority of shots are pass thrus and of those that are not, an arrow remaining in game is just as likely to be broken off as it is to fall out on its own. The regulation makes no sense. I own the QAd Exodus heads with the QAd"swept" blades. They are fine broadheads and legal according to the digest. I will use them unless I see something more concrete than a facebook post from the PGC on the matter.

 

i called my regional office and asked them. they had never heard of this law, and quoted me the pages from the digest. they said it could be a law, but they weren't familar with it. they also suggest i call the beareau of wildife protection and check with them. i asked if anyone had ever been busted on this law, and they had not heard of such an infraction. i did not pursue it further. i think if you follow the digest, you should be OK. how can you follow laws that aren't given to you????

 

cant be legit, if it were a law someone here would have heard of it before by being checked by a wco.

 

i called my regional office and asked them. they had never heard of this law, and quoted me the pages from the digest. they said it could be a law, but they weren't familar with it. they also suggest i call the beareau of wildife protection and check with them. i asked if anyone had ever been busted on this law, and they had not heard of such an infraction. i did not pursue it further. i think if you follow the digest, you should be OK. how can you follow laws that aren't given to you????

 

Because the digest isn't "the law", it's merely a summary. It's the hunters responsibility to know what is legal and what is not. Take whatever means necessary to get a definitive answer.

 

Have a junior hunter buy a Rage 3-blade at Field & Stream or Cabelas, kill a deer with it, make sure they get busted, then sue the living you-know-what out of that company for contributing to the delinquency of a minor by offering an illegal head for sale.

Illogical, but it would probably work. Just as illogical as any kind of regs getting into this kind of minute details.

Any of the heads in the illustration could go right through a deer, or stick in it depending on the hit, and then break off the shaft when the deer runs.

Understood some limits have to be set on heads so we don't get into the ridiculous, but having to have WCOs measure angles of heads is also swinging the other way on the ridiculous pendulum.

 

Because the digest isn't "the law", it's merely a summary. It's the hunters responsibility to know what is legal and what is not. Take whatever means necessary to get a definitive answer.

Which is utterly ridiculous. What else does the average hunter without a license to practice law refer to for the applicable hunting laws and regulations. If is not in the digest, 99% of hunters cannot be expected to be aware of a regulation. Either expand the digest to include the digest"small print" regulations or don't expect to enforce them.

 

Lol, so, you know all of the common laws right? And if you should break one and be charged with a crime you didn't know you committed, you'd be innocent because you didn't know any better I suppose? Ignorance is no excuse.

 

Where did you get that picture of the various heads?? Did I miss it??

 

Could someone who has a legitimate contact within the GC please check on this? RB...John?

I shoot Rage 3 blades and would like to know. I can call the regional office, but it doesnt sound like the first call to them produces much.....

Any help is appreciated.

 

Lol, so, you know all of the common laws right? And if you should break one and be charged with a crime you didn't know you committed, you'd be innocent because you didn't know any better I suppose? Ignorance is no excuse.

The problem is most hunters think the regulations book is complete and do not even realize there are more hunting laws other than what are in there. I know ignorance is no excuse I am just saying when it comes to legal equipment and if it's a regulation they can pinch you for, it should be in the book distributed with the license. Most guys see the 2 blade, same plane broadhead rule under archery and then think all other heads are good to go.

 

Because the digest isn't "the law", it's merely a summary. It's the hunters responsibility to know what is legal and what is not. Take whatever means necessary to get a definitive answer.

But the digest has the "laws", and regulations it in. Even though the digest is a summary, it is still a summary of the laws and regulations that hunters need to be aware of, now if you don't read or know the laws that is a entirely different matter. Also, you are making it out, like to hunt in PA, you need to get a lawyer, so they can explain the laws and make sure you are following them. If you think what you are doing is illegal, it probably is.

The problem is most hunters think the regulations book is complete and do not even realize there are more hunting laws other than what are in there.

Like?

For the full list of laws pertaining to "Game", here is a link to the PA Consolidated Statutes, Title 34:Game

 

Section 2322 of Title 34 does not mention barbed broadheads as being illegal.

§ 2322. Prohibited devices and methods.
(a) General rule.--Except as otherwise provided in this
title or commission regulation, no person shall hunt, kill or
take or attempt, aid, abet, assist or conspire to hunt, kill or
take any big game, except wild turkey, with any of the following
devices or methods:
(1) Any device other than a centerfire or muzzle-loading
firearm or bow and arrow.
(2) Any automatic or semiautomatic firearm, except that
any semiautomatic firearm modified to permit one shell in the
chamber and no more than four shells in a magazine may be
used by a person who suffered an amputation or lost the total
use of one or both hands.
(3) Any firearm propelling more than one projectile per
discharge.
(4) Any projectile which is not all lead or which is not
designed to expand on contact.
(5) When any big game is swimming.
(6) By any other method or device which is not
specifically authorized or permitted by this title or
commission regulation.
(b) Penalty.--A violation of this section is a summary
offense of the fifth degree.
(c) Contraband.--Any big game killed contrary to this
section is contraband.

 

You usually know when John S. doesn't even know because normally, he'd be all over a post like this (look at the post count). But the silence tells you everything you need to know!