Best Arrow Setup for Moose (2026)
A bull moose is the biggest game animal in North America you can ethically hunt with a bow. 1,200 pounds. Shoulder bone the size of dinner plates. Ribs that stop poorly built arrows cold. A heart the size of a basketball wrapped in a chest cavity built for sub-Arctic survival.
You do not bring a deer setup to a moose hunt. You do not bring an elk setup either, unless your elk setup was already overbuilt. Moose require purpose-built arrows. Every variable — weight, FOC, broadhead choice, draw weight — has to be tuned for the biggest game on the continent.
Moose penetration math: the upper floor
Minimum kinetic energy: 50 ft-lb at impact. Minimum momentum: 0.65 slug-fps. Those numbers are not negotiable. They are the floor for a clean pass-through on broadside moose ribs. Quartering shots demand more.
Finished arrow weight: 550 to 650 grains. That is the proven range. The Ashby studies on penetration through Cape buffalo ribs translate directly to moose — same dense bone structure, same need for momentum concentrated forward.
FOC for moose: 17 to 20 percent
This is the highest FOC range we recommend for any North American game. The mechanism is identical to elk and shielded boars, but the stakes are higher. A moose that runs into a black-spruce bog with an unrecovered arrow is a moose you never find.
17 to 20 percent FOC drives the head through scapula on quartering shots. That is the difference between an ethical recovery and a wounded bull walking into a swamp.
Best arrow shafts for moose (2026)
- Easton Axis 300 spine — heavy, stiff, proven. The benchmark moose shaft.
- Black Eagle Carnivore 250 spine — extreme GPI, ideal for 600+ grain builds.
- Easton 4mm Axis Long Range 250 spine — micro-diameter, deep penetration, stacks FOC for heavy point builds.
- Victory RIP TKO 250 spine — small diameter, ideal for hunters who want maximum penetration density.
Best broadheads for moose (2026)
Fixed cut-on-contact only. Single-bevel preferred. Two-blade with high mechanical advantage. This is non-negotiable for moose-class game.
- Iron Will Wide 175gr single-bevel — the moose broadhead. Built for the biggest game on the continent.
- Tooth of the Arrow 175gr single-bevel — single-piece S7 tool steel. Indestructible on scapula.
- Day Six Evo 150gr or 175gr — extreme durability, proven on bigger game than moose.
- Cutthroat 200gr single-bevel — for hunters building toward 650-grain Ashby-spec arrows.
Why single-bevel matters for moose
Single-bevel broadheads rotate as they penetrate. That rotation splits bone along its grain instead of just chopping at it. On a moose scapula, single-bevel is the difference between a head that passes through and a head that wedges, slows, and stops. Ed Ashby's penetration research established this on Cape buffalo. The principle applies directly to moose.
Two-blade with high mechanical advantage means a long, narrow profile — typically 3:1 length-to-width ratio or higher. That geometry concentrates force at the tip and resists deflection through dense structure.
Setup notes: draw weight, spine, point weight
70 to 80 lb is the moose range. You can kill moose with less. You should not. The margin for an undersized moose arrow is too small for a 1,200-pound animal in remote country.
Point weight: 175 to 225 grains. Brass inserts plus heavy heads. This is where you stack FOC into the 17 to 20 percent range.
Spine: account for the heavy point. Most 75 lb hunters at 28 to 29 inches with 175 to 200 grain points land in 250 to 300 spine. Build it in The Forge to confirm.
Build it with The Forge
Moose builds have the most variables and the smallest margin for error. The Forge calculates finished weight, FOC, KE, momentum, and our Broadhead Confidence Score for moose-class game. The moose score is the strictest in our system. If your score is under 85 for moose, do not get on the bush plane.
FAQ
What is the minimum draw weight for moose?
65 lb with a 600-grain arrow at 18 percent FOC and a single-bevel head can kill moose ethically. 70 lb plus is the smart range.
Single-bevel or double-bevel for moose?
Single-bevel. The rotation splits scapula bone along the grain. On moose, that mechanism matters more than on any other North American game.
How heavy should my moose arrow be?
550 to 650 grains finished. Heavier than 650 grains costs trajectory without meaningful upside. Lighter than 550 grains costs penetration margin.
Can I use my elk setup on moose?
If your elk setup is heavy (500+ grains, 17+ percent FOC, single-bevel head), it will work on moose. Most elk setups are light by 50 to 100 grains.
What spine for a moose arrow?
Most 75 lb hunters at 28 to 29 inches with 175 to 200 grain points land in 250 to 300 spine. Confirm in The Forge.
Why two-blade and not three-blade for moose?
Two-blade single-bevel concentrates force at the tip, rotates through bone, and produces deeper penetration on dense structure. Three-blade heads bleed more on soft tissue but lose penetration on scapula.