Dr Ed Ashby's Bowhunting Bio

The man behind the most important bowhunting research ever published!

Dr. Ed Ashby and an Asiatic Buffalo taken with a prototype Ashby broadhead.

Dr. Ed Ashby invested 27 years in the study of arrow performance and broadhead lethality. Starting in 1981, while working as a PH in Zimbabwe, Dr. Ed Ashby was recruited by the Mkuzi Game Reserve head Game Ranger Tony Tomkinson to assist in a bowhunting research study. At the time bowhunting was not legal in South Africa. The government commissioned a study to determine if African game could be ethically and humanely harvested with the bow and arrow.

Four years later, Dr. Ashby and his team published what has come to be known as the "Natal Study." The research was based not on the scientific method but outcome-driven research. Arrow penetration tests were conducted on hundreds of freshly culled animals and results were meticulously recorded and documented.

All of Dr. Ashby's arrow penetration research was conducted on carcasses of freshly killed Asiatic buffalo. His research has led to empirical findings in arrow lethality, revealing the 650-grain heavy bone threshold and the 19% FOC threshold.

In 1986, based on the Natal Study, the South African government legalized bowhunting. Legalization in South Africa soon opened legal bowhunting in many other Sub-Saharan countries. The Natal Study was the definitive document used to successfully lobby for bowhunting legalization.

Upon completion of the Natal Study, Dr. Ashby continued his arrow and broadhead penetration research for another three decades. His research has led to empirical findings in arrow lethality, revealing the 650-grain heavy bone threshold, the 19% FOC (Forward of Center) threshold, and the effectiveness of single bevel broadheads on breaking bone as well as increasing soft tissue damage.

His testing is the closest thing to the scientific method as is possible under testing conditions. Never before has anyone tested arrows and broadheads on actual game animals on such a scale. The test results have been carefully compiled and are now available to the public free of charge. Bowhunters everywhere owe Dr. Ashby a debt of gratitude as his data reveals which broadheads and arrows perform the best on game animals. The results show that whether you shoot a traditional bow like a recurve or a longbow, or if you're shooting a compound, the arrows and broadheads that performed well in the testing, will perform for you.

Dr. Ed Ashby with White Rhino taken with a longbow in 1984

If you have never read Dr. Ashby's reports, you're in for a treat. They're like a good novel that you just can't put down, the content is intense. As you read you'll experience many "a-ha!" moments. Things you have seen and experienced will start to make sense. You may want to bookmark this page as your gateway into the portal of what really happens when arrow and broadhead meet hide, bone, gristle, and meat.

We have all Dr. Ed Ashby's reports to date for you. As he releases more, we'll have them posted here. Here at GrizzlyStik, our roots are in traditional archery so we find it interesting this Dr. Ashby has always used both longbows and compound bows in his testing. Traditional bowhunters embraced the EFOC, heavy arrow, and heavy broadhead idea early on, but lately compound shooters all over the world are using our GrizzlyStik carbon arrows and our GrizzlyStik single-bevel broadheads for the largest of game with results that are becoming legendary. Some bowhunting camps in Africa now insist that if you're going to bowhunt with them, you'll be using a broadhead like the GrizzlyStik Ashby. Why?...

Dr. Ed Ashby cleaning a Water Buffalo scapula during the testing process.

Single bevel broadheads penetrate game animals, especially when encountering bone, better than any other design ever offered to the bowhunting community. GrizzlyStik single bevel broadheads are available from 100 grains to 315 grains to fit any bowhunting situation you'll ever face. They're built to perform when everything goes wrong. When you're a serious bowhunter the last thing you want to worry about is if your broadhead has what it takes to get the job done when you're ready to release the shot. Our GrizzlyStik broadheads have been severely tested and they've passed with flying colors. If you don't settle for less than the best when hunting, why settle for less than the best in broadheads? Check out the broadhead data below and you'll understand why we're so confident in our GrizzlyStik single Bevel broadheads.

Big Asian Water Buffalo taken by Dr. Ashby with heavy arrows and a straight-ended longbow.

Our GrizzlyStik tapered arrows are the perfect driving force behind our broadheads. No matter what broadhead you use if your arrow doesn't retain energy and deliver it upon impact you're not getting the performance you deserve.

Our continuous taper design is ballistically superior to any other design. Our GrizzlyStik arrows are fast! Fast from the bow, fast to recover from archer's paradox, fast to the target, and then BOOM! First, they drive forward the mass of the arrow pushing, then at a point during the penetration, the weight forward design pulls the arrow through as well.

Dr. Ashby cut away of Asiatic Buffalo's front shoulder.

If it weren't for the unique design of the GrizzlyStik with its extreme forward of center (EFOC) we couldn't make such a claim. The penetration potential is amazing. If you combine our arrows with our broadheads you have an unbeatable system. You'll never have to second guess your equipment. You just concentrate on making the shot!

Is it any shock? Dr. Ashby's rifle caliber of choice while working as a Professional Hunter in Zimbabwe - the .500 Nitro Express shooting 600-grain solids.

Ed Ashby in 1960 with a Whitetail Deer taken with his Bear recurve.

Mule Deer taken with a prototype Ben Pearson Deadhead broadhead.

Ed Ashby's first two deer morning.

Ashby's first running deer.

Dr. Ed Ashby working as a PH in Zimbabwe in the 1990s.

Dr. Ed Ashby with a Southern Bushbuck.

Dr. Ed Ashby with a Zebra. The Zebra was on the run when Ashby shot it.

Dr. Ed Ashby calls this picture, "A Good Afternoon" - We agree!

Dallas Safari Club - Dr. Ashby Archery Hall of Fame
Recommendation Letter

SCI Houston Chapter - Dr. Ashby Archery Hall of Fame Recommendation Letter