2003 Deer Hunt - A Bowhunt In Progress

INTERVIEW: Jay Liechty of Grim Reaper Broadheads
by Robert Hoague

On the recent November trip to bowhunt deer in Ohio I met and visited with Jay Liechty, the inventor of the Grim Reaper broadhead. Jay is a likable and intelligent young man who has bowhunted for 23 years.

Jay Liechty and Robert Hoague

Jay has harvested 17 elk with a bow. He likes elk hunting the best. He is from Utah where the elk herd is substantial. He hunts them in Idaho and Wyoming and prefers Wyoming for elk. He says, "There is almost no hunting pressure there. I have taken 11 elk from the same treestand."

Jay also likes bowhunting whitetails and has killed 19. Jay's Number one ingredient to success is "don't give up" and "keep learning, always be open to ways to improve.

When he was in college Utah bowhunter Jay Liechty saw the new generation mechanicals come into the market. He liked the idea and tried them. He liked the fact that they flew like field points. Being an elk hunter he was concerned about their penetration on large animals. Jay tested them at lower bow poundages and found that they had less penetration than fixed blade heads. Furthermore, he discovered that at some angles penetration was poor.

Jay had other issues with the mechanicals. He didn't like the rubber O-rings many had. They were a hassle in the field where they sometimes broke or were pulled out of position by twigs, etc.. And changing the blades was a real chore with the ones he tried.

Jay wanted to make a better expandable.

Liechty worked on different prototype ideas until 1997 when he came up with a design that gave him what he wanted:

1. Penetration that was equal to a fixed blade broadhead at lower bow poundages.
2. An innovative new 'Trocrazor' tip that has 3 cut on contact razor blades up front, it precuts the hole in the hide, it opens up a wound channel for the blades. It worked wonders for penetration.
3. Jay's new expandable did not require an 0-ring.
4. Penetration was good at extreme angles.
5. It can be shot as a mechanical or fixed head.

Eliminated the rubber O-ring:
Jay: "Mechanicals fly great but you have to shoot a powerful bow to get penetration. I tested different designs until I had a broadhead that didn't have an O-ring."

Good Penetration at any angle:
Jay: "The tip on the Grim Reaper broadhead sticks out further than other mechanicals. That extends the tip further out in front of the blades, so no matter what angle you shoot at the tip enters the animal before the front of the blade can catch and open. It solves this problem. Also, each blade operates independently with a patented process. This increases penetration at extreme angles."

Changing Blades:
Jay: "It is easy to change the blades and you can do it without a tool."

Fixed Blade head:
Jay: "It can be shot as a mechanical or fixed head. When the blades are opened they will stay in place."

The Future At Grim Reaper Broadheads:
Jay has other new broadhead patents and Grim Reaper will has new models to be introduced.

The History of Grim Reaper Broadheads:
Grim Reaper began in 2000 when Jay introduced his patented new broadhead. Jay started advertising in the bowhunting magazines, on the internet and on Tom Nelson's Bowhunter Magazine's American Archer TV show, and going to hunting shows. Today, in 2003 Grim Reaper is a viable broadhead company with dealers in every states.

Web Site and Dealer Finder:
The Grim Reaper web site (www.grimreaperbroadheads.com) has a Dealer Finder where you can find a dealer near you.