A broadhead is designed for big game hunting, not small game or targets, because its sharp blades are meant to penetrate deeply and cause rapid, humane kills through massive bleeding.

What game broadheads are for

Hunters typically use broadheads on:

  • Deer and similar-sized animals (whitetail, mule deer, pronghorn).
  • Larger big game like elk, moose, and wild boar, where deep penetration is needed.
  • Other legally classified big game species in some regions (e.g., bear, some African plains game) when regulations allow.

They are not appropriate for:

  • Small game like rabbits, squirrels, or birds, which are better taken with blunt or small‑game heads. Using broadheads on these is often unsafe, wasteful, and sometimes illegal.
  • Practice targets, where field points or practice points are safer and preserve both gear and targets.

Why broadheads are for big game

  • Broadheads have multiple razor‑sharp blades that create a wide wound channel to cause quick blood loss and a humane kill on big‑bodied animals.
  • They are designed and regulated specifically for big game in most bowhunting rulebooks; many hunter‑education materials explicitly say “used primarily for hunting big game.”

Ethics and safety

  • Using a broadhead on too‑small game can cause excessive damage and suffering instead of a clean kill, which most hunter‑education programs describe as unethical.
  • Broadheads are extremely sharp; careless handling has led to serious cuts and punctures even during simple tinkering, so safe storage and handling are critical.

TL;DR: You would hunt deer and other legally defined big game with a broadhead, not small game or practice targets.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.