Antler Eater

In my never ending quest for knowledge in the world of bowhunting during my many adventures I often test numerous products under "field conditions". From these experiences I obviously form opinions and sometimes get the occasional unexpected surprise. Such was the case on a buck harvested a while back.

On this particular evening I was using a two blade head and my set up was generating slightly more than 70 pounds of Kinetic Energy. I was confident I that I could punch through a Rhino if he came walking by. As the sun set the familiar sound of leaves crunching under foot caught my attention and I turned to see a nice buck making his way to my location at the bottom of a draw. In fact he passed directly under my stand and as he started up the other side I stopped him at just under twenty yards.

My shot was slightly forward and I cringed when the arrow didn't completely pass through. It was buried almost up to the fletch so penetration wasn't an issue really, it is just a shock when the arrow doesn't zip through the deer (somewhat different from the old days . At any rate the buck only ran thirty yards and tipped over dead. I was privileged to watch the whole thing from my stand. There wasn't much of a blood trail even though I obviously didn't need one.

My arrow was broke in three pieces, a 16 inch length that the broadhead was attached to was found about 15 yards from the deer, a middle piece about five inches long was found inside the front part of the rib cage, and about seven inches of the fletched end was found about 10 yards from impact.

The broadhead took a beating also. The ferrule was bent, one side of the blade looked like one I had shot through a tire (the edges were jagged), and the very tip of the head was curled over slightly.

Upon examining the entrance and exit wounds it appeared to me that the arrow had gone through both shoulders. I knew it couldn't have penetrated the ridge of the scapula but I figured it busted through the thin spots on each of the scapulas. Yes indeed, all things pointed to busting through both shoulders... Lack of complete penetration, roughed up broadhead, and location of the hit all supported the "shoulder shot" theory.

THE SURPRISE

Upon butchering the deer I was shocked to learn that the only bone this arrow hit was a rib!That is right, it nicked a rib on the way in but never touched either of the scapulas and still didn't completely pass through.

A couple of things crossed my mind as I pondered this conundrum.

1. What you think you see on impact can be very deceiving...even when you know where the arrow hit! When I hear people say "I blew through both shoulders", I wonder if they butchered the animal to see where the path of the arrow actually went?

2. Even out of a well tuned bow there is the potential for a less than perfect release that could effect penetration. If we are to believe that a two blade head generally will penetrate better than a three blade head, and a three blade head will generally penetrate better than a four blade head, what would have been the end result of this hit with either of the above options? What about a mechanical?

...Just some "food for thought" as you sit on your stand tomorrow.

grim reaper

Great post very informitive thanks.

Lilhunter

very interesting stuff Antler..btw I am curious as to the head you used in this deer? I have a few two bladers laying around and have shot or have buddies that shoot them also many making interesting shots! My first Dall Sheep was spine shot with a 2 blader and a 64lb recurve. I can shoot that b head again if I wanted to, nothing is wrong and a dead ram is the end result! I have also seen others who say they can shoot concrete blocks (manufactor saying this) and off of a glance of a rock the hole head was bent like a tater chip LMAO!

5 shot

good point. I always say very strange things happen in animals! I have had mostly pass throughs in my deer, but their are those times when I just can't explain why something happend like it did. I also agree with people who say they shot through both shoulders or when I have helped track other deer I get the &quot; I hit him right through both lungs&quot; and then we find out latter it was a liver or gut shot. I also agree the stress of the shot, the excitement and the conditions of field shooting don't always lead to perfect shot execution, that in turn leads to poor arrow flight and all kinds of crazy things<img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

TAKE YOUR KIDS HUNTING AND YOU WON'T BE HUNTING FOR YOUR KIDS

Antler Eater

Lil,
on this particular night I was using a Game Tracker Firstcut 125. I have made a similar shot with similar results with a magnus 125 too however. I am not at all criticizing the performance of the broadhead, I am just making the observation that with all the testing we do and the countless hours of practicing and tweaking there is nothing set in stone when it comes to the moment of truth.

5 shot,
you are absolutely correct on your assessments. It may sound morbid to some, but I never really feel comfortable with the shot and recovery until the animals vitals are laying on the ground next to the body.<img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

PABowhntr

Very good post antler eater. Your point is definitely well taken and I think it is that point in particular that has led me to start posting specific pictures of the results of the few deer that I have harvested this season.

You never know until you are in that particular situation. <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

Antler Eater

Pa,

Thanks for the kind words.

By the way, keep posting those pictures! They are enjoyable and educational all at the same time!

Lilhunter

thanks for the heads up on the head

Did you ever try sending the Magnus back? I know MIke and the gang will send you a new set of heads if you do. Or atleast they were doing that and I am sure would still but dont quote me on it!

Also if you are into 2 bladers, I have to say I am nothing short of impressed with my eskimos, from moose ribs, sheep spines, and everything else imaginable they have survived the past 11 yrs for me. I have slightly curled tips smacking rocks after shooting through a couple fox now that or grouse, but thats it. You can file the needle point down just like any other head, to make the tip a bit stronger. I cant help ya with the edge deal, thats just wierd hehe! I'll tell ya the ONLY thing I dont like about them is that green paint. If ya heat it up ever to hot, the dang thing burns off. Oh well not everything can be perfect <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>!

Antler Eater

Lil,

I appreciate the info on the Magnus 125. The people at Magnus have replace a head for me. I thought it was outstanding how they stood behind their guarantee.

Those Eskimo's sound like an awesome head! I'll have to get my hands on some. Thanks

wimp

I have been at this game for a long time and always find things to shake up conventional thought.
-Gut shot deer that went 300 yds before bedding down(without being pushed)
-Many times the impact is not where you originally guess it to be.
-A doe that had a healed over hole through the top of both shoulders, about 3&quot; back and just under the spine.
-A buck with a recently shot, but healing hole, back in the chest cavity and again just under the spine
-liver shot deer that is still alive 8 hours after the shot
-Deer that went 50 yds fall over dead, and deer that went 300 yds, living for an hour or 2 on 1 lung seemingly similar shots. Never underestimate the ability of a deer to live long on a 1 lung shot

I've never been witness to any wierd penetration scenerios, I guess that gives me something to look forward to.