Steelforce + Bedded Buck = no blood
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Indiana, PA
Posts: 220
Steelforce + Bedded Buck = no blood
hey guys, i am from Indiana Pa here, not the biggest bucks in the world but we do have some nice ones, i need some input from you guys though because im contimplating a major change in my archery gear, i shot my buck saterday morning stillhunting through a creek bottom (8 point 15inch spread 9 inch G2's) but i did not find the deer till sunday, the deer was slightly quatering towards me and the shot entered the deer in the shoulder crease and drove back through the body coming out right between the hund quarters, after waiting about a half hour and knowing i smoked him i went to his bed and found hair but no blood then following the general direction of his path i found no blood, i did recover the deer the next day, but my question is, do you thing the deer being bedded had something to do with it? or was it the Steel Force broadheads? it was the first deer i ever shot wiht a steelforce, i have shot 3 pigs wiht them in texas and they bled really well, thanks alot guys sorry for the rambling post
#2
RE: Steelforce + Bedded Buck = no blood
From the sounds of the hit, you probably took out one lung and the liver. I wouldn't suggest taking this shot though however since it will not give you a clean quick kill. I would expect a little more blood then you described though. Were you using a two bladed head? I have also experienced poor blood trails sometimes with the two bladed heads and now use them only on game where I really need penetration like elk or moose. On deer, I usually use 3 or 3+ blades heads. If you would have waited longer (about 5 hours), I bet you would have found your buck in his first bed.
#3
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location:
Posts: 2,994
RE: Steelforce + Bedded Buck = no blood
the deer was slightly quatering towards me and the shot entered the deer in the shoulder crease
and drove back through the body coming out right between the hund quarters
Sounds much more like a shot placement issue.
#4
RE: Steelforce + Bedded Buck = no blood
Congrats on your deer, but that was a poor decision on shot placement. Anytime your arrow will exit through the guts, chances of a good blood trail are slim. IMO the exit hole got plugged up, and I agree with RB, you probably hit him higher than you wanted based on the fact that he was bedded.
It wasn't the broadhead...it was user error.
It wasn't the broadhead...it was user error.
#6
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 9,175
RE: Steelforce + Bedded Buck = no blood
Said so in the thread title, Bob.
If I couldn't have continued my sneak off to the side in order to get a better angle on the deer, I would probably have taken a shot myself. Not the shot you took, though. If the deer was quartered enough that the arrow would exit between it's hind quarters on a behind the shoulder shot, I'd have aimed IN FRONT of the shoulder, just where the shoulder meets the brisket, trying to get the heart, far side lung for sure and hoping to snag part of the nearside lung. All the while trying desperately to avoid getting the arrow into the guts. I hate cleaning up a mess like that.[:'(]
I have to agree it was operator error and poor shot placement that were at fault, not the broadhead. Don't be so intent on putting your arrow behind the shoulder that you don't recognize where the vitals actually are, and how to angle your arrow into them.
If I couldn't have continued my sneak off to the side in order to get a better angle on the deer, I would probably have taken a shot myself. Not the shot you took, though. If the deer was quartered enough that the arrow would exit between it's hind quarters on a behind the shoulder shot, I'd have aimed IN FRONT of the shoulder, just where the shoulder meets the brisket, trying to get the heart, far side lung for sure and hoping to snag part of the nearside lung. All the while trying desperately to avoid getting the arrow into the guts. I hate cleaning up a mess like that.[:'(]
I have to agree it was operator error and poor shot placement that were at fault, not the broadhead. Don't be so intent on putting your arrow behind the shoulder that you don't recognize where the vitals actually are, and how to angle your arrow into them.
#7
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Indiana, PA
Posts: 220
RE: Steelforce + Bedded Buck = no blood
I was using the two blade head with the bleeder blades, have any of you guys shot deer with these and how was your bloodtrails, i realized after the shot that maybe the vitals were different since it was bedded, rookie mistake I have been bowhunting for only 6 years now and although i do have a feel for it i havent been in the woods for 40+ years like alot of you guys!, i have taqken a buck and doe every year though, thanks for everyhting guys
#8
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: West CO
Posts: 941
RE: Steelforce + Bedded Buck = no blood
ORIGINAL: Arthur P
Said so in the thread title, Bob.
I would probably have taken a shot myself. Not the shot you took, though. I'd have aimed IN FRONT of the shoulder, just where the shoulder meets the brisket.
I have to agree it was operator error and poor shot placement that were at fault, not the broadhead.
Said so in the thread title, Bob.
I would probably have taken a shot myself. Not the shot you took, though. I'd have aimed IN FRONT of the shoulder, just where the shoulder meets the brisket.
I have to agree it was operator error and poor shot placement that were at fault, not the broadhead.
I agree with this. You have to change your shot placement on a deer when it is quartering away or towards you. Keep that in mind for next time.
#9
RE: Steelforce + Bedded Buck = no blood
Said so in the thread title, Bob.
On the blood issue, another point, remember that when a deer is bedding the hide will usually shift somewhat from bedding to standing. So now your entrance and exit wounds will not line up entirely between the hide and body, giving the blood a good chance to coagulate. Like others have said, it proably wasn't the broadheads since you were using a four bladed head, it was the shot placement.
#10
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Indiana, PA
Posts: 220
RE: Steelforce + Bedded Buck = no blood
upon filed dressing the deer, i took out the tops of both longs and the top lobe of the liver and through the guts, i just couldent believe that there was no blood, from where i shot him to where he crashed at