What should the arrow do when you shoot a deer

salzo

I guess my question is, do you want the arrow to stay in the deer, or exit the deer. Every deer I have shot, the arrow exited the deer. Always clean kill.
Yesterday, I shot a woodchuck. Broadside shot, arrow hit a little bit back. The damn thing was flopping around like crazy, then he expired. I went to the chuck, and he was cut up like crazy-it looked like I shot him with a 3006, not an arrow. The arrow was still in him and I think while he was flopping, the broadhead continued to cut him.
Which makes me think, an arrow that stays in the deer, might continue to do damage while the deer is running, causing more bleeding and hemorraging, causing a faster kill and perhaps a better blood trail.
So when you shoot a deer, does the arrow ever stay in the deer, and what are the results.

"Waiting tables is what you know, making cheese is what I know-lets stick with what we know!"
-Jimmy the cheese man

fishermanben

A pass through is always preferable to me, because it makes the deer easier to track and recover. I have seen many deer that were almost not recovered due solely to the fact that they were shot high and down into the cavity without passing through, and all bleeding remained internal. It is amazing how far a deer can go on just one lung, and without a pass through recovery can be quite a challenge.

Ben

taco413

I've had 3 deer that the arrow didn't pass through. First was when I shot a little forward and hit the shoulder, recovered the deer. Second was quartering shot that hit opposite shoulder, recovered the deer with a bit of tracking. Third was a back of the head shot on a deer that was right under me, recovered him easily[:D]. I prefer a pass through also, as Ben stated easier to track.

Only The Strong Survive!!!!!

buckeyboy

Ben, Is right on, I have shot deer and they bled all inside. But with the pass through shots I have always found the deer. All comes down to shot placement I guess[^]

buckeyboy

Ben, Is right on, I have shot deer and they bled all inside. But with the pass through shots I have always found the deer. All comes down to shot placement I guess[^]

dennisjohnson

i vote for pass through. after the arrow is found it can tell you alot.....like blood color...bubbles(lungshot)...color or hair on fletching(high/low..right on).if your not in snow the more blood the better for tracking.[;)]

dennis

bang250

Pass through is definately a better trail to follow. I don't blow through and it is difficult to track, however I have never had to track as far as my buddies that do blow through. Its a toss up for me. I've tracked both. One goes farther, but one is easier.[:)]

headzilla97

the 2 deer i have shot I didnt get a pass through on either. the deer ran away with the arrow sticking out of them hitting all sorts of sticks. you should have seen the damage done it was great. the only down side was no blood trail for either deer but i did hear them both crash so i knew they were down


My old man's backhand used to land,
Hard on the side of my head.
I just learned to stay out of his way.
There's been streetfights, blue lights,
Long nights with the world sittin' on my chest:
It just showed me how much I could take.
Hard times, bad luck.
Sometimes, life sucks.
That's all right, I'm ok.
It ain't nothin' but another day.

toocarz

I totally agree with Ben and the people that responded on this thread. The next question is what can you do to get a clean pass-through shot. In my view, a mechanical broadhead will not reliably pass through, especially when you are close and shooting down. I, probably like many that will read this thread, have experience this as well. I highly recommend fixed blade broadheads. I am sure that this will ignite sparks, but it only experienced based.

Suspension

I have never lost a deer I shot with a bow and I have had
pass through shots and some that stayed in. I'm thinking
the majority passed through and those were mainly with fixed broadheads. I do recall shooting a mechanical broadhead a
year or two ago and it passed completely through the neck then exited breaking the spine (ground blind, held draw WAY to long
ugh [B)])
If I had to choose I'd go for a pass through using a fixed
broad head. I'm basing all this off my incredible sense of
memory, so keep that in mind. [:D][;)]

** welcome aboard toocarz!!

NRA Life Member ---"A pocket knife, a clean hankey, and a pistol... things I can use." - Ted Nugent

buckeyboy

The little suction cup thingie should stick to his forehead[?][?] Is this right[?]

Suspension

The actual answer to this topic is "kill it". Buckey, have you got one of those suction cups stuck to your head for days without being able to pull it off?? ..... Me neither [^]
[:D][:D]

NRA Life Member ---"A pocket knife, a clean hankey, and a pistol... things I can use." - Ted Nugent

salzo

quote:Originally posted by buckeyboy
The little suction cup thingie should stick to his forehead[?][?] Is this right[?]


Ya got m e rolling on the floor!

"Waiting tables is what you know, making cheese is what I know-lets stick with what we know!"
-Jimmy the cheese man

buckeyboy

Keep it up Sus Inoticed ya been shadowing me for the past week or so[;)] I might hafta start another arguement soon. Even though i'm not one to stir the pot[:0] Now you know i'm full of sh_t[:D][:D]

Suspension

I've been shadowing cause I've been so busy. I do believe I have lost my dear friend down by the water that I was watching.
I saw him one more time after I last told you, he jumped across the rode in front of my truck. Actually he wasn't as big as I had originally thought, not to say he wasn't a wall hanger though, he is way big enough for that. After that morning I haven't seen him again and it's been going on 3 weeks maybe 4 now. [:(] That farmer stopped me again and asked me if anyone had shot him at night yet or not. I think the old farmer is a poacher [}:)][;)]

NRA Life Member ---"A pocket knife, a clean hankey, and a pistol... things I can use." - Ted Nugent

buckeyboy

"That Bites" But ya never know just when ya think he gone he may pop up some where.[:p] Yea on that farmers dinner plate.[:p] Keep the faith man if he got that big he's probley laying low[8D]

Suspension

We'll see, but I'm not getting excited over it anymore, kinda bummed me out.

NRA Life Member ---"A pocket knife, a clean hankey, and a pistol... things I can use." - Ted Nugent

fishermanben

You know, with the way bucks like that will travel, he has probably just been on some big walk-abouts, or has become nocturnal. I wouldn't give up hope on the ol' boy yet.

Ben

Suspension

I won't give up on him, but if I don't see him anymore opening day for me will be in another area. He was also so consistant with his times then bam, gone. Oh well

NRA Life Member ---"A pocket knife, a clean hankey, and a pistol... things I can use." - Ted Nugent