Broadheads and Blunt Force Trauma

[mec lineman]

I shot STOS heads for two years and was fortunate to take 7 deer with them. All but one were shot through the ribs(the other extremely tight and low behind the shoulder). All of those deer reacted just about in the same manner. Very unconcerned, a couple went back to feeding before giving up the ghost. Those BH were like razors.

[Caleb Monroe]

Great thread. It got me thinking I have shot 4 bucks with traditional bows. The first 3 were with 3 blade heads ( 1- Muzzy 3 blade. 2- Snuffers). The last one was with a 2 blade Zephyr Sasquatch. First 3 ran between 60-80 yds scalded dog escape. Last one was with a 2 blade zephyr sasquatch and he just trotted off 30 yds and fell over. As a side note 1 of the first 3 were called in and so was the 4th.

I had never even thought of broadhead blade number being a factor. I have harvested a number of does that have had different reactions. Most ran off quickly.

I guess I'll just get out and do some more field testing.

[Huntrdfk]

Maybe you are onto something, I don't know. I do think that how sharp the broad head is has something to do with it. I also know that I have shot a number of deer with three blade heads, snuffers, we see woods and and more recently VPAs. I have had deer both tear out of the area, but I killed a deer two years ago as he was walking by at 8 yards, he simply trotted off and fell over dead 60 yards later. I think shot placement has a lot to do with it also.

David

[Sixby]

I have had them bolt with both,. I cannot remember one not bolting with a three but I remember quite a few showing no great reaction to a two blade at all. Threes always seem to touch some bone and that may be the difference. Just a though though. Very interesting and unique thread.
God bless, Steve

[beendare]

I've noticed a huge difference between tapered COC heads and the chisel point heads especially the ones that are not a tapered shape [short heads] much more animal reaction with the short heads and sometimes even a "kerplunk" sound- they know they have been hit. Not so with the tapered COC heads.
 
Its much easier to find an animal that walks off vs running at 30MPH. And the guys that use those mech heads- forget it- the animal looks like it is trying to leave its skin behind. The vast majority of my kills were with a compound...I haven't enough of a track record with 2 vs 3 bl and my recurve...

[randy grider]

I believe two blades penetrate deeper, and shock less, but if you blow through deer with ease (Heavy draw weight and heavy arrow) i would go with a three blade just because of the much better blood trail. Hit a big buck a couple weeks ago, right on top of him at 10 yards, and hit him high, he stumbled like he was going down, but didn't, and ran out of my life. Penetration was poor, and no blood. I feel I must have short drawn my bow at the steep angle, and worrying about bow limb hitting treestand. I think had I been shooting a 2 blade this would have turned out different. Good points TJ, you got me to thinkin'......

[JamesKerr]

I don't know about the difference between death times of deer that run hard and pile up vs. those that bound a few steps then wander off and lay down to die, but my grandfather shot a buck several years ago with a crossbow (he is handicapped and has had several surgeries on his shoulders) but anyway he shoots zwickey delta 2 blades and he shot this buck at about 15 yards and it jumped in the brush for a second or so then walked back out and starting feeding again. He had taken the shot perfectly broadside and thought he had missed. He was able to reload and shot the deer again quartering away and this time the broadhead buried in the offside shoulder. Well as I'm sure you all can guess the deer lit out of there like a bat out of hades. When my grandfather found it though he was shocked to find that there was the arrow that he had shot the deer with quartering away still in the deer as well as and entry and exit hole tight behind the front shoulder where the first arrow had passed straight through. If he hadn't shot the deer the second time it would have bled to death right there where he shot it. Keep in mind that these shots were with Razor and I mean razor sharp broadheads, and I think that this fact along with the fact that no bones were hit on the first shot were the most important factor. Deer hear limbs fall and other noises all the time in the woods. So while noise is important as long as a bow is not overly loud I think shot placement and sharpness of broadhead contribute more to an animals reaction to being shot. Think about when you are shaving with a brand new razor and you knick yourself, often you don't even feel it you just notice you're bleeding. Sorry to get so long winded about this.

[Bobby Urban]

interesting theory??  I have had similar results with both style heads and think it has more to do with other factors than head style or blade numbers but there is merit to the potential of a less "shocking" hit from a low pro two blade head.  I just feel most confident with three or more blades out front.

[2treks]

I have only killed a few with 3 blade heads. For all the 2 blade kills, they have reacted any number of ways. Some have me scratching my head to this day. So it makes me think that the number of blades is not an issue. Something else is at play maybe.
We will all agree that SHARP has much to do with the reaction I am sure. A sharp head can pass thru with little reaction at all, and bleed em out quick.
I have pondered this question myself and I don't know.
I try to hit them in the vitals and then pay close attention to what happens next. Watch them until down or out of sight and the Listen for that last sound. Stay put and stay quiet, and look/listen for 10-15mins at least.

[pitbull]

The big difference I have noticed over the years is how the deer react if the arrow stays in them. Back many moons ago when I shot bows from 65-80# I always had pass throughs and the deer would walk away most times. Now that I shoot in the low 40# range the arrow is usually carried by the deer and they run like a scalded dog until the arrow falls out. I shoot both 2 and 3 blades with the same reaction.

[halfseminole]

What you guys are seeing is a direct correlation between frontal area and wasted energy "punching" the deer.  The greater the number of blades or the wider the blade, the more area that impacts at once, spreading out the force and eating up your kinetic energy.  A narrow two blade head is the most efficient choice, and that's why they tend to act like nothing hit them-all your energy goes to penetration, forgoing the shockwave generated with wider heads.

 

The diagram should be self explanatory, but I'll write more when I get this keyboard working.

[halfseminole]

Another issue to consider is just how sharp your broadhead is-the sharper it is, the smaller area presented.  If you've ever been cut and it was so sharp you didn't feel it immediately, then you've seen this principle at work.

[Russ Clagett]

This is a very interesting thread.....

I had an experience last year that really makes me think about this....I shot at a doe next to the feeder but didn't pick a spot. I hit the feeder leg....with a super sharp two blade...and it penetrated.

The doe did her best to kick all of her legs off, finally got her feet under her and then she hit the feeder....while the arrow was still making noise...vibratin and all...

Learned a valuable lesson about remembering to pick a spot...and penetration.

Sorry. I remembered that and had to laugh. Now back to the thread.....

[Pat B.]

A flair for the obvious !!  Just kidding...

[Cootling]

I've seen lots of deer shot with both styles and I surely have not seen a difference I would want to rely on.  I've seen way too many explosive reactions from deer shot with two-blade heads.

[varmint101]

125gr Snuffer mounted on a lodge pole shaft out of a 60# at my draw Widow is the only deer I've shot that hadn't bolted at the shot.  She jumped to the side then walked off and looked back and fell over.  Taken two with Simmons Tiger Sharks one 50# and one @57# and both took off, but not for very long!  Those are my only two 2blade deer. Rest were Woodsmans or Muzzys.

[Roger Norris]

I think is like Steve O says...every situation is different. I have used 3 blade heads a few times, never seen much difference.

I have only had 1 deer just stand around until it tipped over. The rest have all run off. Some, not very far, but they have all attempted an escape from the area.

[fedora]

I shot a buck with a two blade grizzly single bevel and he bucked like a bronco ran about 30 yards and stopped to look back.  He started to wobble and bolted again.  The other buck standing next to him didn't know what happened and stood there looking for 10 min.  

I had a another one with a muzzy years ago actually just stood and licked wound until he got woozy and then walked a couple steps and fell over.  

Don't know what to learn from this except I don't think it matters since there are so many variables to pin down any one as the cause.

[joe ashton]

My take on it is if you cut myself with a sharp knife as opposed to jabbing myself with a screw driver. I will react more to the screw driver.

[Roger Norris]

Originally posted by joe ashton:
My take on it is if you cut myself with a sharp knife as opposed to jabbing myself with a screw driver. I will react more to the screw driver.

That does make sense...