Wounded Deer, Bad Arrow Set Up?

[DeerHunet]

I shot a broadside doe the other morning at about 23 yards and had my arrow break roughly 2 inches from the tip.  I'm assuming it was a shoulder hit that would cause this type of break but I did not have a good look at the point of impact.  I shoot an old 55# bear recurve and I draw 28 in.  My arrows are goldtip vapors at 6.3 gpi with weight tubes of 5 gpi and for a broad head I use 4 blade stinger 125 g.  Giving me roughly an arrow weight of 475 grains, which is about 8.7 grain per lb.  I searched for the deer followed the blood trail that looked like a muscle hit until it stopped but could not find the deer.  Being as this was the first deer I have shot with a bow it was very disheartening.  My question is my set up less than adequate or was it just the poor shot that caused this unrecovered wounded animal.  In the future if I were to get new broadheads, say 2 blades for better penetration in bone  which are better vented or solid.  I can see solid being quieter and maybe more durable, but do the vented ones have any advantage?  I admit I really like the looks of the stingers but I need function more than good looks from the bh.

[vermonster13]

Your set-up is plenty for a whitetail, sounds like an unfortunate shot placement. It happens.

[Charlie Lamb]

Nothing wrong with the Stingers, but your arrow is a little light. I'd work on tuning the arrow (whatever shaft it takes) with more tip weight. The added overall weight as well as the improved balance (FOC) will help with penetration.

There are somethings you just can't count on an arrow to do every single time.

Shot placement trumps everything! Maybe next time wait for a closer shot.

[DeerHunet]

but does more weight up front cause the arrow to drop faster?

[acadian archer]

penetration in bone is not the issue. as stated shot placement is the thing. 475 grins is more than enough for a well placed shot through the lungs. Srtingers were not the problem in your situation

[traphuntfish]

I had the same thing happen two years ago on a 15 yard shot, high shoulder - medium elevation. Was using GT 5575s with 125 grn WWs. the arrow sheared off 1" behind the insert. I since have added 8gpi tubes and 100grn steel adapters to add momentum. Carbons do not like shoulder blades, I've found.

[NoCams]

Lost one years ago with a 70lb compound and a cut on contact 145 gr head. About a 18yd shot, I know exactly where I hit the spike..... right on the point of the shoulder blade, the dreaded, " T " portion of the bone where it is almost bombproof ! You should have heard what it sounded like in the still morning air when the arrow hit ! Got about 3 inches of penetration, rest of my 2413 arrow was laying right there as I watched him run off with only a spot or two of blood. I am convinced he was probably shot later in the season by some shotgun hunter on the WMA and got the surprise of his life when the butcher found the head in the shoulder.

I agree with others that you could bump your arrow another 100 grains, but again, arrow weight probably would not have helped if you hit right on the, " T " portion of the shoulder blade. The extra 100 grains will quiet down your bow and get you closer to 10 grains per pound of draw weight. Would also eliminate the hassle of weight tubes and give you a much stronger arrow too. Try a good Carbon Express Heritage 150 or 250. JMHO

nocams  

[James Wrenn]

Nothing wrong with your gear.You made a bad shot.It happens but you really should have been able to tell where you hit the deer.Watching the impact point is very important to know what really happened.My guess is you dropped low and hit the leg up high below the joint from your description of the arrow and blood but there is no way to ever tell for sure.jmo

[SS Snuffer]

42lb. Kanati 12gr.per in. Pass-thru Magnus Stinger 125gr
Shot high in the shoulder just got the top of the lungs. 30 yard blood trail.

[SlowBowke]

but does more weight up front cause the arrow to drop faster?  

Two, for example, 500 grain arrows, one 10 percent FOC and one 30 percent FOC would have identical trajectories.

All objects, regardless of mass, drop the same RATE, the variable is the speed which determines how far they go before hitting the ground. Since both above 500 grain arrows would be going the same FPS, the trajectory would be identical.

Additional mass or grain weight in TOTAL will create more of a trajectory. Each person decides what trajectory they can or will live with just like each chooses all other factors.

As in all things, there are "trade offs" and increasing some things reduces others quite often.

Sorry to hear that you didn't get your deer. Better shot placement is always our goal but things happen and each of us has had shots we wish were placed better.

Some prefer to shoot arrows set up for "worst case scenarios" and are for maximum penetration. Others prefer to shoot arrows that almost always will penetrate with only a few acceptions, but they have a flatter trajectory and they feel they have increased odds in better arrow placement.

Each of us must choose for ourselves. There is no ONE "perfect" set up for all of us but each attempts to find HIS own.

I will add that the tapered carbons, with the heavier constructed front end of the arrow both in diameter and wall thickness are advertised to reduce or eliminate just what you had happen as well as offer slightly less shaft drag during penetration.

I shoot both tapered and straight but have yet to break either. The first time I shoot one that breaks the arrow on contact? Will be the last time I hunt with that shaft. I've yet to hit bone since switching to carbons, but sooner or later I will, odds are anyway.

There is almost TOO much information out there today on the pros and cons of either direction. Some are die hards in one extreme and others are die hards in the opposite, and others, like yours truely, is shooting for that "middle road".

A trajectory I can shoot extremely accurate,(this is not tested with a chronograph but by shooting them) with an arrow type, mass, EFOC, and head set up that will give maximum penetration is MY "perfect arrow" yet it would not automatically be for anyone else.

In reply to the original question. Yes,better shot placement would have saved the day..as well as an arrow set up that would have penetrated.

All always attempt the best shot location and still sometimes it don't happen. I try to be prepared for that if it does.

God Bless.

[Bob B.]

Excellent posting Steve    

Bob.

[KentuckyTJ]

Arrow setup will kill any deer. When an arrow doesn't pass through it may be because the deer swiveled and created a pinch on the arrow and thats what also can break any arrow that doesn't pass through.

Also I've shot many deer over my hunting years and have found that a deer that's hit through both lungs its almost impossible for it to make it past 100 yards on a dead run. A deer hit through one lung can make it much farther especially if pressured.

Your arrow setup is sufficient I think it was just not a double lung hit. If you don't know for certain that both lungs have been taken out come back the next day.