First Trad/Bow Deer+Broadhead Discussion

[RecurveHunter01]

I got my first deer with a bow a couple weekends ago.  I wanted to share it here because without this site I might not have adequately tuned my equipment that performed flawlessly when I finally got a shot.  I am a long time lurker and I just wanted to thank the moderators that keep this site running and the community here for educating me on trad.  

In the evening I noticed a buck about 75 yds out heading right towards my tree.  At 20 yds he seemed to smell me, as the wind was swirling.  His head snapped up and he licked his nose.  He looked in my direction and bobbed his head for over a half minute.  Finally he decided to move on, he changed his direction and as walking away gave me a 22 yd broadside shot.  A little long range for me but I drew and hit anchor without him spooking so I focused on a hair and released.  The arrow zipped through him without even slowing down,later I noticed the tip of my broadhead have even curled slightly upon hitting rock 5" into the dirt.  The shot was a little high and further back from the hair I picked out; thoughts about poor blood trail bc of a narrow two blade and high hit started to fly through my mind.  But before I could even finish that thought process he stopped running after about 20 yds and toppled over.  Honestly, the experience was one of the best rushes I have had as an adult.  I followed his path and though there was no blood for about 13 or so yards once it started it was constant drops up to his body.  I assume it came from his mouth.  

Anyways in reflection, I thought about broadheads and the many discussions I have read here about them .  Based on this ONE experience it appears likely that if a shot does take out both lungs recovering the deer should not be a problem.  However, you cannot guarantee a shot does take out both lungs.  If you're shooting a steep downward angle or if you hit shoulder I would think best chances of a fast recovery would be with a pass through and therefore a two blade.  On the other hand if you hit liver or any other area where you hope the deer bleeds out would be the only time that I would see a multiblade broadhead significantly improving chances of finding the deer.  Anyways what do you more experienced hunters think?

My setup: Early 70's Bear Kodiak Hunter, #55 60"
Arrow Dynamics Trads.
125 gr 2 Blade Stinger and a 75 gr. brass insert.  

First time using photo bucket, let me know if they don't work or are too big.  

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[jon boy]

There is nothing wrong with your setup.  High hits usually leave poor blood trails for 30 or 40 yards. By the time there is good blood the deer is ready to go down. Try to get a good line on the deer when they take off by sight or sound.

[kadbow]

Any decent cut on contact broadhead will work.  I just comes down to personal preference after that. I guess lighter bows would probaly do better with a two blade.  I had one bad experience with a two blade.  It was a good shot, pass through, but not a drop of blood.  I found the deer about a 100 yds from where I had shot him.  He had a lot of fat that just sealed up the lower exit hole.  I switched to a Woodsman or 3 blade VPA.  Have since killed whitetail, mule deer, elk and pronghorn with a 3 blade.  I like em.

[nineworlds9]

Awesome story!  I've thought alot about this topic myself as my season gets underway and finally decided this is what I'm taking in the woods this year

 

 :D

[RecurveHunter01]

I've seen awesome pics of blood trails with those simmons.  It doesn't look like my pics posted.  Here is a link to them on photo bucket maybe it will work this way.  

 http://s1344.photobucket.com/user/OnlinePix2010/media/photo1_zpse8aaac6f.jpg.html

[RecurveHunter01]

Originally posted by kadbow:
Any decent cut on contact broadhead will work.  I just comes down to personal preference after that. I guess lighter bows would probaly do better with a two blade.  I had one bad experience with a two blade.  It was a good shot, pass through, but not a drop of blood.  I found the deer about a 100 yds from where I had shot him.  He had a lot of fat that just sealed up the lower exit hole.  I switched to a Woodsman or 3 blade VPA.  Have since killed whitetail, mule deer, elk and pronghorn with a 3 blade.  I like em.

Did the lung shot not cause him to bleed out his mouth?

[dnovo]

I prefer 2 blade head but I like the wide ones. I use Zwickey Delats, Magnus I and I have some new Sommons but have not been able to use them on anything yet.
No problem with blood trails with them.

[nineworlds9]

Here ya go bud, posted it for ya.  Nice job!!

 

That head I posted is a Centaur Big Game head, very similar to Simmons, but even bigger and thicker LOL.

[RecurveHunter01]

Originally posted by nineworlds9:
That head I posted is a Centaur Big Game head, very similar to Simmons, but even bigger and thicker LOL.

Lol well maybe the blood trail will be more impressive.  Put up some pics when you make one.

[nineworlds9]

Will do!  I found a sweet new watering hole this past weekend with loads of fresh hog sign, gonna head out there again in a couple weeks.

[Hoyt]

I haven't killed but 4 deer with Simmons broadheads, but have seen them all but one fall and die within 50yds..the other one went about 75yds.

Nice buck.

[joe ashton]

Great deer and interesting broad head q. I have great confidence in woodsman but have success with 2 blade and mangus 4.  so......

[Robert Armstrong]

Good job. Ive shot deer with 2,3,&4 blades with good shot placement have had heavy and light blood trails from all 3 styles! I think blood loss from a deer has a ton of variables. Usally a low exit wound leaves a great trail but not every time. Hide thickness, fat, tissue thickness, diet, humidity, is the deer walking, jumping? Trailing deer is a skill that is always tested. I shoot a 190gr 2 blade intercepter just because I think it looks cool. Like the other styles it does the job it was designed for. Its not a garunty with any broadhead. If its working for you stick with it.

[Rob W.]

I'm a firm believer in Simmons heads.

[Stumpkiller]

Good job and congratulations.

Kodiak Hunters are fine bows and at that weight I use two-edged heads myself.  I figure it's better to go on through and make the work of the diaphragn harder while offering more blood exit holed for tracking.