Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Aldeer Bow Talk little help for a new bow hunter..

I shot a deer today and the arrow didn't pass through but stayed stuck in as it ran off. I found one decent amount of dark blood about 30 yards from the shot. Then nothing.. Granted the shot was a little back. My question is.

How long do they run when its not a pass through and why wasn't there a trail or more blood than just that one spot? What's the rule of thumb on tracking in these situations?

What kind of head? Mechanical? You would likely have had more blood with a pass through but it's hard to say. You will be lucky to ever recover that deer. Your best bet is to start tomorrow and search in circles. Place a small piece of toilet paper at any blood spot and see if you can determine a direction of travel. Even then it's hard to tell. I've seen wounded deer climb very steep hills rather than travel an easier path down hill. At least the paper will allow you to go back to the last blood spot and start looking again for another.

They can run a long or short distance whether it's a pass through or not...deer are funny critters. Without pass through, arrow is blocking some blood from coming out entrance hole. Could be liver/guts that will also occlude entrance hole. If you want to find the deer, call the weiner dogs and let them work.

Dark blood and shot too far back ? Liver and gut. Deer will die but you may not recover it.

^^^^^^

Like someone said, no pass through can be long or short. It depends on what vitals are hit. If you are in a treestand and shooting at a downward angle at close distances, the exit hole will be lower in the deers cavity. The lower hole should allow blood to flow and leave a better blood trail. Without the lower exit hole, bloodtrail can be a lot less. Will a jug of milk leave more milk with a hole up high on the jug or low on the jug?...same principle. My rule of thumb is go back at least 4, maybe 6 hours later with a hit you described. Dark blood should be liver. Don't push the deer, let it lie, and go back in late.

Why do you ask? Do fixed-blades always provide a pass-through?

No! But I certainly believe good fixed head with a moderately heavy arrow will increase the chances over a light arrow with a mechanical.

Uh, ok. I guess you know his setup already.

No, I don't. That's why I asked. I don't like mechanicals and I'm prejudiced against them, but I always want to know if my assumptions are correct or if I need to rethink my ideas.

You can go ahead and rethink.

Glad you have had good luck with them Dan. If I ever get a notion to try one, I'll shoot you a PM. I know they are devastating on well placed shots, I just don't trust them for anything else.

Thanks for the great info fellas.. to answer your question I was using rages..

I don't trust a 2 blade

Why not? They have been killing animals of all sizes for thousands of years. They have a bit longer proven record than a mechanical.

Did you go back and see anything?

I have had better luck with a 3 blade mechanical over 2 blade mechanical. Who was comparing mechanicals and fixed blades?

I don't use mechanicals of any kind but I suppose if you are going to use them, you might as well go all in.

I guessed that after you said you were prejudice against mechanical. People will keep loosing animals with fixed and mechanical heads. This will always be a topic of arguments until bow hunting is no more.

That's the truth! I had a cousin that used to legally use a kind of powered poison that was in a rolled up latex tube right behind the broadhead. He told me you could shoot them anywhere and they wouldn't run out of sight. I think he hunted in Mississippi.