Hello guys, I've only killed one deer with a carbon arrow. Complete pass through never found the arrow. My question is this, my buddy says he made a good shot on a deer late this evening. I found no blood (flashlight) no hair and the arrow is perfectly clean except some dirt were it hit the ground. I've recovered many arrows that passed through but never seen one that didn't have at least some blood or something on it. He says a carbon arrow can do that (he saw it on YouTube)). Not having any experience with carbon myself I didn't call bs. I think he choked and missed a 15 yard shot at a wall hanger. Any one ever heard of such witchery. I've read it before but I don't know bout all that, guess its possible. The guy is an excellent shot but this would've been his first deer. I was 50 yards away so I didn't see the shot. What do you guys think or know from experience.
I have never had a carbon arrow give me at least some sign. The feathers usually will be separated at least.
I've never heard of or seen an arrow (carbon or otherwise) that passed through on a "good shot" that left no sign on the arrow. What we think we saw vs what actually happened can be two different things in the heat of the moment.
What broadhead?
Carbon or not the feather fletching will ALWAYS up blood or body fluids with a pass through vitals or entrails. Maybe not if it was muscle and no organs.
I cant imagine a slicker surface than aluminum and they show blood. Every carbon arrow that ive put through an animal--- even skirrels shows blood. But even if it was one of those new fangeled self cleaning carbons the feathers would surely tell. Finding my arrow is job 1 after the shot to begin analysis in most cases. Did he miss? The arrow knows.
Vanes, Easton elites I believe. Broad head some kinda muzzy 3 blade I think. I believe you guys have confirmed my suspicions, he just missed.
And he can be happy about that.
Better to miss than wound.
Vanes? People still use those? I thought they went out with polyester suits.
Clean miss! No such thing as no residue on the arrow shaft regardless of composition.
Yep, miss. Stuff happens.
I agree that he missed.
Missed!!!
He missed...period. THe fletching will always soak up something as it passes through....blood or other fluids.
In my experience it's not the arrow. It's the broadhead. I killed a few with a two blade but never had much blood. I save those for snakes and practicing shots before I get down out of the stand now. I only shoot 3 or 4 blade heads. No head will leave blood tho if you miss. Lol. Make sure it's sharp, do your part and it will do its part.
I think you can add that one to the earlier thread of hunting excuses ;)
It's miss or shot in the small intestine which can leave no blood and very little residue
You could always give the arrow a sniff test when in doubt
Nothing on arrow = miss
I'd say that he passed it up. Probably low.
Mike
Blood doesn't know what material the shaft is made of....its NOT the carbon shaft, period. Look elsewhere for you issue.
:campfire:
QuoteOriginally posted by BAK:
Clean miss! No such thing as no residue on the arrow shaft regardless of composition.
I agree completely!!!
Yep, I have to agree with what has already been said...clean miss!
A shot through the brisket low or very high on the back will do this. Had it happen. Deer is just fine then.
He mmmmmmissed
Its ok, Tell your buddy everyone misses now and again.
QuoteOriginally posted by Longtoke:
You could always give the arrow a sniff test when in doubt
True. This does work for abdominal hits.
Another sign of a hit would be found by crawling around the shot site looking for hair. If you hit a deer with a sharp broadhead there will be hair.
Not on a fatal shoot, shot an elk though a non lethal spot on the neck and there was just one little speck of meat at the front end of the feather and I shot a coyote center mass and that arrow was moist with fur on the broadhead but basically no blood. Everything that hit fatal had a good bit of blood, even the one rabbit I used a broadhead on instead of a blunt and passed through it was covered in blood. He either missed or made a meat hit in my opinion
Like Michael said... I've seen a pretty clean arrow on a gut shot. Smell it. The nose doesn't lie.
Obviously, it's the BOW!!! Compounds will do these things...
They shoot SO fast, that the arrow does not have enough time, to do it's job!!! Tell your friend, to sell his bow IMEDIATELY, and buy a traditional bow.
Yes I still agree and any shot that is a pass-through will leave some residue of some kind even a brisket hit.... plus a brisket hit leaves white fur all over the ground at impact....there's no way he shouldn't have been able to find that much white hair on the ground.
QuoteOriginally posted by woodchucker:
Obviously, it's the BOW!!! Compounds will do these things...
They shoot SO fast, that the arrow does not have enough time, to do it's job!!! Tell your friend, to sell his bow IMEDIATELY, and buy a traditional bow.
Ahhhhh.
So blazing fast the arrows cauterize the wound channel even as they cut it.
Devil's tools.
I've shot over 100 deer with bow. Been doing this since 1980. Have skinned for some camps, been on tons of recoveries and non recoveries.
Never once has or can an arrow be perfectly clean. Brock is right, he missed
Well, if it's on Youtube, it must be true.
:saywhat:
Well guys I'm happy to say no buzzards circling within 50 mile of were the deer was supposedly hit, and we have plenty of buzzards round here its chicken farm country. He mentioned to me this evening that he may have been mistaken due to the excitement and what not. And he does use a trad bow, if not id have never brought him with me.
If in doubt.....