I have cleaned my share of deer and I can not think of any angle that would result in the broad head being stuck to the INSIDE of a shoulder
that wouldn't have killed the animal stone dead.


I also find it curious if the 200" deer got away - how do they know the broad head malfunctioned?

I might me old school, BUT, pappy told us,

"If you double lung him- You Win."

There are basically only two things that kill a deer.
a.Massive trauma to the brain
b Lack of oxygen to the brain

Let me elaborate on (b).

If a deer gets hit by a Semi @ 70 Mph what kills him is not the 23 broken bones, is not a ruptured spleen, is not 2 punctured and collapsed lungs,
is not the fact that the aorta was torn completely from his heart, what actually killed him was the lack of oxygen getting to his brain.

If you double lung him, he will drop in right @ 12 seconds. He is really still alive just passed out from lack of oxygen to the brain (same as if you strangled him); @ about 20 seconds the brain and the deer actually expire from lack of oxygen to the brain.

Watch your favorite hunting videos. When the shot is made start counting, one one thousand, two one thousand ------ bout the time you get to 12 one thousand you will see the hunter’s hi-fiving or hollering "he is down" and he is for keeps.

If you seem him drop, keep watching and counting, you might see him twitch or cough, but, by the time you get to 20 one thousand it is over.

If you are using a fixed blade broad head or a mech that only one of 3 blades opened does not matter, clip both lungs andin 12 seconds or so he is toast.

When you look at a broadside deer you can see the lump on his shoulder.
Behind that lump there is a crease in his hide that allows the shoulder to move freely. The top of that crease is the sweet spot. If you can hit the top of that crease from any angle, with any broad head he is yours - every time.

I learned this from a veterinarian who traveled with Easton arrows on the show circuit. That was 20 years ago and probably 75 deer ago. I have never lost a deer with any weapon if he was hit within two inches of the top of that crease.

Shot placement is the most important part of this whole deal. With almost any modern broad head with sharp blades, fired from a bow with enough power to drive the head thru both sides of the deer he is simply toast if hit thru both lungs.

I didn't mean to leave out the heart shot, but it is the same principal, when the arrow pierces 2 chambers of the heart, the heart can no longer pump oxygenated blood to the brain, 12 seconds or so without oxygen to the brain and the end is near.

Just my 2c, I sort of chuckle about the debate about which broad head is best - "Heifer Dust"The real debate and answer IS which shot placement is best.

Pappy never lied to me.