Congrats on the kills. Too bad about the loss. Maybe we can all learn from that. What kind of broadhead were you using? If it was a mechanical perhaps it didn't open. (Or, was it further back from the heart than you thought?) I've gone to Slick Trick magnums for that reason. Getting great flight and terminal performance. As for noise, there isn't much you can do...except throw money at it. That will help a little bit but nothing like a properly silenced compound vertical. Heavier strings and bolts do help some, tho. By the sound of things the noise is bothering you more than the deer, however.