Hi everyone, I've been lurking for a while looking for a good forum, and I finally joined because I like the atmosphere on the board here. This will be my fourth bowhunting season and I'm switching from a fixed blade broadhead (Muzzy) to a mechanical (Spitfire) and I have a question for those who use mechanicals.

How often, if ever, have your arrows deflected off the deer because of the angle they hit at? For example, if a deer was perfectly broadside to you, lets call that zero degrees. If you're looking at the southern end of a northbound deer, lets call that 90 degrees. Ethical shots aside, at what point would your arrow deflect and not engage the blades?

Ken

In my experiences, a deflection can occur with mechanicals and fixed heads, but very-very rarely. If I can't see a good portion of the chest, I will wait for the shot, or pass!

I've shot about 12 deer with mechanicals, several at pretty hard quartering away shots, and they all resulted in short blood-trails. IMO - the "mechanical failure" is 99.9% operator excuse.....

A guy I know pretty well had one deflect on a quartering away shot on an antelope. The expandable hit near the last rib and somehow turned - wound up travelling along the hide outside the rib cage and went into the shoulder. After quite a wait, he was able to recover the animal about 3/4 of a mile away. Luckily, hit a major artery in the shoulder.

I had one hit a weed (tooth pick sized) change directions right before itstruck a turkey at 36 yards. Arrow still hit him in the back, but he got away. Later, watching the video in slow motion showed one of the blades grabbing the weed stem and the shaft turning just before impact.

I use to use Rocket Miniblasters. I've taken many deer with them. But I admit, I did have one doe that the broadhead just deflected off the ribcage.The angle was prety sharp. It did lay the deer open with a big gash down its side.

I tracked the deer an hour later and spotted it on the other side of a steep gully. It wasbedded but alive. After spending a minute watching it in the binoculars I decided to put another arrow in it.

I estimated the shot at 45yds. Centered the vitals between my 40 and 50 yard pin and shot. The deer just lay there with my green/yellow vaned arrow sticking out of its ribs. It must have been in shock because it didn't even react to being hit again. After a minute, it lowered its head and the tail started twitching.

I did take another deer at a sharp angle. The Rocket head did skid across a couple of ribs before entering and left a big entrance wound. This is a pic of that deer. Its been posted before.