Why did this deer expire so fast?
 

I shot a 90-95 ish pound button thinking it was a doe on Sunday afternoon. The arrow hit one lung and sliced the heart then paralyzed its right front leg. It dropped right there, kicking twitching and thrashing for about 2 minutes then expired.

Now, the reason why this surprises me is because deer have been known to run a hundred yards on a one lung plus heart shot. Do you guys thinkthis one didn't run at all maybe because it was still a baby and just didn't have that physical toughness yet?

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RE: Why did this deer expire so fast?
 

Actually a deer will live about30 seconds after a clean double lung or a heart shot. When the heart is hit it will stop beating, the deer will/can only run as long as the oxygen in his blood will support consciousness.

This willrun out in about 15-30 seconds or less depending on how much oxygen was in the system at the time of the hit or if the deer had just been sleeping, running, feeding,etc...

Same with a double lung, without oxygen a running deer only has seconds before it's supply is exhausted causing it to black out then die.

The thing some folks don't realize is that a deer can cover hundreds of yards in 15-30 seconds!

RE: Why did this deer expire so fast?
 

2 minutes is actually pretty slow.Deer shot through the heart shoulddie within seconds.

Was it a sharp angled shot? (just curious if you nicked the spine)

RE: Why did this deer expire so fast?
 

There is no way I could have sat there watching it for 2 minutes, I would have had a second arrow in it seconds after the first one.

My heart shot buck expired in a mere 10 seconds at most, went 50 yards max. 2 minutes is a LONG time. I'm surprised you didn't shoot it again.

RE: Why did this deer expire so fast?
 

Oh I did, but it didn't seem to help speed the process along any. He was moving around so much that my second arrow missed and split a sapling then the third and final arrow I had hit him in the neck.

RE: Why did this deer expire so fast?
 

Just to be a pain, but not all heart shots will cause the heart to stop beating. ;)

Deer shot through the heart/lungs and big arteries usually go down so quickly because they have a massive drop in blood pressure. This is why deer shot through the femoral artery, dorsal aorta and renal arteriescan go down as fast as double lunged deer. Lack of blood flow/oxygen to the brain is what kills the deer. Lack of blood pressure is what causes deer to black out within seconds.

This is your physiology lesson for the day. [&:]

RE: Why did this deer expire so fast?
 

the way it sounds is that the rut is on in NY yahoooo

RE: Why did this deer expire so fast?
 

It has been my experience that a good chest shot will normally put a deer down within 10-15 seconds. In fact, I would venture that 15 seconds even is a pretty long time for a normal chest shot.

RE: Why did this deer expire so fast?
 

Makes sense now that you guys and gals put it into perspective. The arrow did not pass through the center of the heart. It put a big slice down the length of the side of it along with one lung taken out.Gee and to think I thought 2min was short. Those 2min though coveredto the point when the deer was motionless and not twitching or spasming anymore.

Oh Christine you were right about the steep angle suspicion. I was 15 feet up a tree that was 15 feet up from the bottom of a valley created by 2 adjoining ridge formations. The button came through the center of the 2 ridges. I didn't nick the spine though.

RE: Why did this deer expire so fast?
 

Lol Christine! Good stuff!

RE: Why did this deer expire so fast?
 

Its not the spine that paralizes a deer, its the spinal cord underneath the spine. Just litteraly touching the spinal cord will paralize a deer!

RE: Why did this deer expire so fast?
 

Just a little tip for the future, you can tell right away just from the face whether it is a yearling or not so you can let them grow. Yearlings have shorter faces than does and are smaller.

RE: Why did this deer expire so fast?
 

BigJ71 Wrote:
I thought I was clear about the "clean shot";)

But you arecorrect Christine and I suspect that's what happened in this case, the heart was nicked and only onelung punctured, thus the long time (relatively speaking) to expire.

RE: Why did this deer expire so fast?
 

I dont think anyone has really addressed the actual question here, instead debating how long it normal takes for the deer to 'expire'. Looks to me like the OP was more concerned about why he dropped the deer (meaning normally they take off running)....

I dont have any answers for you, but I have dropped a deer in the same manor. Actually it was my first, a small doe (yearling maybe, or fawn, not really sure). Dropped it where I shot it pretty much, and like yours it did some unpleasant kicking and such. Not sure if it was 2 minutes, it did seem like a long time. But 30 seconds equates to about 5 minutes in situations like that.... I to did attempt a second shot, which was a good hit, but didnt seem to help. I think my dad slapped me for wasting a second arrow with a deer that was on the ground. [:@]

RE: Why did this deer expire so fast?
 

I've had heart/lung shot deer run 30-40 yards and fall over dead. I know that a deer can run a 40 faster than any NFL player ( even BigJ71 ), so that's about 4 seconds. However, when I tell people how fastit died I usually say 10 seconds also.

RE: Why did this deer expire so fast?
 

Just out of curiosity, what type of broadheads were you using?

RE: Why did this deer expire so fast?
 

I used to say this, but have found sometimes not a smart move. If I see on motionless, I let em be. I have seen people arrow again, just to have it disturbed, jump up and run and run. Where if one would have left it alone, it would have probably relaxed and died.

RE: Why did this deer expire so fast?
 

could have hit a bone or nerves

RE: Why did this deer expire so fast?
 

I have double lunged deer that will live for only 10 sec after the shot broadheads are more lethal than a shotgun

RE: Why did this deer expire so fast?
 

Sounds like a fairly routine kill to me. The deer dropped because of the shoulder wound. It was unable to regain it's feet because of the blood pressure loss. I've never been fortunate or skilled enough to drop and kill one on the spot like that, however I've "spined" a few. It's frustrating when you put another arrow in them and there's no reaction whatsoever. Once or twice I've gotten excited and emtied my quiver on a spined deer. Times you look back on and laugh.

RE: Why did this deer expire so fast?
 

3 blade Muzzy's, the exit wound was ridiculously gaping at about the size of a cue ball.

RE: Why did this deer expire so fast?
 

Who knows. Ive had them die on the spot with out a wiggle. Ive also had them run over 100 yards with both lungs gone andtheheart sliced through. I think it has to do with how they feel before the shot. If they are comfortable, they tend to take a few steps and die. If they are tense, they will bolt.

RE: Why did this deer expire so fast?
 

i think bigj71 is right on it think about how long you could run while your holding your breath not long at all