Missed a Big One! Lesson Learned...
 

Saturday Morning while on stand, I watched a nice non-typical make it's way across a large open field. He had a 10 point typical frame with matching 6" droptines. It's the 1st buck I've ever seen with matching droptines. He was heading towards a dry creek with sparse tree's. I had the creek-bed and the wind in my favor so I decided for a spot & stalk.

To make a long story short, about 500 yards later as I was about to come up the edge of the creek to ambush him, I hear a snort on the opposite side of the bank of where I thought the buck was at. So I climb of the bank, and there is doe. Knowing that I was busted, I turned around to the opposite side of the bank, and there is another doe and a buck. He was further but still within range at 35 yards away. I pull back, back nice clear land and a broadside shot, and let it fly.

I heard a loud noise from the shot, the deer runs off, and I realized a missed the shot. Wondering was happened, I went to recover my arrow, and find pieces of carbon scattered all over. Some in front of the deer, and others behind the deer 20 yards. I checkedthe nearby trees and brush but no evidence of hitting anything especially since it was a clear shot in the 1st place.

I came to the conclussion that my arrow must have had a defect in it andthe problem happened once it left the bow. Anyone have any other ideas? I normally use new arrows for hunting, but this time was the exception as my new arrows were packed away in a different place from a recent move.

Lesson Learned... Don't use practice arrows for hunting & check your arrows often. I'm just glad it didn't blow up in my face.

RE: Missed a Big One! Lesson Learned...
 

What shafts were you using? Ive been hearing a few stories of peoples shafts blowing up on them. I wonder if its a brand defect we all need to know about.

RE: Missed a Big One! Lesson Learned...
 

Is it possible the arrow hit the rack?? I know you are a great shot, but stuff happens.....I'm grabbing at about anything here, I've never heard of an arrow just "blowing up" in mid flight....And the fact that there were parts of the arrow both in front of, and behind, the deer......I don't know...

RE: Missed a Big One! Lesson Learned...
 

I've never heard of an arrow exploding while in flight, but stranger things have happened. I wonder if the defect caused it to fly erratically and then hit off the mark and explode. Anyway, it's too bad it cost you buck, but at least you weren't hurt.

RE: Missed a Big One! Lesson Learned...
 

Man I feel your pain I called in a 180"+ brute a week ago and rushed the shot and hit a branch, good thing it was a clean miss bad things is you may only get one shot at a trophy like that in a lifetime, I blew it.

RE: Missed a Big One! Lesson Learned...
 

I'm not sure where the arrow actually went asI somehow lost the arrow flight during the shot. I had a4-5 seconds during full-draw to settle down so I really doubt I would've beenvery faroff at 35yards. But anything's possible. It's the 1st time I've experience anything like this with an arrow. I couldn't find thefirst 2/3 rds of the arrow. Only the pieces with my white wrap and vanes were found. I'm using Easton Axis Arrows.

RE: Missed a Big One! Lesson Learned...
 

Man Joey, glad your not hurt or anything. Not sure what may have happened. Sounds like he was a bruiser though, I was almost right, i called you getting one this weekend ;)keep stabbin at it, it will happen.

RE: Missed a Big One! Lesson Learned...
 

I know.. You almost called that one! The good thing is that the buck wasn't too spooked. 5 minutes later he was eating in the wheat field before he made his way into some thick timber. Plus after watching him and looking at some of the video footage, he was probably only 3 1/2 maybe 4 1/2 years old... He still has some good potential.

RE: Missed a Big One! Lesson Learned...
 

I have confidence you will get it done soon;)you have very good past history :Djust have fun doin it ;)

RE: Missed a Big One! Lesson Learned...
 

i had that happen at a 3d shoot when my bow went out of whack...just barelllly grazed off a limb....blew up instantly...guess the way the arrow oscillates causes the blow up i had..

not a mark on the tree at all...just carbon fiber everwhere...some bigger, intact hunks, but it was scattered about...also made a loud noise...

could be possible??

i dont know that a carbon would blow up in flight...guess its possible...but if it makes it out of the bow, when the forces upon it are most likely the greatest(i dont know for sure) it should make it to the target...i think the initial start is rougher on an arrow than the oscilation as it flys is...could be a defect though and could been what happened...hard to say...