That cannot be said enough!

I know too many guys that will stick an arrow back in the quiver after running it under the hose wheny they've shot it. Inexcusable.

Sharp blades make your big holes, but as was stated earlier some designs will lend themselves to bigger holes. Designs that push the skin in and stretch it before the blades cut will leave some gaping wounds. I believe the Slick Tricks do this as some of the holes I've seen them make are bigger than the blade diameter. The Rages do the same as do the Snypers. So, if you want a large hole make sure you do your homework on how sharp the blades are and how they will cut. If they are scalpel sharp and push then cut you will likely find yourself following some sopping wet blood trails.

What makes a good blood trail?? Here are a few things that come to mind for me.

1. 2 holes- Most important factor!
2. Shot placement. The height of the holes will be a big factor as well. High hits will take much longer to bleed out then a lower hit.
3. A very sharp head. Do the best you can or find someone else to get it right for you!
4. A bigger diameter broadhead is always nice but make damn sure its not to big for your setup or animal your shooting.
5. A forgotten factor- Learn how to pick up sign from blood trails. Whats your arrow look or smell like? The more you know about your arrow and blood trail the better your trail will be meaning you know where that animal is hit and thus chances of spooking it are allot less and your blood trail then should be much easier instead of jumping that animal and going on a wild goose chase!

BLOOD
I like low exit wounds so the blood doesn't pool in the chest cavity.

You are exactly Right Steve!! Entrance holes mean very little unless you don't have an Exit hole

If shot from an elevated position the exit hole is where your Blood trail will be coming from.

Dan

If #2 and #3 are taken care of ..... the rest will follow ....even #1 .... yaknow, Steve?

First, you need to cut a lot of blood vessels. This is shot placement and blade sharpness. (tho' the inner workings of a deer are not evenly vascularized, not even from one deer to the next. A halfinch one way or another can mean all the difference in catching a big artery or vein. This is why some lung/liver hits bleed like crazy and others don't.) I personally aim for the heart.

Second, you need holes for the blood to come out. Again shot placement. Low exits that aren't through gut or heavy muscle are the best. I personally aim for a heart area exit.

Did I mention shot placement and blade sharpness? (and aiming for the heart exit?) hee hee

Happily, most of my deer drop within sight. It makes me lazy on blood trailing, but I like it better.

Picture below is of the one deer that I didn't see drop last season. (a dorky 1.5 year old buck) He only went about 75 yards but the vegetation was pretty thick then. Anyhow, the blood trail was great.

(hole was made by a muzzy 125 grain 3-blade broadhead.... before anybody thinks I'm on the Rage bandwagon.)

It's all about blood vessels, veins, and arteries. The more stuff you cut from point a to point b, the quicker they will die.

I don't care one bit about an exit hole. I want to cut the most "soft" tissue as possible, and they won't go far regardless of what the bloodtrail looks like. I shoot a 1-3/4" cut mechanical for that reason - tons of damage - they are dead quick!

Good shot placement, plus a 1 1/2" or bigger exit hole.

I'd rather have one that not. Thats just me though.

I'd go as far to say that 2, 3, and 4 are done right #1 will then be there.