What makes a good blood trail
 

I have been thinking alot about this lately, as I am changing my arrow/broadhead setup for this year. OBVIOUSLY, the biggest factor is shot location, but after that, what gives? What broadhead characteristics lend themselves to massive blood trails?

I am really interested to hear some others views on this subject. Blade sharpness? cutting diameter? cutting area? What effect does blade angle have, just whatever you want to throw out here.

Everyone is talking about the rage that cuts a 2" gash, but a Slick Trick Magnum has 1 1/8" x 1 1/8" which equals 2 1/4" of cutting surface. The ST has more cutting surface, but the rage has a wider "reach". Does it really matter?

RE: What makes a good blood trail
 

Not if they within sight.:eek:

RE: What makes a good blood trail
 

To answer your last question...in my opinion...it doesn't matter. IF you take out the lungs. The deer probably isn't leaving earshot anyway.

I shot Bear Razorheads for approzimately 25 years. They were great. If I hit the right spot, there was a blood trail that anyone could follow. Last year, the first with a new, fast bow, I switched to mechanicals. I shot 3 deer with it, and they all were great and SHORT blood trails.

My days with mechanicals are over now. I like the blades of the Muzzy's and also the toughness of them. I'll be shooting them this year.

I also think that luck plays a little factor in a perfect blood trail. By that...you cannot have some chunk of innard block the low hole on the animal...as that will impede bleeding.

RE: What makes a good blood trail
 

Pro-Line is dead on in my opinion, I don't have but 12 years of tracking animals....I have seen good trails and bad trails with every style head out there....I got turned on to mine by my buddies in 96', they have always performed on MY set up...I kinda live by the ol' saying "if it ain't broke don't fix it".....After shot placement, I personally like the bigger cutting heads 2 1/2" Vortexand I have my set up rigged up for this....Big heads are not for every set up....

RE: What makes a good blood trail
 

It's not the size, but what you do with it.:D

I have used Muzzy 3 blade 100gr and know that if I am off or the deer flinches and I hit bone the Muzzy will go throught it. I am know I get good flight and good penetration. I what a good exit wound to get the trail to follow. I hunt in think area's and we don't always get to see the deer go down and with a stream near by and running water, I don't always hear it either.

RE: What makes a good blood trail
 

good blood trail= lots of blood! :Dseriously though a well placed shot with a good broadhead should minimize your tracking!;)

RE: What makes a good blood trail
 

1" sharp blade will do better than a larger dull blade. Make sure the blades are sharp, no matter what broadhead you use. Even after you shoot your broadheads into your foam target a couple of times, you should touch them up with a stone to make sure they are razor sharp.

RE: What makes a good blood trail
 

But shot placement aside,since there are so many variables in it even on "good" shots...

A broadhead kills through several different mechanisms, all driven by hemorrage. More cutting area= faster bleeding = bigger blood trails, and shorter ones, hopefully. More cutting area can also have a negative impact on penetration depth, dependant on the broadheads design (COC vs Mech). But even on a big buck you only need about 14" of penetration for the broadhead to pass through the chest cavity on a broadside shot and leave an exit wound. Angles can be longer, sometimes much longer.

In my mind the most critical item for a blood trail is an exit wound, and for that you must get enough penetration, with a still functional head, to achievea pass-throughconsistently. But after that...

RE: What makes a good blood trail
 

Amen Howler, but I'll go one step more, if you shoot a broadhead ONCE, it's done unless you touch it up or change the blades. One shot and done no matter what, touch them up or change the blade, there is no excuses.

Obviously the number one factor is shot placement, every broadhead on the market will do the job when shot in the proper place. As to the orginal post, the Rage actually leaves a bigger than 2" entrance hole due to the way it opens at impact. I've seen holes as long as 3 inches cutting diameter with my 1.5" Snypers.

RE: What makes a good blood trail
 

That's really a pet peeve of mine!! If the Broadhead has been shot, Sharpen it, or Replace the Blades!! Period!!

Don't be a Lazy tightwad;)

Shot placement, sharp blades, big holes, all play a part in a great Blood trail. I prefer multi blade heads for more cutting and a hole versus a slit of a 2 blade. Probably makes little difference on Deer but some animals are more prone to plug cuts and a big hole is harder to plug than a slit.

Dan

RE: What makes a good blood trail
 

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.

RE: What makes a good blood trail
 

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!

RE: What makes a good blood trail
 

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

RE: What makes a good blood trail
 

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

RE: What makes a good blood trail
 

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

RE: What makes a good blood trail
 

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.) ;)

RE: What makes a good blood trail
 

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!

RE: What makes a good blood trail
 

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

RE: What makes a good blood trail
 

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

RE: What makes a good blood trail
 

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

RE: What makes a good blood trail
 

If your hunting from a tree the bottom hole is a great aid to finding any deer. And it means your shooting enough arrow to get the job done.:)

RE: What makes a good blood trail
 

You betchya!!:D:D:D

RE: What makes a good blood trail
 

X2

You Darn Tootin I want an exit hole!!

Dan

RE: What makes a good blood trail
 

Jim:

You're picking nits IMO.

Would you rather get stuck with a 2" knife in the chest.......all the way through to your back bone? Or......a 1" knife all the way through?

Either way.....you're bleeding. Except with the 2" gash.......you're bleeding 2X as much. The body cavity os NOT going to stop the blood from leaving the cut vessels......and that deer's gonna bleed out twice as fast.

Of course.......everyone ALWAYS gets pass-thrus, too, right?;)

Edit**

I just thought of something else......

NEVER have I (on a non-pass-thru shot) NOT found my arrow (or a piece of it) along the blood trail. I've never seen one do it, personally....but my guess is they pull it out with their mouths.....or bust it off on a tree. Still....I've never found one still in a deer. I've seen photos of them....and I've seen them on TV with the arrow still in them So I know it occurs)....but I've never personally witnessed it.

RE: What makes a good blood trail
 

No way!! Lets not forget when you have 2 holes your cutting much more then your 2" gash is with one hole. Have you ever tracked a high lung hit with one hole? Have you ever tracked a high lung hit with 2 holes? The 2 holer might save your ass in getting that deer because its got a bottom hole! I've seen it too many times not to believe it through out the years. One holers can be a bitch with high hits.

RE: What makes a good blood trail
 

Its all about a timely recovery and two holes make that process so much easier.

Yeah, you might get a quick kill and lots of damage with a 2" hole that didn't penetrate both sides, but if the deer goes in thick brush and there is littleor no blood trail.....well good luck in consistently finding that deer in shortorder when it is early season and 80 degrees, even if the deer only went a short distance.

You got it right Shultzy. A complete pass through is first and foremost when answering "What makes a good blood trail?"

RE: What makes a good blood trail
 

Jeff I'm not nit picking anything , I have not shot a deer in the last ten years that has made it out of my sight before dying. I lied one did.
I shoot them close (under 20 Yrd's) with 125 grain thunderheads. I have shot them facing me, broadside, quartering away and every way in between ,I'm not picky on shot angles.
I shot 62lbs with heavy arrows and the results are measured by how far my arrow sticks into the earth on the other side of the deer.
Never had one not go Thur and bury into the earth.
Just maybe you are not doing something right.;)

RE: What makes a good blood trail
 

Sounds like you are out there to Git-R-Done!!

Dan

RE: What makes a good blood trail
 

Aim for the main artery.. No I'm kidding.. don't.. But that will give you one heck of a blood trail..
Has anyone seen the whitetail madness from Drury Brothers, #10 I think.. Chapter 16 some guy shoots a brute from Wis. and actually makes a bad shot high and back but he tags the main artery... It just looks like someone throws buckets of blood out of this deer.. It is with a rage 2 blade but I think anything would cause that..

But really, double lung will leave good trails.. A bigger hole is better I guess.. I use the strikers and get good blood.. Might try a rage 2 blade but who knows..

RE: What makes a good blood trail
 

I would always want 2 holes! and with todays bows that is much easier to accomplish.

With that being said I would prefer a large entrance hole in case I don't get a passthrough (things happen)which makes it much easier to get a bloodtrail with the big entrance hole.

RE: What makes a good blood trail
 

I Agree I want a Big entrance and a Big exit hole. If all you got is a high entrance hole (typical of a close tree stand shot) It can still be a while before you have much of a blood trail.

The toughest Blood Trails I've ever helped on were hits with ahigh entrance hole and No exit hole.

Gut shots can be tough too if you don't know what you are dealing with. If you know it's a gut shot, get out of there and Wait, Wait, Wait!!;)

Dan

RE: What makes a good blood trail
 

Exactly Dan! Why people beat around the bush with this subject is beyond me.

RE: What makes a good blood trail
 

I thought thisseemed to make a pretty good blood trail. ;)

RE: What makes a good blood trail
 

Damn Greg I can't wait to go on a blood trail come September when Minnesota's bear season starts. Great pic!!

RE: What makes a good blood trail
 

I think some of you guys are thinking about a whitetail's body being a large container of pooled blood. If that were the case.......sure....that second hole is "more" important.

We all (God I'm hoping)know that just isn't the case. The circulatory system is madeup of arteries, veins and capillaries that WILL bleed, if cut. So I go back to the question.....would you rather be cut with a 2" knife blade that stuck you all the way through from your chest to your backbone (no exit hole)......or be stuck with a 1" knife blade all the way through?

2X the cutting.....andyou're bleeding, either way. The trail "might" (might not) be easier to follow on the 1' pass thru......but science tells me it'll probably be a shorter track.....when 2X the trauma is inflicted.

The internet's cool this way, though. Nobody has ever lost a deer.....and we all bought magnums as teens.;)

RE: What makes a good blood trail
 

That's an interesting question. I'd take the 1" knife BTW.

Another question would be would you rather be stuck with a double edged 2" blade, or a 4 edged 1 1/8" blade. The 2" blade will leave a wider cut, but the 4 1 1/8" blades will be cutting more tissue.

RE: What makes a good blood trail
 

I always found the damn things too tight.

RE: What makes a good blood trail
 

Jeff you just don't get it man! Trust me, 2 holes is better any day of the week then your almighty 2" single hole. Your kick on these Rage's is fine but don't try to tell me a one hole Rage hole is better then a 2 hole using a decent size 1 1/4 broadhead. I've been on a ton of blood trails through out the years and know this. This is not rocket science! Its common sense.

This is just you defending the Rage again. Gets real old! Where did someone knock the Rage in this thread? I didn't see it.

RE: What makes a good blood trail
 

I've seen stated here several times not to get a broadhead to big (cutting area) for your setup, which I do believe in very much. So how do you know when you are going too big?

I shoot a lower energy setup and am trying to find the right balance between cutting area and penetration. I shoot a Bowtech Tomkat at 60 lbs and 28" draw. It will be a 400 grain arrow at around 250 fps. In the past I have shot thunderheads and 4 blade stingers, but am seriously wanting to try Slick Tricks this year. My initial thought was the magnums, but am second guessing myself into the standards. I don't know if my setup has what it takes to push the magnums on deer. My hog broadheads are the old faithful Magnus II two blade, 1 1/4" cut. No penetration issues there:D. Thoughts on this?

RE: What makes a good blood trail
 

Slick Tricks would be fine also. If your getting good penetration with your 2 blades on hogs you'll be fine with them on anything. Magnus makes other heads as well if your looking to up your cutting diameter some. I shoot the 125 grain 3 blade Snuffers. They also have an 1 1/4 diameter and there a 3 blade Cut On Contact just like the Magnus II 2 blade is.

Don't hesitate on trying a Slick Trick if you want to switch it up, good head from what I've heard.:D