Happens to everyone,Last year I did that. I thought I got about three inches penitration but it was just blood from the impact that had sprayed three inches up on the arrow. Good luck and maybe you'll see her again.

That sucks Rory, hopefully you will find her this evening.

First, don't let it tear you down, it happens to everyone. Second, 3-5 inches of penetration is enough to kill her. Third, what type of head were you shooting?? Fourth, go back and get on your hands and knees and search where the last place you saw her.. I asked about the head because if it's a fixed blade then you know the blades are already open, if it's a mech they may only be open partially if you hit boe or cartledge, but it can still be lethal.

Thanks guys.
VA, I was shooting a Rage 3 blade, but that's changing. And trust me, I searched about a 100 yard radius on my hands and knees.

Tough luck, I hope it works out for you.

Do you know how much your current arrows weigh? The FOC? You may also want to consider a heavier arrow while thinking about changing your BH. It may be to late to change this year but I use heavy arrows with a high FOC for just the scenario you have described, hitting bone.

with minimal penetration it definitely sounds like shoulder knuckle... if you did have blood to near 5 inches the deer could be fatally hit...

As has been stated, 5 inches of penetration would be enough to kill her if it hit vitals. If your up and down was good but you were forward you probably hit her shoulder bone (not the shoulder blade which is easy to penetrate) but the actual bone. Its a tough bone to crack let alone get penetration afterwards if you break it. Now it you did hit that bone and didnt break through it, there is a chance your broadhead rode around the side of the bone five inches in and you punctured a vital. Gte back out there and look buddy.

Another, you've shot and practiced all summer, worked hard and now you are somewhat blaming your broadhead. If the shot was forward, thats not the broadheads fault. You know darn well you can shoot, so stick with your current head and you'll make that shot next time.

The more I look at the arrow, the more it looks like I only got 2 or 3 inches of penetration, with the blood just being sprayed on the arrow.
MNpurple, I'm not really trying to blame my broadhead at all, I just don't have that much confidence in the as of right now. Who knows, I might by tomorrow morning, but for now, I'm switching.

But anyway, here's the arrows..

In all honesty in all of the deer I have seen shot I cannot imaging that being fatal.....my 2 cents...

Listen here bud. Get that chin up. Now.

I agree with the others, it sounds like took a piece of the shoulder. Sometimes you can make a great shot and that happens. 3-5 inches is enough to slice up a lung.

Last year I double-lunged my buck. I didn't get a passthrough, but It went in up to the fletchings. It took me and my buddy and hour to find any blood, and I mean it was just specks. Another hour later, after searching on our hands and knees the entire time, we found him not 60 yards away. All the blood we saw wouldn't fill up a Dixie Cup.

Point is, don't give up. And if you do feel it wasn'tafatal hit, DO NOT let it get you down. Get right back in a treestand and go after them again. I mean, I missed the first 2 deer I ever shot at with a bow and I was devistated then, but I loved it through it all.

I see it like this. You've got experiance under your belt now. That is something that can't be bought, only learned. Go right back after them.

I won't be at the computer for the rest of the day so shoot me text if you get any updates.

Good luck man.

EDIT: Now that I can see the pic of the arrow, I don't think that is a fatal hit. I would say 95% that you lodged it in the shoulder, it broke off in there, and she ran off.

ANOTHER EDIT: She could very well be dead. My words are no expert advice. You never know sometimes

That's why they call it hunting