Good morning. The rut here in west central Ohio has been non-existent until this morning. I had the best morning in recent history, seeing four separate P & Y bucks, all seeming to be after the same hot doe. I had a 150 class eight -point come in and shot him at 30 yards. I hardly had time to react because from the time I saw him to the time I shot was about 30 seconds. Here's the kicker. I watched him walk into a thicket about 50 yards away and that's the last I saw him. When I got down to find my arrow, what I found was not good, at least in my opinion. The hit looked good, maybe back in the breadbasket a bit further than I would have liked. My arrows are 26 1/2 inches long. My arrow penetrated 11/ 1/2 inches and then broke off. There is blood running down the shaft, but the vanes ar clean. If I hit in the vital area which I am 90% sure of, is 11 /1/2 inches of penetration enough to kill this deer? I didn't see any blood where I shot him, and I got out as quickly as I could so I would not push him at all. I figure I may give him until tomorrow morning, but am scared because of the coyotes. I'm just not so sure I killed him and that makes me sick. Any opinions? I just don't know why I didn't get a pass through. Maybe I hit a rib? Any ideas on this situation, please let me know. Thanks.

I'd give him until this afternoon. If you hit him like you said that's enough to kill him. Your not seeing blood because of the angle. He'll bleed internally. You should be able to find where he has laid down. Hopefully he won't be getting back up. If he did there will be a pile of blood where he did. If you do jump him this afternoon back off until morning.

I'd also give him until this afternoon, but it sounds like you've got yourself a buck. If the broadhead is in the animals vitals it's not the worst thing to not get a pass through, when he moves the arrow should be cutting him up inside. You may not have a great blood trail to follow due to the arrow plugging the hole but I'd bet you'll be posting your bucks picture in the not too distant future!

11 1/2 inches is certainly enough to kill a deer. So much however hinges on the angle of that penetration. I have seen less penetration take out an animal and I have seen complete pass throughs where the animal lives to be hunted another day. If your description is accurate, my guess is, there is a dead buck laying in your hunting area.

Good luck.

I am just curious as to where ya hit the deer.You said you had 11.5 inches left of the remaining shaft,is it possible it was a quarting shot and the shaft hit the far side of the shoulder blade.If thats the case then I wouldent expect the deer to go to far,im sure you will find him.Like the others stated,give it till the late afternoon or morning and you will recover him.

Good advice above. What angle did you hit him? A rib will not stop an arrow's penetration like that. The arrow breaks the ribs and keeps on going. My biggest buck had a similiar situation with about half the arrow sticking out as he ran off. Due to the height of the shot I caught the spine as the arrow entered and that is why mine did not pass through. It did its job though and I watched him fall 60 yards from my stand.

Good luck!

You should get him. That's plenty of penetration and will do the trick. Go to where you saw him last and post some pics when you find him!

11 1/2 inch's is good ,most likely you've hit a rib.I wouldn't expect him to go too far ,as long as you never pushed him he'll look to lie down as soon as he can ,Good luck finding him and hopefully the coyotes don't beat you to him .Let us know how you make out finding him .

nubo

I went out this afternoon after giving the deer 6 1/2 hours to bleed out. I went to the spot where I last saw him and there he layed 20 yards away on a trail. He wnt about 65 yards. The shot was quartering towards and I hit him at such an angle that I blew out his one lung. I admit, a little groung shrinkage from what I first thought, but you won't hear any complaints here. I am thrilled to pieces. 10 point, possible 130's. I'll post a pic when I get one.

Thanks for all the advice. It surely helped me get through the day!

Good luck!

all the deer i have shot this year have not been pass threws but i have just watched them run off and i get down check for blood then always leave it lay for atleast 4 hours and i have had no problem finding them as long as you konw where the last place you saw him you should be able to find some blood between there and where you shot

good luck finding him i will be waiting for the pictures