Broken Arrow in Deer
 

I have found that if I wait long enough someone will usually post the question, in some form, that I would like to know the answers to. However this has not seem to come up or if it did I missed it.

To set up my question, this will be my first year of bow hunting. My setup is possibly my problem. I have pulled the muscle or something in my upper left arm so I can only pull, with somewhat ease, 57 pounds on my Hoyt Cyber. If it matters I will be shooting alum Easton arrows with muzzy 100 grain BH.

Now my question, let's say your shoot a deer and you see the arrow go into the deer. No pass through. You find either at the point of impact or later while trailing the deer the back portion of the arrow.

After you find the deer you still have not found the front portion of the arrow. You know that portion with that razor sharp BH. When gutting a rifle shot deer, you don't worry about the bullet. If you find it great, take it home and weigh it.

Again, assuming you don't know if that broad head is in the deer or not. How do you go about gutting this potentially "dangerous" dead deer.

As you can tell, I am assuming that I will possibly not get a pass through. But either way, I haven't seen a question like this posted. Just curious what you experts have done in this situation.

RE: Broken Arrow in Deer
 

You be very, very careful. After the shallow incision down the belly, pull the stomach and intestines out, grabbing only what pops out where you can see it. Then roll the deer on it's back and have a good look around. No real easy way to do it, go slow and be careful.

"In heaven, even the fish have antlers"

RE: Broken Arrow in Deer
 

First of all with what you have stated your set up to be I would say you have plenty to kill a deer. A pass through is not always because that person has a high draw weight it has alot to do with where you hit on the deer and how many bones you hit on the way through. I have only had one pass through in all the time I have hunted. My set up is 66 pound draw on a buck saber bow beaman carbons and 100 grain muzzy fixed head. Second you just have to watch what you are doing when you start to field dress. When you get to the hit area you should be able to find the rest of the arrow assuming that it didn't work its way out.

RE: Broken Arrow in Deer
 

SW Iowa Hunter is right. If you dont get a complete pass through, it is almost always because your broadhead encountered bones. The opposite front leg is ussually the culprit. Your bow could go through two deer. A 40 lb bow is capable of getting a complete pass through on deer sized game so 57 is obviously enough. I shoot a 45lb and get many pass throughs. I have also had many many heads still stuck in the animal. Some times the arrow is still protruding out an inch or so. You can always unscrew the broadhead. Just when you gut the deer, be careful when you reach into the chest cavity. carefully feel around for the head. Most likely, it's stuck in the other arm outside of the rib cage. If you hit the bone on the entry side, then the broadhead might be stuck dead in the ribcage. All you have to do is look for it. It's very hard to get cut by one. Especially if you have allready thought about the situation. If the arrow is inside, it will be very easy to see.

Nic

RE: Broken Arrow in Deer
 

I agree with what everyone has said. I've had several pass throughs with my first bow, at 52#. If its well tuned with sharp broadheads and you hit them in the right spot, no problem, straight through. DW

RE: Broken Arrow in Deer
 

You hit the off side shoulder or something it might not go through... but just look and you'll know about where it is. Just be careful. It's no big deal. At night... you be really really careful.... and then you cut yourself.<img src=icon_smile_sad.gif border=0 align=middle>

RE: Broken Arrow in Deer
 

need to be careful even if you did get a pass thru. i have had several deer that had old heads in them .if you split the breast bone all the way up you can dress your deer without really having to put your hands in the chest cavity

[Deleted]
 

[Deleted by Admins]

RE: Broken Arrow in Deer
 

Watching for broadheads in deer is something that is a good idea to always be on the look out for, I have heard through the years of several people finding broadheads in deer they shot with rifles. The muscle & fat of the deer just grew around the broadhead. As far as in the dark, a good flashlight should be a part of everyones bow gear. I prefer the mini-mag light. There are too many movement shooters out there to be bumping around in the dark while going and coming from stands, its a good idea to always use a light or glowstick when coming and going to your stand in darkness.

RE: Broken Arrow in Deer
 

That happened to me a couple of years ago-I shot a 5pt a little far forward and put the arrow thru his left shoulder blade.I found the back half of the arrow about 30yds from where I shot.The buck was only 10yds farther.I had him hanging to clean him out and reached up very carefully to cut the windpipe out and felt the front part of the shaft with the Zwickey embedded in the far blade.I knew it was still in him because I didn't find an exit hole.So if you don't find 2 holes in it,be careful and take your time.