That about raps up the way I see it!
Could not have sead it any better!

Well, obviously there are good and bad to both, aren't there. I would rather have a pass through, but, IMO, if you hit the animal in the boiler room, it don't really matter. Circumstances are what make the good good, and the bad bad. If the arrow had stayed in, you may not have found it either. Who knows, but it does stink, no doubt about that.

I believe the pass through theory also. I think people think with the arrow staying in will make up for a bad hit..

I shot quite a few animals back in the 70's where I didn't get a pass through. Since then, most have been pass through. My personal experience tells me that when the arrow stays in (assuming a decent hit), the animal goes down quicker. The passthrough definitely leaves a better bloodtrail, and it better, because most will have to be trailed a bit further. With a good hit, either is deadly. With a poor hit, I'd prefer the broadhead to stay in, but if you're lacking in tracking skills, then you probably would prefer a passthrough.

i've been around elk long enough to know they ain't little dogs,, i would not recommend a pass through,,you need something large and heavy enough to stay within them to grind away those vitals to get them to rid themselves as much blood as possible, they can and can clot and replenish a quart of blood in an hours time (on the run) when hit in a non vital area.

about 6-7 year ago I took a guy with me elk hunting. We had a morning like no other - I had 5 bulls bugling to me at the same time. We slipped in to where they were and I heard him shoot. I could still see 3 bulls, but try as I may I could not get a shot and finally they all drifted back into the timber. The guy said he double lunged a decent 5x5, and we started the trail. Very sparse blood, very steep area we were in and after maybe 200-300 yards the trail petered out. I knew the area fairly well and went ahead of him and told him to keep on the trail, I'd just try and go to the more likely areas that bull would go.

About 1/4 mile, maybe a 1/2 mile from where I left him I cut the trail of that bull. I didn't have blood - just fresh tracks, a bit erratic in the way the bull was walking and it just made sense. I slipped to within 30 yards of that bull. He was very much alive. The fool had shot him at a hard quartering to angle took out a lung I'm guessing and the arrow didn't exit. Blood all over this bull on one side though. Anyway, I took the shot, and probably the prettiest arrow flight I've ever watched and nailed him. Incredibly, this bull was standing on a rock outcropping, and when he fell, he dropped several hundred feet straight down. Damndest thing I ever saw and likely will ever see.

Anyway, my point is that on this bull, the shot was terrible and the arrow didn't exit and IMO that made it worse. No blood trail, not an immediately fatal hit .......... bad situation all around and a lot of luck involved that I found the bull and killed him.

I would be willing to bet my next elk hunt that it wasn't a double lung hit! I agree with all that has been said, the only way to go is a pass through. If your bull went a mile like you said and you did in fact wait one hour? You never said anything about finding frothy (sp?) blood. Also what color was the blood on the arrow if it was a lung hit you would have found frothy blood on the ground and arrow. I almost wonder if you hit lungs at all. Remember your eyes can decieve you, especialy when you are very excited. And a bull elk will make most hunters excited. You say that the arrow went through real quick? I do wonder and would bet that the shot was a little far back, maybe a liver hit. That area wouldn't slow the arrow down one bit either! I am sorry that you lost your meat, that sucks nothing better than a good piece of elk meat. Chalk it up a a learning experience! Good luck.

I'd rather pass through then have an arrow hang up in the animal. Odds are better for a good blood trail if there is nothing blocking the enterance or exit holes.

I agree with the others on getting a pass through. I want that arrow to help me determine what kind of hit it is. If it is a less than perfect hit I will know from the arrow to wait and for how long before taking up the trail. This fact alone has recovered more deer than most likely would have without that information. Also, someone mentioned animals going down faster with an arrow in them. The deer I have had passthroughs on with a good shot rarely make it outside of 60 yards so I don't know how much faster it can be. If it's not a good shot there usually isn't much to stop the arrow. The last deer I shot without a pass through was on a sharp quartering away shot that caught the back of the near lung and center punched the far lung lodging in front of the far shoulder. The deer ran farther than just about all of my other double lung hit deer and didn't leave a drop of blood. We were very fortunate to find her. I'll take a passthrough any day.

I see the point made about the arrow being left in the animal. I prefer a pass through. Easier on the arrows. I like to get a lot of life out of a shaft, before throwing it out. Ive never had a problem finding an animal with a pass through.