I think that current medical wisdom actually finds that clots form better, quicker and easier on rough cut tissue, and that razor cuts bleed more freely and longer.  In addition, a sharp head will cause less initial trauma to the animal and very likely cause less flight response, resulting in a shorter blood trail.

Doc, you can have a very rusty head but a very sharp, keen, rust free edge.
ChuckC

QuoteOriginally posted by ChuckC:
I think that current medical wisdom actually finds that clots form better, quicker and easier on rough cut tissue, and that razor cuts bleed more freely and longer.  In addition, a sharp head will cause less initial trauma to the animal and very likely cause less flight response, resulting in a shorter blood trail.

Doc, you can have a very rusty head but a very sharp, keen, rust free edge.
ChuckC

Thanks on both counts, Chuck.

I've read so much on here how a clean cut will stick together and not bleed, which has some merit, UNTILL the organism MOVES. Then the wound opens and bleeds.  Can't control for how much fat layer is under the hide that might BLOCK the holes and impeded bleeding to the outside...  And indeed, blood clotting platelets cling to rough edges forming clots quicker, but facts don't often change long-held opinions.  That and deer are so packed full of Vitamin K from eating green leafy vegetation all summer/early fall, that they'll clot well. Natures way of withstanding the rigors of rut fighting I guess... Since not God, that last part of cause is a guess!

Thanks, too, Chuck on the tip RE: rusty but still sharp edge! I guess growing up with a German cabinet maker father, ones tools were never allowed to remain rusty even if the unthinkable happened and they got wet/rusty--- Coke was the solution of choice to take rust off tools!

I can only think that rust, being rough, would slow penetration more then something smooth, so I keep my heads clean.

Good input.  Glad the OP found what he was looking for.

You ought to see where store bought meat comes from. You would delight in a bit of rust in your deer.

Doc, I hear ya and agree with your words.  I also work with carving wood, and I had better not find any rust on any part of my tools, not just the edge.  But... really.....if you think about it, does it all REALLY matter ?

I don't know.

If I hit a deer where I am supposed to, it won't last 15 seconds.  Now, a hard running deer can go a long way in 15 seconds... but none the less, sharp, kinda sharp, platelets, vitamins, fibrinogen all that stuff hasn't even started to deploy yet in 15 seconds.  

Not so great hits, well, different story, I still think sharper and smoother is better, for those reasons posted above, including the trauma thing.

Oh, I'll try that Coke trick, thank you.

I've heard it before, but never actually tried it out.
Chuck

x2 chuck and Doc Noc    
from what i have read in the past- the natural coagulant that is released is proportional to the surface damage. ie: a smooth clean cut from a scalpel will proportionately release a lot less coagulant, than a jagged and abraded cut/damage- say like a deep graze or a cut from a blade that does more tearing and ripping than slicing.

remember how a shallow cut from a glass sliver will bleed profusely, where as even a deep graze does not bleed nearly the same proportionately.

I simply sharpen the broadhead  reguardless of make and use a magic marker to color them out black or red  the thin coating helps prevent rust and makes for a slick broadhead!
Enjoy your successes! Jacques