Narrow broadhead question

Mitch Edwards · September 15, 2016, 12:05:00 PM

First let me say I'm not looking for why this broadhead is better than that one I'm just looking for personal experiences with narrow broadheads. Preferably 2 blades. The reason I ask is because I've been listening to a pod cast about broadheads and in it the guy talks about how with narrow heads animals don't usually run as far. Especially if bone isn't hit. Kinda makes since to me because they would feel less shock. I wanna know if that statement holds any water so anyone with stories to back that up I would like to hear them. Again please no arguments about different broadheads

Shadowhnter · September 15, 2016, 12:37:00 PM

I shot a very large bodied buck last year with a lightweight recurve, and a grizzly broadhead at 17 yards. The deer causually trotted about 10 steps, then slowed and walked out 30 yards and fell over and started kicking. I dont think he even knew he was in trouble, but had no inclination I existed when I shot. I got lungs and heart.

Bob B. · September 15, 2016, 01:22:00 PM

One of my first bow kills, I shot a doe and got one lung and the liver. The arrow had a narrow broad head that was extremely sharp. The doe jumped a step, looked around, arched her back, and licked the exit wound ... no ribs touched. She walked about 60 steps, and laid down. She looked around - laid her head down ... looked up again, laid her down and she was gone. She never acted like she was hit and bleed out rapidly, going to for ever sleep without spooking. Broad head was about 1 inch wide by 2 3/4 inches long. Not much of a blood trail, she bleed almost all inside, but I watched her go down and she never moved.

Bob.

TOEJAMMER · September 15, 2016, 02:13:00 PM

Shot a 5 point bull elk a number of years ago with a wood arrow and a 160 grain Grizzly out of a 66# longbow. It was complete pass through got both lungs. He flinched slightly and continued grazing for another 20 yards and fell over.

Gordon Jabben · September 15, 2016, 02:18:00 PM

That has been my experience. Sometimes the deer doesn't seem to even know anything is wrong. I can't compare it to a wide short broadhead because I have never used them. Always had good luck with a Howard Hill style broadhead.

Mitch Edwards · September 15, 2016, 02:57:00 PM

One of the reasons I ask is because I'll probably get out on some public land this year and I won't be able to get close to a deer with my truck like I do on private land I hunt. The last thing I want is for a deer to run 100+ yards in the wrong direction. I have some grizzly heads in the same weight as the heads I was planning on hunting with but if this seems to be the general consensus then on the public I may shoot the grizzlys instead. Please keep the experiences coming

Bob B. · September 15, 2016, 03:07:00 PM

If you know how to get Grizzly heads sharp, they are a super broadhead to use.

Bob.

Mitch Edwards · September 15, 2016, 05:02:00 PM

File and a leather belt and I can get them really sharp

September 15, 2016, 05:22:00 PM

It all comes down to blood trails for me. Narrower 2 blades tend to not leave as good of a blood trail as wider ones.

In all the years I have been bowhunting, and all the deer I have shot, I have only ever had one that acted like it had no clue what happened. The rest all acted with the panic that you would expect after an object went thru their body.

I can also tell you this from experience. I use, and am a big proponent of the String tracker. I have found that deer will go a little farther when a string tracker is used, but that little extra is OK with me because I have a tracking aid that will lead me right to it. I believe that because they can feel the string that it makes them panic a little more.

Bisch

katman · September 15, 2016, 05:42:00 PM

Of the many deer that I have taken with the bow only one reacted very little, two bounds stop look around and fall over, 2 blade zwickey delta hit no ribs in chest cavity. No bone hit I think was the key. I also prefer a bigger hole for more blood like Bisch because we have some thick stuff here in SC.

The deer Bisch hunts will jump at the sound of a leaf hitting the ground in Texas, can you say wired, lol

Mitch Edwards · September 15, 2016, 08:11:00 PM

Ok so with a mixed bag of answers do you all think it just comes down to the animals mindset? And not necessarily the width of the object being pushed through it?

stalkin4elk · September 15, 2016, 08:33:00 PM

In general, they seem to run farther "all out haulin" when the arrow is flopping around in their peripheral vision. Seems like on pass through hits (with the arrow on the ground) they slow down the sprint sooner plus there are two drain holes. Exceptions and different situations always.

katman · September 15, 2016, 08:41:00 PM

Relaxed critter, no bone hit, sharp broad head will all aid in less fright, extra width would increase chance for bone/rib hit.

On the other hand, cut a big wide hole and it should bleed out quicker all else being equal.

Get a deer cart to make the trip out easy and don't worry about it.

Shadowhnter · September 15, 2016, 09:35:00 PM

Honestly, Ive had more deer die in my sight, then ive had to track. However those mainly all were good solid double lung hits broadside. Its the less then perfect hit that generally makes me track, and those times I hit the opposite leg/shoulder. Im so use to watching my deer lay down, or tip over, I start to panic a little when they do run off. I think there are a lot more things come in to it then just the broadhead.

Bvas · September 15, 2016, 09:41:00 PM

I think sharpness has more to do with it than size of head.

Ever cut yourself with a razor sharp knife, and not know it, except for the fact that you were bleeding?

Mitch Edwards · September 15, 2016, 09:50:00 PM

Thank you all for your thoughts and not turning this into a big vs small head thread.

Katman I may just get a cart this year. Only problem is the land I'm talking about is strip mined conservation land here in sw Missouri. Not sure if any of you are familiar with the terrain of what's left after mining but what is left is long rows of mounds of dirt. Sometimes 30+ feet high. They are about 20 yards or so across and spaced out with maybe 50 yards peak to peak. Some are half mile or more long. All overgrown with timber and brush of course. Not really a place I want a deer goin deeper into. A cart would make it easier for sure but still rough goin. All part of the adventure I reckon

robertson · September 16, 2016, 03:20:00 AM

i think we all have stories like that :

shot a whitetail doe with a grissly head going right throught lungs , just a little jump, she stops fews yards away, looks around , starts to loose balance then felt down , kicking air .

Michael Arnette · September 16, 2016, 03:38:00 AM

I have had the same experience with more efficient bheads...grizzly heads are my favorite and leave a great blood trail

Friend · September 16, 2016, 05:56:00 AM

Are you confused now?

Smaller width 2B broadheads only kill them half aa dead.

Mitch Edwards · September 16, 2016, 08:57:00 AM

Lol definitely confused. I think I may go for narrow on public land. Just in case