I posted  another thread of this hunt  but wanted to post a new topic to get some opinions on what happened with the result of this shot.

This doe was shot from a ground blind. The shot was at 23 yards. The deer was slightly quartering away. The blind is just in from the edge of a cut corn field and is at a slightly lower elevation than the field (maybe a couple feet at the most). The shot was clear with no possibility of brush affecting the arrow flight.

The arrow entered the deer about mid body height wise (see pic)



Upon entering the deer, the arrow went right up into the spine (see pic)



The angle that the arrow took after entering the deer just seems way to steep of an upward angle for the slight uphill elevation that was shot... I am not complaining about the result of the shot, just want to get some opinions on what you think may have caused this?

When the arrow first struck the deer I thought "Beautiful!" but then she went straight down! I really could not believe it...

What do you think?

maybe the angle of the blade crossing the rib pushed the arrow upward on entry.  Awesome shot. Congrats on the freezer trophy.

All I can say is that I have seen weirder. However that is very strange. God Bless you and have a great evening, Steve

Just goes to show that deer are not made of closed cell foam.

She most likely was dropping and rolling away at the sound of the shot causing the arrow to enter mid body and hit the spine.  Her body position most likely had changed during the shot.

I think talltines nailed it....droping and rolling at the shot.

QuoteOriginally posted by talltines:
She most likely was dropping and rolling away at the sound of the shot causing the arrow to enter mid body and hit the spine.  Her body position most likely had changed during the shot.

I thought of that too... I just don't recall noticing any reaction like that, I have had that happen before and I have noticed at the shot that the deer moved. I guess it is possible that she could have moved just enough that this could have happened...

I am going to be butchering her tomorrow so I will get a better look at the entrance, it will be interesting to see if it looks like it could have glanced off of a rib or if the probable explanation is the start of a drop/roll like TallTines stated.

Did you notice the deer feint sideways or downwards at your shot? I've seen that a lot. If so, it could explain the arrow penetrating upwards to the spine.

I talltines was right also, either way great shot.

I would agree with the "drop and roll" of the doe upon hearing the shot theory, but, another possibility is that your arrow may be slightly porpoising as it's flying - with an upward swing in the motion accounting for the strange shot. Check your nock position. If mine is too low the arrow will wave up and down quite noticeably.

Im going to take a shot here.  If one edge of the broadhead is less sharp there would be uneven resistance to the heads passage.  Could that have caused the path of the arrow to deflect upwards if the lower edge was less sharp?

Brian

Looks like it could have slightly deflected from the rib it's next to?  I agree with the drop and roll, that would be my guess.  It's amazing how fast they can react to a shot when they first walk in and are slightly on edge.

Deflection of the rib I would say

The rib may have had a bit to do with it, doubt very much though....

I'd say Brian is right on...the old "duck and roll"..

I've experienced it myself.

Congrats again on an awesome experience!  

Voting for duck and roll.  It can happen fast.  If you had missed and she had recovered you probably would have "noticed" the drop.  But since the arrow spined her it looked like she just fell when the arrow hit.

i think brian hit the nail on the head
i have had a similiar experience with the same end result
kevin

QuoteOriginally posted by talltines:
She most likely was dropping and rolling away at the sound of the shot causing the arrow to enter mid body and hit the spine.  Her body position most likely had changed during the shot.

What he said. Seen similar stuff before on my native Texas deer.

As already said she was dropping and leaning away from you to run that way. She just about jumped your string. Nice shot, congrats.

3 blade heads are bad mo-fo's, but they do some goofy things some times. If only one blade hit a rib while the other 2 struck meat alone, maybe it deflected it? Either way you got 35-40# of deelish meat for the freezer. Dont forget turkey season is open for us as well!

I agree with most others here. She jumped the string, just didn't make it quick enough.