Finding broken in half arrows??

[graybarkhunter]

everybody usually talks about  their bright feathers whether it white, pink, chart, reflective,etc and how easy they are to see... how do people locate their broadhead end of the arrow  after the deer has broke it in half (lets say its not still inside the deer). the head is the most expensive "end" of the arrow and most heads are od green,black,gray,etc. just wondering if anybody "marks" their broadhead end of the arrow with some type of reflective tape,  bright crest, etc.  i spray painted a white stripe down by simmons landsharks but blood really covers it up to.

[jamesh76]

I have lost a few in haybales before while broadhead tuning on a layerd target.

I use a metal detector.

[dave19113]

No... I dont mark em.... if they do break, as Im tracking the deer I look, if I find it... bonus.... If not, its a gift to the deer gods....

[Stumpkiller]

I used a Fisher F-75 metal detector to find the tip of one that was a mystery to me.  I knew within feet of where it should be - but it was snapped off flush at the base of a tree near the root.

I also use a shaft color (pecan stain) that shows up pretty well on the ground.

   

When I bloodtrail I take a 25' length of 1/4" line and drag it along.  If I lose the trail I drop the line and fan out, then spiral until I pick it up.  Then I go back and pull the line along again.  So far I always have found the arrow pieces this way as I work slowly along.  

Occasionally the arrow is sticking in the ground behind where the deer was standing.  100% pass throughs.

As you mentioned - bright fletch so I can see the impact as it hits my focus spot (ideally) and may be waving bye-bye later as the deer bounds off.  Or, if the red gods are smiling, piles up as you watch.          

   

[bolong]

I'm with Dave.

[JamesV]

When my son 15 shot his first deer with a bow, he watched her run a bit and fall dead. He climbed down and saw the arrow sticking in the ground. He was shooting all yellow feathers, when he saw the arrow had orange feathers he thought "here is one of dad's arrows". Pulled it out of the ground and found that it was all sticky.

[Bud B.]

I shot a doe opening day and the carbon arrow broke about five yards away from the hit. I blood trailed her and find her and take her to the processor. No broadhead inside.

I go back the next AM and follow the trail again and about ten yards away from the hit I find the broadhead and about 6" of carbon arrow with it. Had I not back tracked I might have never found it as it was behind a somewhat large tree. I guess her running motion slung it off the path a bit.

[reddogge]

It's a good idea to diligently search for the broadhead if hunting farm fields or anywhere tractors go or people or pets walk. Shot one on my own property two years ago and searched for a day or so before finding the whole arrow. I really didn't want that broadhead laying out there.

[gonzoso]

Originally posted by reddogge:
It's a good idea to diligently search for the broadhead if hunting farm fields or anywhere tractors go or people or pets walk. Shot one on my own property two years ago and searched for a day or so before finding the whole arrow. I really didn't want that broadhead laying out there.

I agree, I never leave broadheads laying about.  A poster remarked earlier that leaving the broadhead was a "gift to the deer gods" which is about equivalent of saying a broken bottle left in a river is "gift to the fish gods".

I've had a few broadheads blow up on a rock and fling three razor blades in random directions, and I searched like hell to find all three.  I'd hate to think that I cut up some dogs foot, or that someone sliced their toe on my old razor.

[$bowhunter$]

i use a little piece of reflective tape right behind my broadhead

[Stumpkiller]

First question I am asked when I take a deer to my butcher is "did you find the broadhead?"  I guess he's sliced himself good on "hidden" blades and heads inside of deer.

He likes me because I am cheap and ALWAYS retrieve my heads - and they aren't the kind that shed a hinged or sliding blade.

[Rob DiStefano]

i've learned to just clear coat the foreshaft on woodies and not to stain them.  with just clear, like polyu, fir and spruce remain fairly bright and makes it easier to find the busted off point end.  

ah, but carbons, those hellish black rods of the devil - well, they never break, right?  :D

[canopyboy]

I've got two broadheads missing in the woods  right now.  One with the full arrow behind it, and one with only the front half.  Both are 2 blades, so I hope they lay flat when someone steps on 'em.

On the flip side, I've found two arrows with three bladed broadheads from other hunters.  So as far as leaving something that can hurt an animal or person, I figure I'm ahead of the game.

I still plan to keep looking though, I want my my Zwickey Deltas back.

[Swamp Yankee]

Metal detector.  It isn't traditional or instinctive, but the right thing to do; especially for a broadhead.

[dave19113]

A poster remarked earlier that leaving the broadhead was a "gift to the deer gods" which is about equivalent of saying a broken bottle left in a river is "gift to the fish gods".


Two totally different things.... I try my best to find my BH IF it breaks off.... That rarely has happened with me....Most of the time the arrow will break off half way up the shaft and easily recovered.... But I have lost BH's before.....And some are, well just lost

Glass bottles left in the water are idiots throwing and leaving garbage and have no buisness being in the woods at all....

[Cootling]

"When I bloodtrail I take a 25' length of 1/4" line and drag it along."

Thanks, Stumpkiller, for a very useful tip!

I don't mind losing carbon steel heads too much because they deteriorate reasonably quickly... still "pokey" for awhile, but not forever.  Stainless heads bother me quite a lot.

[30coupe]

Originally posted by dave19113:
A poster remarked earlier that leaving the broadhead was a "gift to the deer gods" which is about equivalent of saying a broken bottle left in a river is "gift to the fish gods".


Two totally different things.... I try my best to find my BH IF it breaks off.... That rarely has happened with me....Most of the time the arrow will break off half way up the shaft and easily recovered.... But I have lost BH's before.....And some are, well just lost

Glass bottles left in the water are idiots throwing and leaving garbage and have no buisness being in the woods at all....

I agree. A lost broadhead is more like a lost bullet, only nontoxic.

I have been reasonably lucky at finding them, but the reflective tape at both ends sounds like a good idea. I don't use stainless steel broadheads, so mother nature (rust) dulls, then reclaims them rather quickly. As long as they keep making Zwickey Deltas, that will continue to be the case.

[lpcjon2]

Lowjack is the way to go...Lol
Broadheads are getten expensive, Just paint them fire engine red.

[Tom Leemans]

O.K. I take my shoes and socks off.....  

[Thumper Dunker]

Make them flor orange . Got tierd of losing them on varmits in high grass.