OhioHunter Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 Well, yesterday I hit the treestand and was amped up because the rut is in full swing here in Ohio where Im at. Heard lots of grunting and chasing all day and couldnt see them over the hill. About 10 til 5pm I heard 7 grunts in a row and was watchin hard and about 10 min later seen a buck about 150 yds out. A few tips of the ol can call and a couple grunts and he came on a string. Ive been bowhunting 11 years and have never shot a buck. So in comes a decent 7 point basket rack. Got him stopped in an opening at 30 yards let the arrow go and hit him right in the middle of the shoulder blade. He dropped to his knees and took off and the arrow was still sticking in him. I thought for sure I would have a dead buck. After tracking for 2 hours and only finding blood for about 75 yds we lost blood. Found my arrow down the trail. All of it was intact and there was meat on the broadhead. The blades were bent and had parts of them broke out. I have been sick since last night. I hope that he makes it. The only thing I can guess is I hit right in the shoulder blade and didnt get enough peneration. Have any of ya had the same experience? Bummer of a day. Gonna hit it again tomorrow. Good luck all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 Ive hit em im the shoulder..but I use wasp SST or Muzzy at the time and they blew right through... dont know if my Rage broadheads would do that kind of damage or not?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoosierhunter Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 How far was the blood up the arrow shaft? I don't think you hit him in the shoulder blade. It sounds like you hit his spine but did not break it. A shoulder blade hit deer will not go down on his knees from a broadhead, but a spine hit deer will drop from the initial shock to the spine if it isn't broke, but he will get up and run off. There is just not enough energy behind your arrow to do that. What broadhead were you using? How many pounds are you shooting? The blood for 75 yards isn't good. Once he spit the arrow he should have lost even more blood. For example I shot a doe Sunday morning. I purposely shot her forward due to a tree and I busted through both front shoulders and she went 40 yards, but it did not take her off her feet. I shot a muzzy with FMJ arrows @70 lbs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OhioHunter Posted November 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 I shoot a fred bear trx 300. It is 65 lb draw. I use muzzy mx4 100 grain broadheads. There was blood about 3/4 up the shaft. once the arrow came out the blood trail diminished very quickly. I was assuming that I would find the arrow broken and part still be in him but the arrow was intact. Thats why I am guessing I didnt not get the penetration I needed. I seen the arrow sticking out of him while he was running. I mean I hit him dead center in the shoulder. Idk it has been replaying thru my mind for the past 24 hours. We looked for 2 hours in a prob 3/4 mile radius and found nothing. The blood did not start coming out of him for prob 80 yards then it started. Very bright red blood. And what he did bleed wasnt much. There were a few spots that he bled decent but nothing extravegent. I have shot multiple button bucks and does and shot right thru the shoulder blade before but i dont know what I hit on this buck for it to not blow thru. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbeck Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 I know your pain, I've hit that dreaded shoulder and never got a deer when I did. I shoot 70 lb Mathews Q-2 but my draw is only 25 inches, don't have enough kinetic energy to get through them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikewink Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 I've had it happen one time. It was on a doe last year. I switched my set up from aluminum/thunderhead set up to a carbon/2 blade rage set up. I hit the shoulder. It dropped her initially then she was and running. I didn't find her. She was seen 3 weeks later by my hunting partner. Last time I used carbons or rage. Not saying they are bad. I feel I just didn't get the kenitic energy I had been getting from my aluminum/thunderhead set up. I know your pain... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 I hit a doe in about the same spot last year. Unfortunate, but it happens. Hopefully he'll make it ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 Been there before too. Good chance you hit him right where the joint is at the shoulder blade. If you did he'll be OK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bghunter777 Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 I have hit several deer in the the shoulder unfortunately 2 of them have been this year. I shoot a 70lb Mathews Legacy at 29.5 inch draw and Gold Tip arrows tipped with a Rocket Sidewinder. Both deer I blew rite through the first shoulder and stuck in the off side. The doe ran about 70 yards the buck ran about 30. I did loose a deer a few years back using a Rage when i hit him in the shoulder had very little penetration. With Rocket Sidewinders and steelheads I have never not gone through a shoulder. Look into the Rocket Steelhead with you set up I have complete confidence you will get through a shoulder with your set up. I still try everything in my power to avoid hitting the shoulder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoosierhunter Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 I shoot a fred bear trx 300. It is 65 lb draw. I use muzzy mx4 100 grain broadheads. There was blood about 3/4 up the shaft.. He's dead. 100%(If you hit his shoulder and got that kind of penetration). You just have to find him. With blood that far up the shaft it sounds like it bounced off the opposite shoulder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OhioHunter Posted November 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2011 He's dead. 100%(If you hit his shoulder and got that kind of penetration). You just have to find him. With blood that far up the shaft it sounds like it bounced off the opposite shoulder. I seen the arrow in him as he ran away and I know it didnt go that far thru. I had to work yesterday and didnt get to go out and look but some friends were out and no sign of him. Im hoping he made it and that he comes back around or I see him someday down the road. Going out in the morning. Good luck and thanks for the advice and sharing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbHunterNY Posted November 10, 2011 Report Share Posted November 10, 2011 don't know if it's from blood running down it or it was really 3/4 up the shaft. i hope you find him one way or another. good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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