Here is the story. I tried a new broadhead because it got high marks from some of my THF buddies. Spitfire Pro 100 mechanicals.
The Hunt
Doe almost perfectly broadside eating 14 yards
When I hit her she took it hard from the energy. I could see the arrow sticking out of her. It looked to me a little far back, but at that range should have been alright. The arrow broke in half about 20yards from where I hit her against a tree. No blood trail. No blood on the broken part of the arrow I found.

I waited about 3 hours till dark to look and give her time to expire. I jumped her about 125 yards in the woods from the original hit. Where she was laying was bright red blood about the size of a snuff can. Where I jumped her, no blood trail. That was the last time I saw her.

How come I didn't get more penetration? I almost knocked her down with the shot. Could the broadhead have malfunctioned? Even if I made a bad shot, I cant believe it didnt do better.

What do you think?

I ended up making a 24 yrd shot that hit a little far back with a full exit and deer retrieval using another brand mechanical

Could have hit her back to far and could have hit two ribs and it stopped on the back rib. Must not have hit any vitals so not much blood. Since the arrow broke I bet she is dead now. Sorry but that happens.

I know I didnt hit her real far back for sure.

I have only shot spitfire and thunder heads. I have been shooting the spitfire for over 10 years and killed 6 animals in Africa with them. I did loose a doe 2 years ago hit her to far back. I saw her standing at 40 yards with blood pouring out and figured she was going down. Waited for about 45 mins and followed blood to where I saw her then nothing. Never found her or abother drop of blood after that.

Sorry to hear about your lose. This has always been my greatest fear. There are so many variables it's not funny. Sometimes it just happens. I'm sure it will happen to me eventually.

That sucks man, I've never used mechanicals and probably never will. Think you'll be able to go back in a few days and locate her? Would be interesting to know if it malfunctioned.

You had to of hit a rib. With your bow it still should have blown through. Did you video it?

:pop corn:

How does that fit with this post? He didn't get the deer, duh.

Post some pics

Sometimes you can hit a deer too high, and the blood won't really pour out of them like when you hit them low. If the doe was bedded 125 yards away and you pushed her than perhaps you went after her too early. What did the arrow smell like when you got your half? If it stank then it's likely a gut shot, and the deer won't bleed much.

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, might want to go back and read the post again. He said he waited 3 hrs and the part of the arrow he did find had nuthin on it.
You bow hunt long enough, it will happen. But stories like this is why I don't use mech. With a fixed blade, I don't have to worry about it "working". 90% of the time, I get complete pass thru's, giving me a blood trail I can follow. Sounds like you got a liver shot. In my experience, those don't bleed very good. But after 3 hrs, she should have been dead. May have just got a piece of it.

I waited as long as I could. Im guessing the head failed miserably unless I stuck it perfectly in a shoulder bone. Who knows?

I use spitfire's never had any trouble.....something don't add up.... I shot a fallow at 35 yrds qtring to me blew the font sholder up and a clean pass though... deer went 30 yrds, shot an 8 point head on in the neck last yr arrow was completely in side the deer..ran 50 yrds...... what bow you shooting? FPS? KE?


KE is a bigger deal then speed.....may want to look at a heavier arrow

You had to have nailed a rib bone if it was back a ways, most likely sounds like you may have been a little high as well if the deer did not bleed much.
Now in your last post your thinking a shoulder, no way you hit a shoulder if it was a bit far back and you could see the shaft sticking out as the deer ran off.
I have shot the spitfire for over 10 years with no problems, prefer the chisel point over the pros but have used both successfully.
Loss of an animal is a painful part of archery hunting for all of us. I will continue to use spitfires because of the success I have had over the years.
Good luck in whatever broadhead you choose and when you find one that works stick with it. Confidence plays a key part in your success.

OK I guess he didnt....and I was not there
Duh

Ok I confess, I glued the Spitfire Pro Shut....Stand by on the picture

Here you go BIL....Text me your email address; Ill send the rest to you.
Late...T

Believe this one was taken with the RAGE Correct?

I had a couple of similar scenerios one small buck i did not shoot through him and never found him 12 yd broadside shot.....broken arrow......no blood anywhere.......the other was a 5 yd shot angled down behind the shoulder and Buck ran off then 10 minutes later came hobbling by with the arrow sticking out on the entrance side. i tracked him after about 30 min. and he stumbled for 200 yards and i jumped him and never found him and from there no blood trail. where he was laying there was lots of lung tissue and such but no trail to where he ran too.......its a tough thing Pal.......

A little high or a little far back can lead to a no kill! My wife shot this deer ( her first attempt with a bow) and we got these pictures 10 days later. We found no blood at all when she shot it. We continued to see him the rest of the year and the next season he showed back up as a much bigger 10pt. with a bib hairless scare on his side.

Whoa! Don't know what to say about that one.

wow thats neat

this is the reason i switched to rage 2 blade. 8 deer i shot last year didnt get a pass thru with spitfire. of course i was shootin a switchback too.

I had a similar hit last year. Just a little far back with a loud smack when it hit. It was a rib and the same thing....arrow didn't blow through and eventually fell out. The blood trail was very faint and hard to follow. After three hours and 400 yds., I finally found her.

Texas_White_boy,

Sweet pick...thanks for posting!

I know for a fact I didnt hit her that high. Im honestly thinking it is broadhead malfunction