Monday morning 8:50am - 4 Deer came into my shooting lane. A real big Doe with 2 big fawns, and another nice Doe. A fawn was blocking a shot on the big Doe, waited and she walked away. Then the Fawns left and the other Doe gave me a good shot. Facts: my first Crossbow shot at a Deer (I have killed a nice Buck with Compound). I was using Swacker BH's. About 20 yds. Shot - heard a crack like sound, The Doe turned and ran low into the weeds. Time about 9:10am. I am color blind. Couldn't find arrow and saw no blood at all. Went and got my wife. We followed trail and she found the arrow - no blood anywhere on leaves or anywhere else that we could find. The arrow was a Easton Excalibur firebolt. It was facing the way the Doe was going. It had not opened like it is suppose to. Covered in blood. Some hair, brown with light brown tips. Blood seemed to be red. Arrow smelled good with no odor at all. The end of the nock end was broke off about an inch with a jagged break. Blood covered length of arrow. Searched for about 3 hours, found no blood, and no deer, Home now for lunch (12:15). Plan to go out again and just search some more. With no blood its hard to track past the arrow. I hate this - I feel the deer may be dead, though maybe hit heart or liver or between vitals. ????? Any suggestions or ideas would be appreciated. . Quote MultiQuote Edit Report .
Ken, when you said you followed trail, you mean deer trail, not blood trail, correct? A loud crack usually mead shoulder "knuckle" ... but you got full blood coverage on the arrow, so unless the arrow curled around .... What side of the deer was the arrow on? A liver hit will almost always pass thru on a broadside shot as the back ribs are not nearly as tough as the front ... Abnd if I heard you right, you and the wife found zero blood sand the arrow?
Being your colorblind, have you tried one of those blood illuminating flashlights? When the blood glows to us, maybe you'll be able to see that glow?! Good luck man and I hope you find her before the coyotes do!! That would be a good time to take your .223 with and do some rodent control!!
Yes it was a deer trail where the deer ran. Arrow went in on right side of deer and looks like it exited on left side about 15 yards down the trail. We found no blood, except on the arrow, it was bloody its length. Thanks for your thoughts on this, it helps. Raining now, I am going out again soon.
Ken, do you have anyone that can go with you? Did you see where the arrow went? Was it broadside shot?
No, I did not see where the arrow hit. It was a broadside shot, I felt like I was right on. But the deer didn't seem to flinch like I have seen them in the past. ????
You may have hit the back bone fins .... the crack is significant .... I wish I lived close to you I would come out .... if it is the backbone, you won't find her .... it sucks that it is raining ... you will be down to grid searching ...
I am heading out now in the rain. I wonder why that Swacker didn't open. Think I am going back to Muzzy's.
I know blaming mechs for not opening is popular, but that seems like a pretty robust design. Is there any chance it opened, but the blades fell closed afterwards? Also, while it may not help now because of the rain, for future blood trails being color blind, they say you can spray peroxide and the blood will bubble to help trailing.
The first thing I thought, not sure how long crossbow bolts are, was possibly hit the offside leg bone. Main reason why is you said the knock end was busted off about an inch. If that was the only portion sticking out of the deer it could explain how it was snapped and that impact dislodged it allowing it to work back out the entry hole? Could explain the lack of blood on the ground as well. Good luck and hope you find her.
Last year I shot at a small buck and had the arrow hit the knuckle of the leg bone and it ran. I thought the arrow went throw him because there was blood but the deer ran to my buddies stand and he took him down.
