For the mechanical guys

I don’t think it makes sense.

It makes sense to use a head that excels when it shot in the vicinity of the vitals your actually shooting at. Much of the the animals vitals are surrounded by bone, the humerus, the clavicle and scapula, will all impede a broadhead from penetrating the vitals organs. Considering that is where your trying to have your arrow end up it would make sense have a head that will hold up and penetrate what’s found in the vicinity of the vitals.

 

yes

 

Well, I don't get offended or mad at different opinions. I been at this a long time and I still learn from others. and as far as the mech head and soft tissue and guts thing, yes, I tend to shoot too far back when i mess up. it happens. I have twice hit shoulder and yes, it did not go well. But I have hit too far back far more times and the end result was better because of the wide cut. It's just my factual experiences over 30 years of hunting.

 

That makes sense if your spray chart is evenly distributed around the vitals. But in the real world, it's not. There is a disproportionately greater amount of animals shot in behind the vitals than in front of them. And if you're playing the odds, you're better off being prepared for the situation you're most likely to encounter.

 

I only meant his use or his meaning of damage made sense. I disagree with it making sense as you do.

 

Like I said, from my own experiences, when a bad shot happens, 8 out of 10 are too far back. That's where the big mech helps me. when I am on target and behind the shoulder, it's 100% dead animal. If i am too far forward, not so much. reality.

 

No need to explain, I get what you're saying - just disagree with that being the proper use of "more damage" is all. I understand what you're saying.

 

Personally speaking I generally miss close to where I’m aiming and I’m not aiming anywhere near the abdominal cavity.
That said if I did happen to miss and hit the abdominal cavity with a broadhead that is say 1.25vs 2.0 there is nothing I’m going to do differently with the latter and I wouldn’t do with the former. I’m still waiting about 12 hours before I track the deer. And he isn’t going to be any deader with an extra inch of cutting diameter

 

You may be the exception to the rule, but the fact remains there are a lot more deer shot in the guts than the shoulder.

And while the deer may not be any less dead, the speed at which they die, the distance they travel, and the amount of blood that may be available to follow are all increased with a larger wound channel. IMO you stand a better chance of recovering your animal if you put a 2", 3 blade hole through their guts than a 1" 2 blade hole.

 

THIS X 1,000

Which is why I strongly feel a gross many archer's aren't even aiming in the right spot IMO. Justin is 100% right though, it seems from discussing with friends, watching shows and discussing with outfitters more mistakes are made hitting back to guts than forward to shoulder.

 

Would it be a safe bet to say that generally the reason for "missing" back isn't archer error, but deer jump response?

 

In the same sense of observing the number of misses back outnumber the misses forward, the same can be said that IF a deer response influence the hit it will impact the height of the shot (they drop instinctively) and not the left/right of the shot impact.

The below image I quick did. A LOT of hunters will say they aim on the yellow star....yet in the moment I strongly argue they aim on the black star.

 

Gotcha, so maybe rather than jump response could perhaps be partially due to the deer still walking forward when the shot is taken, as well as just aiming slightly off intended POI.

 

I'm just going to implode this thread right here-

CENTER PUNCH

 

Well I'm never stating anything all encompassing, numerous reasons could exist causing arrow impact to be different than where it should be for sure. I've just always noticed through talking with other hunters or watching hunts on video that the spot a LOT aim at is more that black star than the yellow in the heat of the moment.

I've also always argued this is in part to the adrenaline or stress dump which is occurring and I think unless we really focus we will naturally gravitate to center mass of the object we are shooting at. Most practice with a square or round target and for most part aim "center mass of it"...if you're a handgun or firearm trainer or one that practices often, majority of this is geared towards thinking center mass.

 

by more damage, I mean that a wide cut will cut more tissue and what not than a 1" fixed blade.

 

now that makes perfect sense. the last paragraph. 100% agreed

 

No doubt there will be times that some extra cutting surface bails you out. However there will also be times, even on non bone hits where additional penetration will bail you out as well. For example on either missed placed quartering shots, or where a hit to abdominal cavity gets two holes instead of one , which does happen.

While I might have limited experience compared to some others people I think that moderation is the key to consistent mechanical broadhead, performance if your using them in a variety of situations and different game. I used two mechanical heads this year on five animals and wasn’t unhappy with the performance of any of them. I do however take very different approach to my reasoning when I chose a mechanical head though. I am not hoping a mechanical head bails me out on a poor shot. I am banking on the fact that In some situations a mechanical head my prevent me from making a poor shot to begin with.

 

IDK, I can only speak from my huble hunting experiences here in Southeast VA. A big mech has bailed me out more than once and I would rather have it than not in 99% of my hunting. I have never NOT gotten a pass through with proper shot placement and a Rage head. anyways, do you care to share what mech heads you shot this year?

 

It's something I can never prove, but I think there is some serious fact behind it if it was able to be studied.

Unpack the claim that they bailed you out more. Describe what harvest you feel the deer wouldn't have been killed had you not had a big mechanical vs a small say slick trick type fixed as example? Just curious is all.