Rage heartache

heck, a well placed 22 round will take down a deer, why wouldn't a field tip? I would take stock in his opinion, with a handle "Pizza Killer" he's not going walk too far to track a deer. I doubt he's often mistaken for Brad Pitt.....sorry Pizza.
Click to expand...


Funny you should mention that. Just this monday I didn't do my part and made a crappy shot on a big doe. Fortunately, the 2-blade Rage DID do it's part. We had to track her for MANY hundreds of yards after we realized that she quit bleeding much if we didn't stay on her. Anyway, after tracking her for probably close to 1000 yards, at least 300 of it LITERALLY on our hands and knees through brush which had it not been for the blood I would never have believed a chihuahua would fit through much less a deer, we finally ran her out of blood. I hit her in a bad spot high in the neck just in front of the shoulder. If I had been using ANYTHING that cut a smaller hole than the Rage then I would have NEVER been able to follow the trail, much less for the distance that she would have gone if that hole had been smaller.

What I like about the Rage is that it makes my bad shots better. Now, don't get me wrong, most of my shots aren't bad shots but how can you argue with something that makes you better when things go wrong? After all, a field point will kill a deer without running 75 or 100 yards if everything is perfect. I don't need help when everything is right, I need something that makes the "Oh crap" moment work out for me. The two blade Rage does that for me. When it doesn't work out, I sure don't blame the blade.
 
Thanks for all of the replies guys, the advise and the criticism. My buddy has some pics of the doe I shot and I'm trying to get them from him so I can post them, because it was a good shot. It was low, right behind the shoulder. When I dressed her out, I found the wound channel brushed right by the heart without hurting much of anything. If the blades would have deployed, she would probably would have never made it out of sight.

On the buck I shot, I didn't recover him OR the arrow, so I can only speculate. It looked like I hit him high, it's possible it was in the "no mans land" below the spine but above the lungs. If the blades would have deployed, they should have at least left a little more blood, but nothing. Also, since the arrow didn't exit (First time ever I had an arrow not exit), I assume there was some kind of failure. Like one poster said, a field tip through both lungs will kill a deer cleanly. But if the broadhead gums it up enough to not even let the arrow penetrate through, that is a problem. I know I'm not perfect, and a better shot probably would have killed the deer cleanly, and thats what Have to regret. However, if the shots would have been with a fixed blade, or an expandable that deployed, both deer would have fallen quickly.
 
Yeah Dave, I thought about that, especially since the rage is not made to break shoulders. That could have kept the arrow from passing through, plus the arrow would be plugging the entrance hole making a poor blood trail. BTW Dave, I was born in Lane County and my grandparents still live in Veneta.
 
If the blade failed to deploy correctly, I would
Click to expand...

You can blame the blade for not deploying, which may make for a difficult blood trail, but you can't blame the blade for shot placement.... which is 99% of what makes a deer dead or not dead.


To the OP:

Do you not have trackers in your area? People with dogs that are sanctioned by the environmental agency for tracking wounded deer?
 
Agreed.

Tyrajam - my hunting partner lives out in Veneta, off Fleck road. Still kinda "country", but all the development out that way is slowing changing that.

I live between Coburg and Harrisburg. My place is for sale if you want to move back - 9 acres, 4 bedroom farmhouse, barn, etc.....
 
I've lost animals with fixed blade and mechanical blades.... so where does that leave me?

you have to have confidence with your equipment, but I think way too many of these "bad broadhead" stories are just less than ideal shots.

I've had had my shortest trail using a 3 blade rage... it was a pig about 125 lbs, and it ran less than 10 yards. I shot it at 23 yards, and it went through the front shoulder, exited through the ribcage and traveled several yards past the pig. I have also had some longer trails with the rage. I still like them because after looking at the wounds, there is no fixed blade that can compare... but if you don't think they will work, then they won't...

perhaps with lower draw weight bows, the big mechanicals aren't that great, but they are mainly a cutting entry, they odn't take that much energy to deply... try pushing on a blade and see how hard it is.... it's not much.
 
I'm one of the lucky ones that has never lost a deer archery hunting. I practice a lot all year long. I can tell you if the blades do not open up it isn't fun.

About 10 years ago I had a nice back that was close , broadside and head down. I hit the right spot and was stunned when the deer jumped and took off. I waited about 30 minutes and started the process of following the trail. There was some blood but not enough for the shot. However luck was on my side I found the deer laying down with it head up. I was able to get close and followed with a shot to the neck. Again a perfect hit and the deer got up and ran. I was stunned for the second time.

I waited and again followed the trail only to find the buck a short time latter still alive and laying down. The only shot I had was really to hit its back around the shoulder. This time I succeeded.

To make a long story short I had been practicing prior to going out in the evening. I make habit of practicing with the arrows I am going to use. Yes I still had the target points on and had failed to change back to the broadheads.

So I can feel you pain of them not opening for you.
 
Farmland said:
I hit the right spot and was stunned when the deer jumped and took off. I waited about 30 minutes and started the process of following the trail. There was some blood but not enough for the shot. However luck was on my side I found the deer laying down with it head up. I was able to get close and followed with a shot to the neck. Again a perfect hit and the deer got up and ran. I was stunned for the second time....Yes I still had the target points on and had failed to change back to the broadheads.
Click to expand...


IMHO, you could NOT have hit the right spot. "The right spot" in archery hunting is BOTH lungs. If you hit both lungs with ANYTHING then the animal will be dead in SECONDS. If you waited 30 minutes and the deer was still alive then there is NO POSSIBLE WAY that you hit both lungs.

Crap happens, but no one should take a shot with a bow and arrows where there is not a very high degree of certainty that BOTH lungs will be hit. I've had my share of shots that didn't work out like I planned and I didn't hit both lungs, however, if I didn't hit both lungs then I DIDN'T hit the "right spot".

If you hit both lungs, even with a field point, then that animal has taken it's last breathe and has no more than 10-15 seconds of consciousness.
 
That would be great and if everyone could shoot 100% and hit one lung that is great. The right spot to me is the area that will in fact do that. However can you be off just a fraction of a inch? You bet you can, now as far as I remember I had clipped the lungs on the first shot.

I must be pretty good at the right spot since I have never lost a deer and in fact this is the only one that I can remember that ever ran more than a few feet.

In any event hitting a deer with a field tip or broadhead that doesn't open can result in unexpected things.

Did I do the right thing at shooting at a deer in the neck since that was the only open shot on a deer that I had hit 100% where you should have the first time? AT the time I thought so. Should I have taken the last shot with the deer showing the only open shot the back? It worked for a kill at the time. After all I had an arrow through the chest / lung area and the neck. I just didn't know it was a very small hole.

In any event things happen and the main point is that you are in fact at a disadvantage when a broadhead doesn't open or you do something stupid like using fieldtips.
 
I think there is a reason we use broadheads when hunting and not field points. Broadheads do more damage. It's not necessarily about leaving a bigger blood trail, it's about doing more damage. If I jam an ice pick through my hand, I will bleed but I will bleed less than if I had stuck a butcher knife through my hand because an icepick does less damage.


A deer hit in both lungs with a 30-06 might be able run up to two hundred yards due to the oxygen stored in the muscles but the quicker it loses blood pressure to the brain, the quicker it will stop.
 
undead zone

I have become something of a fanatic on broadhead lethality and try to autopsy me deer as best I can, and get a bit leery of fast follow ups.

And having lost a deer now and then, there is no worse feeling. If you ever get to "brushing it off" stop hunting.

I believe there are several "undead zones" ( I stole this from somewhere) on a deer: one is high, ahead of the diaphram, but that does not cut the descending aorta, not lacerate the lungs and I believe the deer can survive.

Another is right at the diaphram. This will be fatal, but a deer can survive a long time. the lungs get barely lacerated, as does the liver. the diaphram serves to channel some of the internal bleeding back into the paunch, and a trail will be scarce. the arrow will look good, no gut showing and lots of blood, and the impression will be a doulble lung hit. If you are the least bit doubtful that your shot was maybe to far back, give the deer minimum 6 hrs.
Overnight is better. And do not try to follow, but sneak out, awoy from deer and playing the wind in your favor.

On a quiatering shot, there is the "one lunger" the arrow passe ahead of the diaphram, lacerates one lung, but misses big arteries and the other lung, usually exiting low due to tree stand shot. I have seen deer so hit go 6 hrs plus, and followed to soon, run long distances and be lost.

If you do not see your deer go down, are not absolutely certain of a GOOD hit, or hear a crash, avoid a 30-60 minute follow up.

If you do not recover your deer on a reasonable distance on the initial followup, one did not likely get the hit they thought, and its time to bvack off and reassess.

I shoot Bear Razorheads, have for over 30 years. Murphy again
 
Again, The Rage broadheads rely on an O-ring which tends to wear out especially if re-used. The blades need to "click" into position to work properly and a worn O-ring will cause premature opening in quiver etc... Then add the added complexity and energy needed to deploy 3 blades . . I will not use 3-bladed mechanicals - just not necessary. Other bad mechanicals i have tried - Crimsopn talons and Spitfires.
 
Well, I've never not had a broadhead open. On animals, targets...whatever. Never have seen it in the 20 or so different mechanicals that I have shot. Over thousands of shots

As far as shot placement, your statement bothers me a bit...
if everyone could shoot 100% and hit one lung that is great....you be off just a fraction of a inch?
Click to expand...

If everyone was 100%, every shot would be a heart and double lung. And yes, I can be off by a fraction of an inch. But I promise you that a fraction of an inch is not going to make a difference where I'm aiming...5 inches maybe.

A deer can be killed in any direction he/she is facing...and I'll shoot it there. The vitals can be reached. I've seen deer go down in 30 yds from a slam liver hit, and go 150 from a double lung(not mine, 3 blade Muzzy). It's all up to the deer. I'm not going to say that I've never lost a deer, but the ones I've lost were not due to me taking a questionable shot, they were deflections or not realizing the how the deer was quartering. I'm confident in my equipment and abilities to put my arrow where needed. But on the same hand, if I'm not 100% sure, I don't shoot.

bamaranger:
Another Dead zone is high and forward thru the shoulder. Limited blood on the arrow and speckled at best on the ground. Trailed a few of those, and one of my own. Never found any.

zahnzieh:
The Spitfire is tied for most lethal broad I've ever shot. There are problems with sharp quartering away shots. The blades sometimes catch before the tip and "flip" before the tip penetrates. (hunting terminology can sound so dirty) But they are one of the best for broadside shots. Nasty even.

I've never heard of State Ordained Trackers. I know guys with good dogs, but none affiliated with the state.
 
undead zone

A while back, I took a shot at a meat buck. It was evening, but still shooting light. range was under 15yds. I was in a tree stand, about 15 feet up (low for me) The stand was on a moderate hillside, the deer was downhill, so I was likely 20 ft up from the deer. All this to say the angle for the shot was sorta steep. The shot looked ok. The arrow said pass through, but little blood on the arrow, and less on the ground. I got 2 friends and we tried to track, for hours, no luck.

Three months later, another guy who hunts the same property brought a cape by the house. It was the meat buck. He'd killed it w/ a rifle couple of days before. He and the cape told this story. The arrow had deflected off the shoulder blade, entering, passing beneath the hide, and exiting about 4-6 inches lower, all on the shoulder blade. Never got in the cavity. He said deer acted fine and the wound was clearly completely healed!!

Bad shot on my part, 3 inches off and steep angle didn't help. Failed to focus ( I KNEW I'd get him) and blew it.

Good news. Some do survive.
 
OK, here's the pic of the doe I shot. I told you guys it wasn't a bad shot, I was very surprised she stayed on her feet. I guess sometimes that just happens.

ragedoe.jpg
 
say what?

Shooting multiple field points at a deer, and not realizing it, is about the craziest darn thing I have ever heard.
 
I never trusted the way those rage broadheads open. I have had Excellent luck with my relatively inexpensive Sidewinders. They have a large "catch" that grips and rips them open. The rages have oposing forces that open them, and I can see how could be susceptable to not opening. I have lost count of the number of animals I've killed with those, and the broadheads opened every time. I thought I had my first failure last year, but turns out when the buck jumped the string, and I caught him above the back strap. I know so, because I saw him (nice 10) during doe season, w/a hole above his shoulder. I've seen him this year, and I hope to whack him.

I went to expandables 6 years ago, when my son was born - I didn't want him to get his fingers in my quiver accidentally. I have had such good luck, and their accuracy is so perfect, I won't go back to fixed blades.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top