Back on 11/6 (pic 1) I wounded this buck with my bow. Shot high with almost zero penetration. Looked for an hour and never found blood, arrow or the deer. I was worried that he was hit well enough to not make it through the season. I did the same thing to a hog the very next day and decided to put the bow away for the rest of the year. I really hope something is wrong with my bow and that's the reason for almost zero penetration on back to back animals. It's an old bow, but this has never happened before.

Fast fwd to 11/27 and my old man sends me this pic.(3rd pic) He's alive and well and still hanging out with his doe. (See monogamous buck thread) Clearly still an open wound, but had zero limp or any other signs that he was injured.

Then last weekend he made the mistake and showed himself in front of me again. I didn't miss with the 270. He was completely scabbed over (pic #2) and I was expecting to see some nasty stuff when I skinned him. NOTHING but a little red dot. It wasn't until I was taking the shoulders off that I found the little puss pocket that still had my broadhead in it. It didnt stink but I cut around it a bit just to be safe. Glad he had made it through the rut but not sure if he ever left his girl to breed anything else.

Apologies if the pics are out of order.

Love a good ending. I've never been a fan of that broadhead design. I'm willing to bet your bow is just fine and you just need more traditional heads.

Is that one of those "Toxic" Broadheads?

Wodanaz said:

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Love a good ending. I've never been a fan of that broadhead design. I'm willing to bet your bow is just fine and you just need more traditional heads.

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Agree RE: broadhead. There is a lot of material to create drag and reduce penetration.

yes its a toxic and for me its the best "fixed" broadhead that I have used. (magnus, G5 and couple others from way back when that arent on the shelves anymore)

Good ending all around. Thanks for sharing.

ought1ag said:

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yes its a toxic and for me its the best "fixed" broadhead that I have used. (magnus, G5 and couple others from way back when that arent on the shelves anymore)

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Interesting, I had always thought they were a gimmick.

I had almost the same exact thing happen to me last year with a spike using magnus stingers. Hit him in the same spot you did and killed him later in the year with a gun.

same thing happened to me last year. full pass through, lots of blood, dogs, drone etc. Showed up at feeder 3 weeks later for me to "re-kill"

ought1ag said:

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yes its a toxic and for me its the best "fixed" broadhead that I have used. (magnus, G5 and couple others from way back when that arent on the shelves anymore)

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Do you still feel that way now?

That's weird - must've bounced off a wide rib or something

I will still say yes. I have successfully put down more animals in the last 5 years with Toxics than I have with all the other broadheads I've used combined......and this would be my first issue. Now if my bow ends up checking out OK then I would be willing to consider something else.

Looked like a shoulder blade hit...how heavy is your arrow? Is your broadhead sharp? Bow tuned?

Shoulder hit would explain lack of penetration unless your arrow weighs 550 grains or higher... a dull broadhead doesn't help either

Never seen a toxic arrow but shoot magnus stingers and hornets...however my arrow is 560 grains.

not sure on the arrow weight, and broadhead was right out of the box. Now as far as the bow, I just had new strings put on in earlier in the year and probably had about 75-100 shots with them.

have hit several does in the shoulder with these heads and have always had the arrow at least exit the other side.

You're gonna lose that buck no matter what broadhead you use.

AggieChemist said:

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You're gonna lose that buck no matter what broadhead you use.

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That is true most likely. However, if he got full penetration or was shooting from a tree stand then its possible he could have got the top of both lungs, don't you think? Or even too high a shot to get top of lungs?

Center punched the shoulder blade. It's hard as stone on an old buck. Young bucks and does you can blow through it. But not an old guy

For my money, that is a broad-head issue. A wider cut zone and you would have probably found that deer after some wait time. I just can't believe in the toxic,

That is one mature looking buck. We're you able to age him?

Deer are tough, at least it seems from this video.

shiftyandquick said:

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Deer are tough, at least it seems from this video.

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Did he run into some metal at full speed and slice open like that? Crazy…

Heck of a flesh wound there, Buck!!

Accomplished by a combine from what I understand