Victory VAP Arrows and Zwickey Eskilites|No Blood Trail

[akira7799]

Guys,

I shot my first two deer this weekend with the arrow/broadhead combination mentioned in the thread title.

Everything (including myself) did its job. Both deer were double lung hit with clean entry/exit wounds. First deer went 50 yards. Second went 75. I was able to do a quick search based on where they were headed and was able to find them both pretty quickly.

Problem is there was no blood. None. Not one drop. Has anyone else experienced this? Any suggestions? I've sharpened the Eskilites to beyond surgical sharp and don't want to get rid of them. The VAP's are awesome too; little in the expensive side, but an awesome arrow.

Hope all else is well with everyone,
Dave

 

[wes k]

I've had intestine plug up the hole when I used thunderheads and made a quartering toward shot. I've never had that happen on double lung but I guess it's possible. I shoot rage broad heads now and am very happy with them.

 

[redsquirrel]

I don't think the arrow has anything to do with it so I'd rule that out. You said exit wounds so I'm assuming they were pass through's?

I would give the heads a few more chances. I typically shoot magnus stingers which are a similar design (although this year I'm shooting low KE killzones). Even with the killzones I find that some shots take longer to start really bleeding than others. Also if the deer takes off and falls over very quickly the blood doesn't have a chance to really start pumping out of the wound. As far as not one drop of blood, that is just strange. I've had them where I didn't find any blood for 20 yards or so, but not 0 drops.

 

[vitalinvader]

I have shoot over 100 animals with trad. Bows and cut on contact broad heads and no two have been the same. I have had no blood and tons of blood. I think a lot has to do with the state the animal was in at the point of impact ? Just a guess. All you can hope for is good penetration and shot placement . I do seam to get better blood trails with three blade heads but not always. Give it another try before you change anything.

 

[akira7799]

Thanks for the thoughts guys. As both times the combo worked well, I'll chalk not finding blood to novice tracking and an overall lack of experience.

I don't plan on changing a thing since it worked so well.

Thanks again,
Dave

 

[rr79]

When you say lungs where exactly did ya hit these deer. This is from a video of a deer i shot. See the arrow hole? Perfect broadside shot. Deer just stopped and stood there with no blood. Not even on the exit hole. The problem with this shot is it just clips front of the lungs if even at all and misses the heart. Lungs are back further. Jmo.

 

[redsquirrel]

Good point rr79. Where you hit in the lungs will make a difference. I have noticed my high lung or forward lung shots seem to bleed less.

 

[akira7799]

It was very high. I severed the trachea/brachioles and hit the lungs high and forward. That explains the first hit. I think I missed the blood on the second one, because I hit lungs and heart.

 

[redsquirrel]

I would think the second one would have bleed more for sure. It is always best when you can watch them fall over , but unfortunately that doesn't always happen. Being new to the sport, I would recommend that you practice tracking every deer that you shoot for a while, even if you watch them die. There is no better way to learn than doing it. You will sometimes be amazed. Sometimes you will lose the blood and it seems there is nowhere for it to go but straight, then you go back to last blood and circle and look and somehow it took a 90 degree turn. I was tracking my buck this year at night and I got to one spot where I thought he turned, and I looked and looked and nothing. Finally I was like well maybe he went this way, and nothing. And finally after like 20 minutes in this one spot I was like well I really don't think he went this way but let me look.... and I found a speck of blood, and proceeded to follow an increasingly thick blood trail until I found him in about 40 more yards.

You've made 2 great shots so far so keep up the good work! Every time out there is going to be a learning experience and something different!

 

[rr79]

One more question. Any broadhead will kill deer. Just wondering why you are useing those old school heads on modern equiptment? So many better more destructive options these days. They will all kill but figured i would ask.

 

[redsquirrel]

One more question. Any broadhead will kill deer. Just wondering why you are useing those old school heads on modern equiptment? So many better more destructive options these days. They will all kill but figured i would ask.

What heads are you using rr79? I like to use 4 blade magnus stingers because I get nice pass throughs. This year I am using low KE killzones and I have only gotten 1 pass through so far. All very dead deer, but I prefer to have 2 holes if I need a blood trail to follow. I am also only shooting around 55#.

 

[rr79]

Slick trick mag 4 blade. Needed 125 grn and the t3's i was shootn dnt come in 125. I think there are lots of good ones out there. Except rage. I rather shoot a rusty bottle cap then a rage.

 

[akira7799]

One more question. Any broadhead will kill deer. Just wondering why you are useing those old school heads on modern equiptment? So many better more destructive options these days. They will all kill but figured i would ask.

RR,

I'm using the Zwickey's because it's part of a "high KE" setup:
- they're heavier (at 135 grain)
- easy to sharpen
- keep an awesome edge
- practically indestructible
- Rockwell hardness of 59 to 62 (pretty strong steel)

They're pretty awesome broadheads and if I treat em' right, they'll last me a lifetime.

RR, how you like the Slick Tricks?
Dave

 

[rr79]

The tricks fly great outa my bow. Ya man i wasnt knocking ur heads. In my mind when i hear that name i think of a wooden arrow and glue lol. Whatever kills the critters. I was thinking of getting the vap's with the heavy penatrator adapters in the off season.

 

[akira7799]

Hahaha. Glue on cedar shafts. Luckily these came with the adapters already epoxied on. The VAP arrows are absolutely awesome! I highly recommend them and will pick up another half-dozen this off-season.

 

[Stykbow1]

I think any well made broadhead on the market today will do the job if you put it in the right spot but that doesn't mean the blood trails will all be the same. It sounds like it was a high lung hit and maybe the blood hadn't had a chance to get to the exit hole and start to come out. There is so much going on from the time that arrow leaves the bow till it traverses through the deer and out the other side that many things can happen in the blink of an eye. I will say that all things being equal I have been really impressed with some of the entry and exit wounds of many expandable heads, including the rage, but the last two does I killed were with the crossbow and used Slick Trick Crossbow heads. Neither one went over 20 yards and piled up and no tracking was involved but there wasn't a tremendous blood trail to either one but they were dead on their feet. I think with the effieceny of todays compounds 55 lbs is plenty to take any whitetail with most any broadhead on the market today. Have fun and shoot straight!

Roger

 

[Arrowsmith5150]

I still hunted into a ridge top where I knew 2 bucks where on a rainy day. I got to the spot hit the grunt and the 8 pt appeared to my right (seriously he was right there 35 yds bedded and I had no idea ) he got up and came.towards me. Gave me a 20 yds semi quartering away shot. I sunk an acc with a bear razor head (no bleeder blade to make it fly right, I was younger and it was what I had) right behind the shoulder. A little far forward for the shot but still good. The deer took a jump and went down. I thought yaaaa. I waited a few minutes went over and he jumped up and took off. ?????? Then the weird thing NO BLOOD WHAT'S EVER! I literally tracked staggering hoof prints a out 150 yds down hill no blood not even a drop. Found the deer and the broad head went in horizontal with the grain of the meat and closed up the arrow had broke of when he ran and did have blood on it but the head lodged in the inside of the opposite shoulder. Moral of story I will never shoot 2 bladed broad heads again and weird stuff can and will happen.

 

[akira7799]

Stykbow and Arrowsmith,

Thanks for your replies. I'm overall very happy with the setup and will evaluate my setup to see if these two were flukes.

Thanks again,
Dave

 

[redsquirrel]

After re-tuning my bow last week I am back to my magnus stingers w/ bleeder blades. I've been holding out for a big one during the rut this year so its been 1.5 months since i shot one and I have quite an itchy trigger finger right now!