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The Deer That Should Not Be Dead - The Ultimate Shot Placement vs. Broadhead Story

Back in the 80s my dads friend shot a doe with a plastic 125gr Thunderhead practice head

Of course it was out of an 80s era compound with way less speed than todays bows and a heavy Easton aluminum arrow

She died within 40-50 yds


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I know a buddy who accidentally shot a deer with a field tip. He killed it and it didn’t go far.


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Allegheny Tom said:
Why may I ask is anyone carrying practice heads in their quiver?
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A buddy of mine's grandpa shot a doe with one from his crossbow. Didnt know it was a practice head. Opened a new pack that had a practice tip and put everything in the pack on bolts after taking the field tips off. He shot through the deer but there was zero blood trail and he couldnt give much in the way of direction of travel to even sorta have an accurate search. When I explained he had shot the deer with a practice tip he said, "I wondered why that one was a different color."
 
An old guy I know asked me to help him put the blades on a muzzy for him. Turns out he was trying to put on the practice blades. He couldn’t believe there was even such a thing as practice blades.
 
BTaylor said:
A buddy of mine's grandpa shot a doe with one from his crossbow. Didnt know it was a practice head. Opened a new pack that had a practice tip and put everything in the pack on bolts after taking the field tips off. He shot through the deer but there was zero blood trail and he couldnt give much in the way of direction of travel to even sorta have an accurate search. When I explained he had shot the deer with a practice tip he said, "I wondered why that one was a different color."
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I'm really trying to temper my responses.
ANYONE who would make a mistake like carrying practice heads into the woods, is probably not qualified to shoot at critters.
The ONLY arrows that should be in the quiver are sharp broadheads and a blunt/stump head.
Bowhunters should practice shooting with a full quiver (minus 1 arrow). Doing so will simulate the bow weight and performance of exactly how everything works/feels on that 1st arrow shot in a real hunting scenario.
If a guy wants to shoot a plastic or dull practice head, that's admirable. But there's absolutely no reason to put it in the quiver.
 
Allegheny Tom said:
I'm really trying to temper my responses.
ANYONE who would make a mistake like carrying practice heads into the woods, is probably not qualified to shoot at critters.
The ONLY arrows that should be in the quiver are sharp broadheads and a blunt/stump head.
Bowhunters should practice shooting with a full quiver (minus 1 arrow). Doing so will simulate the bow weight and performance of exactly how everything works/feels on that 1st arrow shot in a real hunting scenario.
If a guy wants to shoot a plastic or dull practice head, that's admirable. But there's absolutely no reason to put it in the quiver.
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Cross gunners do have to unload their weapon. I suppose that is one reason to carry one but in the case I mentioned, he just didnt pay any attention to the fact that the "blades" werent sharpened at all or that the one that is a different color might be actually different from the rest.
 
woodsdog2 said:
I say let’s not judge the guy and be happy the story turned out as it did. Congrats to your Dad @DB4x4 and what a learning experience story to tell other hunters about.
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Agreed. I wouldn’t take it to mean a good sharp broadhead doesn’t matter though.
 
John 35 said:
Agreed. I wouldn’t take it to mean a good sharp broadhead doesn’t matter though.
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Definitely not. I totally appreciate what @Allegheny Tom is concerned about. It could be misconstrued by a lot of people. At the end of the day, a shaving sharp broadhead is the most important piece of gear we as bowhunters have. It’s the thing that does the job and we should always make sure it will do that job as efficiently and ethically as possible. We owe it to the wild game we are all blessed to be able to pursue.
 
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