OT: Can I ask a stupid question?

[J Miller]

When hunters post pics of the game they've taken they usually pose with their rifles or bows and the animal if there's someone to take their pic. Other wise it's just the animal and the weapon.

It's very hard to hide a bullet or arrow hole, but I've never yet seen a posed pic of the game with the arrow still in it. Every one has been removed prior to the picture.

Why?

Joe

[vancelw]

Most of the time the arrow goes clean through.

[J Miller]

Most of the time the arrow goes clean through.

Really? That's very interesting. Shows just how little I know about bow hunting.

Joe

[Rusty]

Joe, when I was introduced to bow hunting back in the 60's most people use a 45# recurve. One of the things I was told caused the arrow to make a more memoraging wound was when the animal would run off while the arrow was still there and bouncing around.

Jump forward to today... hunters aren't happy unless they are using upwards of a 50# recurve and the fiest thing they brag about was "I got a complete pass through." The idea now is a pass through leaves two holes for double the blood trail.

[J Miller]

Rusty,

OK, that makes sense. Just like a big fat cast bullet, lets blood out and air in.

So how many actually hunt down and recover their arrows?

Joe

[Hobie]

Everyone I know looks for the arrow because the type of blood/tissue on it tells them where they hit (lung or not, etc...). Some mount the arrow with the rack.

As to HOW they find the arrows... I think that if you've practiced enough to go hunting you've learned how to find those darn things no matter what. I have found arrows that snaked dozens of yards under grass because I had to and noticed it was easier to find them later.

[Bullard4075]

I think also pictures are posed so as not to show undue blood and violence.
To some an arrow sticking out would be just that.
Just consideration for the more gentle souls.

[AJMD429]

Also, although they usually try to recover the arrow for 'study', or even for a part of the 'mount' with antlers or whatever, note that usually the arrow is about as reuseable as a shot bullet, after passing through game, and banging around. The shaft is probably bent or broken most of the time, and the broadhead (if used) may be useable, but the blades will be dulled or often broken, and the fletching isn't really useable again unless the shaft it is attached to is ok. The nock is probably ok.

Another nice reason to retreive broadheads is that they are SHARP, and if an unsuspecting hunter or hiker or animal stepped on one or was digging in the dirt by hand and hit one, it would be bad!

Also - when field-dressing the animal, if the arrow hasn't been found or a clear 'exit' wound found, you have to be REALLY careful reaching in and rummaging around the innards, lest you 'find' the broadhead sharp-edge(s) first. Once in awhile the arrow and two of three blades will be found, but the other is embedded into and sticking out of a rib internally, waiting for that gloved-hand sweeping inside during field dressing...

[J Miller]

Also, although they usually try to recover the arrow for 'study', or even for a part of the 'mount' with antlers or whatever, note that usually the arrow is about as reuseable as a shot bullet, after passing through game, and banging around. The shaft is probably bent or broken most of the time, and the broadhead (if used) may be useable, but the blades will be dulled or often broken, and the fletching isn't really useable again unless the shaft it is attached to is ok. The nock is probably ok.

Another nice reason to retreive broadheads is that they are SHARP, and if an unsuspecting hunter or hiker or animal stepped on one or was digging in the dirt by hand and hit one, it would be bad!

Also - when field-dressing the animal, if the arrow hasn't been found or a clear 'exit' wound found, you have to be REALLY careful reaching in and rummaging around the innards, lest you 'find' the broadhead sharp-edge(s) first. Once in awhile the arrow and two of three blades will be found, but the other is embedded into and sticking out of a rib internally, waiting for that gloved-hand sweeping inside during field dressing...

You know what ...... ? I think I'm gonna stick with bullets.
Joe

[Old No7]

Just as an FYI...

Someone once posted on the Accurate Reloading website (Taxidermy forum) a picture of a mounted whitetail doe head/chest "with the arrow in it", and the doe had its head turned to look like it was sniffing the arrow & drips of fake blood...

The reaction to that post confirmed the "undue blood and violence comment" made above, and the consensus was the mount was in VERY poor taste. Both the hunter and the taxidermist were roundly criticized for showing a lack of judgment and proper respect for the animal... You may decide differently, but I saw the mount and I agreed.

Anyway, just thought I'd add this to the discussion.

Old No7

[1894cfan]

Also, although they usually try to recover the arrow for 'study', or even for a part of the 'mount' with antlers or whatever, note that usually the arrow is about as reuseable as a shot bullet, after passing through game, and banging around. The shaft is probably bent or broken most of the time, and the broadhead (if used) may be useable, but the blades will be dulled or often broken, and the fletching isn't really useable again unless the shaft it is attached to is ok. The nock is probably ok.

Another nice reason to retreive broadheads is that they are SHARP, and if an unsuspecting hunter or hiker or animal stepped on one or was digging in the dirt by hand and hit one, it would be bad!

Also - when field-dressing the animal, if the arrow hasn't been found or a clear 'exit' wound found, you have to be REALLY careful reaching in and rummaging around the innards, lest you 'find' the broadhead sharp-edge(s) first. Once in awhile the arrow and two of three blades will be found, but the other is embedded into and sticking out of a rib internally, waiting for that gloved-hand sweeping inside during field dressing...

You know what ...... ? I think I'm gonna stick with bullets.
Joe

+1

[.Dirty-.Thirty]

Great idea on taking pictures with the arrows sticking in where they hit at, I'll give it a try!!

As said above, archers always look for their arrows for a definite sign of where they passed thorugh the critter telling how to follow up the tracking. Pass through arrows shot from a treestand are simple finds, shots eye to eye on the ground, as said above tend to snake along under leaves and such.

I help out in a taxidermy shop and the mount discussed above has been quite popular, I wouldn't won't one personally, but they are different.

.DT

[Old Ironsights]

Only time I ever saw an animal with the arrow still in it was with the doe I shot a couple of Christmasses ago... and that's because the arrow took her in the eye and couldn't exit the skull.

If you really want to see it, it's here: http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y180/M ... AG0004.jpg

[deerwhacker444]

Only time I ever saw an animal with the arrow still in it was with the doe I shot a couple of Christmasses ago... and that's because the arrow took her in the eye and couldn't exit the skull.

If you really want to see it, it's here: http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y180/M ... AG0004.jpg

Oh man,....that's Brutal.! Did she move weird when you shot. Bet there wasn't much of a track job....

[deerwhacker444]

When hunters post pics of the game they've taken they usually pose with their rifles or bows and the animal if there's someone to take their pic. Other wise it's just the animal and the weapon.

It's very hard to hide a bullet or arrow hole, but I've never yet seen a posed pic of the game with the arrow still in it. Every one has been removed prior to the picture.

Why?

Joe

Joe

This is the Dink I got with my bow last year, you can see the exit hole in the pic.



When the arrow hit him I didn't get a total shoot thru, the arrow buried up to about mid fletching, you can see where the blood started and marked the vanes.



The broad head was sticking out thru the off-side when he kicked it into high gear. He snapped the arrow as he was making for the next county. The broadhead end was recovered right where I shot him, the end with the fletching was still sticking out of the shoulder when I got to him. I pulled the broken arrow out of him before dragging and taking pictures. I think it looks a little better without arrows sticking out.

I keep all my arrows if I can find them. Even if they are undamaged, they get retired. To me it's exactly like finding the mushroomed bullet on the off-side shoulder, I keep them as trophys.

[J Miller]

OI,

I get the point, that is one brutal looking picture. OUCH!

deerwhacker444,

Why did you call that deer a "Dink"?

I know what you mean about keeping arrows and bullets as trophies. I kept one of the Keith 358429s I killed my javalina with many years ago. Still have it too:

Pig Bullet.JPG

Joe

[ByronG]

A very quick google search on "deer taken with bow" brought this up.



http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthread ... n_of_Mecha

[Old Ironsights]

Only time I ever saw an animal with the arrow still in it was with the doe I shot a couple of Christmasses ago... and that's because the arrow took her in the eye and couldn't exit the skull.

If you really want to see it, it's here: http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y180/M ... AG0004.jpg

Oh man,....that's Brutal.! Did she move weird when you shot. Bet there wasn't much of a track job....

If you count "dropping like a stone" as "weird"... the doe standing next to her just stood there all confused...

The arrow caught her in the eye because it deflected off of a twig I didn't see when clearing my shooting lane.

[86er]