Bow effects

[Wapato]

This comes out of discussions we're having elsewhere on the existance and effectiveness of pressure waves in bullets.

When considering some studies done with bullets, it occured to me I should really ask about bows in contrast.

Due to their low energy and that they impart their energy more through cutting, they shouldn't have pressure wave effects, and so if bows are getting the same effects as bullets, than that might discount pressure waves.

What I'm specifically asking about is how often medium or larger animals drop immediately upon being hit.

Now, obviously if you hit nerves, bones, or tendons the thing needs to stand they'll drop, and any deer might stumble and fall from the surprise or pain or just poor footing.

I'm asking about things like the classic arrow clean through the heart from the side. Do the animals often drop right there on the spot instantly and lay still, or do they keep acting in some manner for maybe 3 seconds or so and then stop?

What about an arrow just through the lungs?

What about an unfortunate gut shot? Do they sometimes just drop right there for those?

 

[JShirley]

Animals typically run. If it's a good shot, they may lie down shortly afterward. Give 'em half an hour to bleed out.

 

[MutinousDoug]

The 1st elk I shot with a bow, I hit through both lungs. It jumped up out of the little seep I was set up over and in doing so, broke off the arrow shaft against a little tree. At the top of the bank, since there was no arrow sticking out of him, he forgot what had scared him and he started to feed on a bush and walk toward the other bull that was with him. It took at least 15-20 seconds for him to keel over (seemed like forever).
I took a second elk a few years later through both lungs and across the top of the heart. She bolted down the hill we were on and piled up against a fallen tree. Maybe 2-4 seconds. In neither case did the arrow exit the far side so it was pretty easy to determine the path and damage.
So, in my experience: no shock. When the blood pressure gets low enough, the brain stops functioning.
I also gut shot a bull that I tracked for 2 miles before catching up to him the next morning. He had bedded down in some really thick trees so he saw me before I saw him and got up and trotted away before I could get a shot. He left behind a pretty good pool of blood but I could find no blood trail from that point on and lost the track when he got onto a well used trail. I feel bad that he got away because I'm sure I killed him.

 

[Wolfebyte]

Case Study #1. deer shot from 18 yards with Thunderhead 125. Double lung shot

Deer jumped, bounded about 35 yards and looked back to see what stung her. Laid down under a tree and bled out. I sat for 30 min and observed before moving.

Case Study #2. Buck shot from 25 yards with Muzzy 125. Quartering away heart/lung shot.

Deer jumped as if stung.. didn't run, but trotted out about 100 yards and laid down in some bushes.

Case Study #3. Doe shot from 20 yards with Thunderhead 125. Double lung shot in the upper part of the lungs.

Cousin hunting with me yelled after the shot, scaring the deer. I'd guess adrenaline kicked in and I trailed that deer about a mile before finding her crashed out like she ran into a tree.

Cousin no longer hunts with me... :banghead:

 

[rcmodel]

Deer jumped as if stung..

Often the case.
Sometimes they kick at the arrow like they were shooing a fly away.

Sometimes they jump straight up when heart or lung shot and land running.
They bleed out in 35-75 yards.

In no case do they drop DRT unless a spine or brain shot is involved.

Broadhead arrows kill from hemorrhaging & shock from blood loss.

Not from hydrostatic shock destroying tissue and nerves like a very high velocity rifle bullet sometimes does.

rc

 

[Wapato]

Very informative! Thanks!