Arrow Penetration Test With a Deer Shoulder Blade

[@lovetofly32]

Hes literally got them set up backwards. The smooth side is NOT the outside! And not to mention how they're mounted. Yes he mentioned it's lacking tendons and flesh but it's also a huge factor how solid it's held. When you have something mounted solid when you're hammering on something it doesn't bounce and it takes all the blow from the hammer but if it can move and has a spongey backstop then it is alot more difficult to get that kinetic energy to transfer. This is a fun test I'm sure but it's sooooo far from the real thing. That shoulder blade is not only faced with the ribs outward lol but it's supported by soft squishy muscles that absorb the impact. There's muscle and hide on one side and muscles behind it! And also, most of it is in front of the spine and above so even if you busted through it there's no lungs up there. It's a lose lose if you hit the shoulder blade.

[@tig7528]

The shoulder shot is in consideration after a big buck ran off from a double lung at 4yrds from the ground, never found that buck! Sad

[@robynsmith8930]

Isn’t the scapula ridge on the outside?

[@joshandhuntersadventures5046]

Interesting thanks for sharing this

[@travislee5417]

“Proper equipment” includes not using mechanical broadheads.

[@ThirdLawPair]

luddite

[@mickeymcafee7615]

Ive.never had to look for a deer I hit in the scapula. Hit brachial plexus and down they go. Get arrow in quick in case they get up. I have had deer run hundreds of yards with direct heart shot and I've had them go a few yards. I guess you just gotta access the situation as each deer approach. I think the point is don't assume a less than perfect shot isn't worth following. So many archers just seem to be like shoulder hit not gonna look for long. 75 yards later the deer is double lunged.

[@samlink5276]

Where did you buy your bow and equipment?

[@thetexanoutdoors6670]

Too many ifs in shooting the shoulder. Percentage of finding a shoulder shot deer is super low. My tracking dog and I hardly even go out on a call anymore knowing it’s a shoulder hit. We went today on one knowing because it was close to home. A 36 yd shoulder shot on a mature buck with a 200 grain fixed broad head and 3 hrs of my dog trying to trail with very minimum blood. No luck.

[@tonymiller1216]

If you're hitting the flat side of the scapula, you've already penetrated the deer. Ridge runs on the outside.

[@theodorewood5083]

There are so many factors to consider in how an arrow will preform and KE is not a good metric to measure any of them

[@ThatJamesGuy88]

In terms of killing deer, kinetic energy doesn’t matter. Kinetic energy is necessary to launch the arrow. It’s also necessary to open mechanicals. But sharp broadheads and enough momentum to penetrate vital tissues are what kills animals.

[@theodorewood5083]

@@ThatJamesGuy88 Its just velocityxvelocityxmass. It puts a premium in velocity. If that energy was passed in a meaningful way to the target as in a high velocity bullet then there is a reason to look at it. In the archery world you kill by cut. Velocity is important to get to the target. Arch trajectory, arrow time on rest and string all play a part. But in terms of terminal ballistics a reduction in friction at several points, point, shaft, ect, and mass are more important factors than velocity. KE is irrelevant as a metric for determining lethality and setting minimums for archery on game. That said people have great success with arrows that by todays trends would be considered too light.

[@columbotee2652]

Kinetic energy is important to bow hunters because it plays a major factor in how well the arrow will penetrate, especially when encountering hide, muscle or bone. Most bow hunters prefer a slightly heavier arrow than target shooters, thus sacrificing a little speed for added kinetic energy and penetrating power.

[@phebb8255]

@@ThatJamesGuy88 I think you’re confusing potential energy and KE, but then again, I’m no orthodontist 🤷🏻‍♂️. KE is the energy measured as a result of weight & velocity, which you are presumably referring to when you say momentum 😉

[@jas1az18]

It'd be interesting to see a deer cut open immediately after being shot to see the damage done to the shoulder blades.

[@heraclitolima9579]

True 👍