Broadhead Not Deployed?

[jds247]

I’ve a buddy that tracks deer in Oklahoma, and he said mechanical broadhead failure accounts for 40% of his business.

I'd put money on it being 99 percent crappy shots blaming the broadhead for failure.. everyone makes excuses instead of looking in the mirror..

[jt400]

I'd put money on it being 99 percent crappy shots blaming the broadhead for failure.. everyone makes excuses instead of looking in the mirror..

Nailed it

[Fishndude]

OP your shot seems backstrap or just below to me.

[Chance Love]

I'd put money on it being 99 percent crappy shots blaming the broadhead for failure.. everyone makes excuses instead of looking in the mirror..

This. No doubt.

[txbowhunter10]

I have shot two deer this year with a brand new pack of NAP Spitfire broadheads. Neither one of the broadheads opened up! Needles to say, the rest of the pack of NAP's went into the trash!! One deer survived and looks like your buck (mine was hit high also) and the other deer died because it was a perfect heart shot even thought the broadhead was still completely closed up.

[LukeDuke]

For me - changing to a heavier arrow and sticking with fixed blades was the best move I ever made in terms of animal recovery. If I hit them in the shoulder it just blows right through.

The trade off is a less impressive blood trail...but they're much easier to find when dead by my experience!

[ATX Tyler]

I have shot two deer this year with a brand new pack of NAP Spitfire broadheads. Neither one of the broadheads opened up! Needles to say, the rest of the pack of NAP's went into the trash!! One deer survived and looks like your buck (mine was hit high also) and the other deer died because it was a perfect heart shot even thought the broadhead was still completely closed up.

I'd be willing to bet that those broadheads opened on impact. There's almost no way that a spitfire won't open on impact the way that they are designed. They often appear "closed" when you recover the arrow, but that's typically because once they stop, those blades rotate back forward. It's like slamming on the brakes in a car, and it causing you to move forward.

[jt400]

I have shot two deer this year with a brand new pack of NAP Spitfire broadheads. Neither one of the broadheads opened up! Needles to say, the rest of the pack of NAP's went into the trash!! One deer survived and looks like your buck (mine was hit high also) and the other deer died because it was a perfect heart shot even thought the broadhead was still completely closed up.

I shoot the grim reaper which is similar in design to the naps and have never had a problem with them opening. I often find them closed after a pass through but the wound clearly shows all 3 blades opened. I think it slams shut when it stops. Obviously when it doesn't pass through the blades close when you pull the arrow back out.

[Mudslinger]

I'd be willing to bet that those broadheads opened on impact. There's almost no way that a spitfire won't open on impact the way that they are designed. They often appear "closed" when you recover the arrow, but that's typically because once they stop, those blades rotate back forward. It's like slamming on the brakes in a car, and it causing you to move forward.

This all day everyday!

[txtimetravler]

Shot placement is too high.

Looks like BH did its job.
Just needed better shot placement.

Look like the deer will be about 4 years old Next year and a good one to take.

[Chance Love]

I have shot two deer this year with a brand new pack of NAP Spitfire broadheads. Neither one of the broadheads opened up! Needles to say, the rest of the pack of NAP's went into the trash!! One deer survived and looks like your buck (mine was hit high also) and the other deer died because it was a perfect heart shot even thought the broadhead was still completely closed up.

They opened. Both of them. Then you threw away some great broadheads for no reason. I've shot a ton of deer with Spitfires. They open every time. I don't suppose you have a pic of the heart, the one where the head "didn't open"?

I'd be willing to bet that those broadheads opened on impact. There's almost no way that a spitfire won't open on impact the way that they are designed. They often appear "closed" when you recover the arrow, but that's typically because once they stop, those blades rotate back forward. It's like slamming on the brakes in a car, and it causing you to move forward.

I shoot the grim reaper which is similar in design to the naps and have never had a problem with them opening. I often find them closed after a pass through but the wound clearly shows all 3 blades opened. I think it slams shut when it stops. Obviously when it doesn't pass through the blades close when you pull the arrow back out.

This all day everyday!

Yep. It is AMAZING how many folks can shoot one of these heads in a target, pull it out and say "see, the blades didn't open!".

Spitfires and Grim Reapers are both awesome heads. They were both my go-to heads for many, many years. I have NEVER seen one not open on an animal or on a target. Not once ever.

Actually, I can't think of any mechanical I have ever played with that failed to open. And I betcha I've shot most of them out there. With all the guys in my "hunting circle" there likely isn't a broadhead we don't have experience with. So out of literally thousands of deer, I honestly can't recall any of us having a mechanical that didn't open. It just doesn't happen.

[txbowhunter10]

I could see the arrow sticking out of the opposite side of my deer when it was running off and the blades where closed. My opinion the broadhead did not open. I have even tried to open them by hand and they are extremely hard to open. The entry and exit wound told the tell also...

[Chance Love]

I could see the arrow sticking out of the opposite side of my deer when it was running off and the blades where closed. My opinion the broadhead did not open. I have even tried to open them by hand and they are extremely hard to open. The entry and exit wound told the tell also...

It's VERY typical for the blades to close back up when the arrow stops. I'd even say most of the time they close back up. Got any pics of the holes?

[txbowhunter10]

It's VERY typical for the blades to close back up when the arrow stops. I'd even say most of the time they close back up. Got any pics of the holes?

I guess I did not think about the blades maybe closing back up after the shot. I've always shot Rage broadheads they will stay open after the shot. Unfortunately did not take pictures since it was just a little spike I shot, but the entry and exit hole looked like I had shot it with a field point and not the carnage that I was expecting. I've always seen guys shooting those Spitfires and wanted to have success with them.

[HogHunter34]

I guess I did not think about the blades maybe closing back up after the shot. I've always shot Rage broadheads they will stay open after the shot. Unfortunately did not take pictures since it was just a little spike I shot, but the entry and exit hole looked like I had shot it with a field point and not the carnage that I was expecting. I've always seen guys shooting those Spitfires and wanted to have success with them.

That's because the Rage heads rear-deploy and don't pivot around the ferrule position like the NAP spitfires do. Once the Nap blades are removed from their "locked" position around the ferrule they are loosely bound and will fall back forward on stop impact.