Recovering Arrows... If this keeps up bullets are cheaper! :)

[wildernessmaster]

Two shots, two kills. First one only ran 40 yards but it was in deep CRP, brush and briars (like nearly 6' deep). The second went a few hundred through woods, a creek basin, etc...

Neither case have I seen hide nor hair (pun intended) of my arrow. Granted my arrows don't have wraps on them - which I know will help - but I have lost them shooting in my yard and found them.

Any tips on recovering arrows?

 

[Felix40]

Out of a stand or off the ground? I pretty much don’t even waste my time looking for arrows shot from ground level. They often redirect a little and go far enough it’s a lost cause. Out of a tree you should be able to just go pull it out of the ground where the deer was standing.

 

[Blockcaver]

Passthru? If so and the arrow imbeds itself under the grass or deflects off the flight path in the thick stuff, write it off as the cost of having fun hunting.

Bright fletch and wraps help a lot in my experience. I don’t use them but lighted nocks are certainly offer an advantage too.

 

[TxxAgg]

Lighted nocks are the easiest and best way to find arrows

 

[Billy Goat]

Lighted nocks are best for arrow recovery, I hate them tho. I generally just loose an arrow or two. Part of it, kinda a yearly expense for me. Only shoot broadheads I'm ok with loosing on the given situation.


I use glow in the dark fletching on hunting arrows, that helps.

 

[Brendan]

Lighted Nocks - Nockturnal work well if you're shooting 5mm or bigger arrows. But, I only use them on my hunting arrows, and have spares on hand as they take a beating.

 

[Zac]

Arrow Tracker, Recovery and Bowhunting Solutions - Pro-Tracker Archery

Make tracking arrows easy with Pro-Tracker Recovery System! Our arrow tracker helps you recover your bowhunting game! Track game, not arrows!

pro-tracker.com

Lol use this.

 

[180splitg3]

I use nockturnals - I practiced a ton of long range shooting this summer getting ready for my SD mule deer hunt. My backyard is grass and thick crp type grass. I recovered several arrows due to the lighted nocks. Spent about an hour looking for one during daylight - I knew exactly where it had to be but it was so deep in the grass I couldn't see it. Walked outside after dark and found it exactly where I thought it was in about two minutes due to the nockturnal. I'd say this happened about 4-5 times - makes it a little easier to justify the cost. I will say that about half the time they go through an animal they do not stay lit though - just food for thought

 

[87TT]

I lose them in the yard (large sage brush and grass) but eventually find the. Sometimes my lab finds them for me. Lose them in the snow too but find them in the spring.

 

[Zac]

I don't think anyone has found an answer to the lighted nock issue. Firenock works great once they are installed. The installation can be quite the chore, and continually dropping them to get them to turn off is kind of a pain. Anyone tried Lumenok?

 

[chadcharb]

Anyone tried Lumenok?

I've tried lumenok and nocturnal. Both worked well. Nocturnals were a little loose in my rampages but nothing a little cellophane couldn't fix.

 

[S.Clancy]

Lighted nocks are the easiest and best way to find arrows

Yup. I shot an antelope and elk with the same arrow this year because of lighted nocks.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Following.

i shoot a pretty fast bow and my broadheads and arrows usually break upon exit.

I upped my arrow game this year and between the added Cost of the new heavier arrows, a brass insert and an iron will impact collar, I have another $10-12 in each arrow. I previously had not recycled them after they hit an animal but now I do.

I typically get A pass through on deer. From a stand my arrow is almost always on the ground at the point of impact. From the ground, I will mark the spot I shoot from and the point of impact. My arrow is usually found along that line 5-20 feet behind the point of impact.

I have white and red fletching and feel like that gives pretty good contrast. When I have lost an arrow, it has usually hit the ground at a low angle and burried under leaves,where the color isn’t going to matter.

 

[Zac]

I've tried lumenok and nocturnal. Both worked well. Nocturnals were a little loose in my rampages but nothing a little cellophane couldn't fix.

That's kind of ridiculous because Lumenok uses a Black Eagle nock for their 5mm mold.

 

[chadcharb]

That's kind of ridiculous because Lumenok uses a Black Eagle nock for their 5mm mold.

They were loose enough to fall out.

 

[Billy Goat]

I'd you go lighted nocks you better use them all the time. I haven't found one that fits the same.


Firenock or bust...


And I'm not spending that kind of money. Spent several years building practice nocks when they came out. I won't do it anymore....

 

[wildernessmaster]

Out of a stand or off the ground? I pretty much don’t even waste my time looking for arrows shot from ground level. They often redirect a little and go far enough it’s a lost cause. Out of a tree you should be able to just go pull it out of the ground where the deer was standing.

Out of the stand... The first was around 20ish I would have expected to find it. Went back twice to the area and no Bueno. The second was about 35ish... I thought after the shot I saw something look like it hit a fallen tree behind it and go off into the woods. Not sure.

I know I need to add lumenoks and wraps, but out of 2 I thought I would at least have found 1.

 

[wildernessmaster]

Lighted nocks are best for arrow recovery, I hate them tho. I generally just loose an arrow or two. Part of it, kinda a yearly expense for me. Only shoot broadheads I'm ok with loosing on the given situation.


I use glow in the dark fletching on hunting arrows, that helps.

Who makes glow in the dark fletchings... Sounds like a winner. plus I could use my thermals to find them.

 

[wildernessmaster]

Passthru? If so and the arrow imbeds itself under the grass or deflects off the flight path in the thick stuff, write it off as the cost of having fun hunting.

Bright fletch and wraps help a lot in my experience. I don’t use them but lighted nocks are certainly offer an advantage too.

Both had 2 holes in them that would indicate pass thrus... One I thought I saw the arrow fly out and hit some fallen tree and whizz off. I just can imagine an arrow passing through a deer and then having the velocity to go another 50 yards like a bat out of hell. I had to blood trail that one and it expected to run across the arrow.

The first, I can kinda understand loosing it - maybe. It was dense, dense underbrush/briar/crap. I mean 6 feet tall in some areas. So it could have gone under some of the crap and literally disappeared unless I wanna take a sling blade out.

 

[Billy Goat]

Who makes glow in the dark fletchings... Sounds like a winner. plus I could use my thermals to find them.

Flex Fletch.