What happend??

[QuickTrigger7]

Never had this happen. Shot felt perfect 40 yards on a public land mule deer. Was late in the evening all I heard was a whack. Definitely think I hit the antler, but this was how the arrow was found.

Any guesses on how the broadhead could turn side ways like that…

Using 150gr. Hit inserts
Bows tuned.

 

[Derek mannens]

That’s a bummer, was there any chance of deflection? Maybe hit a bush and got kicked sideways before impact!?

 

[QuickTrigger7]

That’s a bummer, was there any chance of deflection? Maybe hit a bush and got kicked sideways before impact!?

Tall grass maybe a stick was some brush. now that you say it it makes sense, didn’t think that small of brush would effect arrow flight. Shot from knees, should have stood up

 

[5MilesBack]

Unless you were aiming at the antlers, I'd guess shoulder knuckle. I wouldn't expect hitting antlers to do that to an arrow. What arrows are you using?

 

[Beendare]

Not enough info. You definitely hit something hard- indication is the nok popping back out like that. My arrows won't even do that when burying in a 2x4- its takes something harder.

FWIW, in 40 years of bowhunting I have never had a BH bend out at 90 deg like that. I've had them bend hitting a rock but never like that.

I have shot mule deer in the antler- my first year bowhunting....and that BH buried in there with the buck running off and the arrow dropping out 10y later. Bowhunting is like mountain biking, the bike goes where you look.....same with an arrow.

 

[bpurtz]

Do you target practice with the broadheads you hunt with and/or practice with field points and swap to broadheads? I've had micro cracks from arrows hitting others during practice - sometimes the damage isn't easily noticed. If the arrow was already damaged, it wouldn't take much to blow the broadhead insert out like that. Just like @Beendare said though - the nock pop suggests you hit something hard...

 

[HunterGatherer]

Never had this happen. Shot felt perfect 40 yards on a public land mule deer. Was late in the evening all I heard was a whack. Definitely think I hit the antler, but this was how the arrow was found.

Any guesses on how the broadhead could turn side ways like that…

Using 150gr. Hit inserts
Bows tuned.

I keep a couple arrows like that in my quiver for shooting around corners

 

[Danny Hoey]

If I had to guess, something was up with that arrow. To have a broadhead hit something hard enough to turn a 90, and no scratch, nick, mark on that broadhead, it's weird. What kind of glue did you use for the insert? How much was that arrow used prior to shooting it at the mulie? Too small of insert?

I've broken a handful of arrows on rocks, and a few on animals but never like that.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Is this yours? LOL
Found this broadhead in an antelope horn I shot 2 years ago. It was pretty fresh as archery season here in Colorado had closed a week ago. When I took the horn sheath off, there was fresh blood on the bone.

 

[Meshnasty]

Tall grass maybe a stick was some brush. now that you say it it makes sense, didn’t think that small of brush would effect arrow flight. Shot from knees, should have stood up

This buck was 20ish yards away, 8-10’ above me, and facing left to right when I shot. Arrow was on the way to the vitals when it hit brush I thought I wouldn’t hit. It hit on the opposite side of the neck appearing to be angling downwards.

I’ve never seen an insert fail like that but wouldn’t be surprised if something similiar happened to you and the tip of the arrow got side-loaded on impact.