Carbon arrows that break inside game.

[MIKEXRAY]

My buddy just went back to aluminum arrows because of carbons that break in half while inside game is really bad for you ? He indicated that if the carbon arrow breaks ( which mine did last year ) that you need to cut out the meat the arrow passed through and be sure to clean out and look for splinters ? He said broken carbon can ruin to much meat ? He is a great bow hunter and I take his advice pretty much. I am going to keep shooting carbon arrows, wondering if you guys have an opinion on splinters ?

[bankwalker]

i sure wouldnt want to swallow carbon splinters.

[bowhuntin]

Just make sure you get a pass through  No wasted meat then. I have heard this before, but I think alot of the carbon arrows that they make now are a lot tougher than the older ones that used to break and splinter. I have hit rocks with my carbon arrows and they are just fine and can still shoot them. I am going to continue to shoot them, if it does happen then I will just have to cut away the bad meat.

[billythekidrock]

I have heard this before, but I think alot of the carbon arrows that they make now are a lot tougher

I don't know much about carbon arrow quality, but I do know that my brother's new carbon Easton Axis arrow shattered into 4 pieces on a heart shot bear.

[bowhuntin]

I have heard this before, but I think alot of the carbon arrows that they make now are a lot tougher

I don't know much about carbon arrow quality, but I do know that my brother's new carbon Easton Axis arrow shattered into 4 pieces on a heart shot bear.

How much of the meat did it ruin when that happened. I guess those arrows aren't as tough as I thought.

I found this on the easton website about carbon arrow shafts and hunting...

Carbon arrows may be used for hunting if special precautions are taken. Carbon arrow shafts used in bowhunting could break after being shot into a big game animal. This arrow breakage may be caused by the angle in which the arrow impacts the animal, or by the reaction of the animal itself such as rolling on the shaft or rubbing against a tree. The break may be inside the animal and may not be immediately obvious after recovery of the animal.

Unlike aluminum arrows, when a carbon arrow breaks, it tends to shatter with the resulting creation of many sharp, splinter-like fragments. These fragments can be harmful to humans if ingested; therefore, when game is recovered, the hunter should always carefully determine whether the arrow has broken inside the animal. If the arrow has broken, follow the instructions below:

   1. Use extreme caution when removing broken segments of the carbon arrow shaft.
   2. When field dressing game animals, use care to avoid splinters of carbon fiber.
   3. Carefully remove the flesh in the area of the wounds. It may contain carbon fiber, particularly at the entry and exit points.
   4. Thoroughly clean the surrounding area of the wound and inspect for the presence of carbon fragments.
   5. Carefully dispose of any meat that might contain carbon splinters. Do not leave for scavengers to eat

[billythekidrock]

I have heard this before, but I think alot of the carbon arrows that they make now are a lot tougher

I don't know much about carbon arrow quality, but I do know that my brother's new carbon Easton Axis arrow shattered into 4 pieces on a heart shot bear.

How much of the meat did it ruin when that happened. I guess those arrows aren't as tough as I thought.

I cored out a baseball sized hole from the enterance through to the exit on the off side. Not really a whole lot, but just enough to be safe. I did find a few splinters, but mostly it was in 4 pieces with the smallest being about 4 inches long.

[boneaddict]

I shoot stumps occasional shoulderblades on elk and railroad ties and many other things, and I just don't bust them unless I bounce a rock, or smuck a robinhood.

[bowhuntin]

I have heard this before, but I think alot of the carbon arrows that they make now are a lot tougher

I don't know much about carbon arrow quality, but I do know that my brother's new carbon Easton Axis arrow shattered into 4 pieces on a heart shot bear.

How much of the meat did it ruin when that happened. I guess those arrows aren't as tough as I thought.

I cored out a baseball sized hole from the enterance through to the exit on the off side. Not really a whole lot, but just enough to be safe. I did find a few splinters, but mostly it was in 4 pieces with the smallest being about 4 inches long.

That isn't really a whole lot of wasted meat then, did your brothers arrow hit bone and shatter then? I am using the n fused arrows by easton now, but have used the original easton axis this past year and don't believe I have broken one yet. Lost a few, but yet to break one. Hit a rock today with those n fused arrows and it ruined the field point but the arrow was good to go.

[DeKuma]

How do you like those arrows?  Needing to get another dozen before the bear season and cannot decide what to get. Currently have a couple Beman ICS Hunters, and half dozen Blackhawk Vapor Camo Hunters.............  Heard good things about the Beman Camo Bowhunter and the Axis.

[Todd_ID]

Good topic!

I've had several arrows break inside animals: generally it comes as a 3/4 pass through and the animal catches it with the leg as they run or knock it against a tree.  I suppose Easton's idea is a sound one.  A little meat traded for a possible hospital trip is a good bargain.  One thing I do is to lay the pieces of arrow back together and make sure nothing is missing; if a chunk of carbon is gone, then I look very close in the processing.  I kind of do miss the aluminum arrows for this reason, though.  (And the nostalgia of yesterday's hunting, too.)

[bucklucky]

Never knew this, most of mine have broke just like Todd explained. Better pay closer attention next time.

[bowhuntin]

How do you like those arrows?  Needing to get another dozen before the bear season and cannot decide what to get. Currently have a couple Beman ICS Hunters, and half dozen Blackhawk Vapor Camo Hunters.............  Heard good things about the Beman Camo Bowhunter and the Axis.

The axis and the n fused axis have worked great for me. Good flight out of them and they are real tough. I also like the small diameter arrows, they seem to get better penetration, compared to the epics I had shot. The new n fused will run you about $60 for a half dozen at sportsmens warehouse, but the older axis you can get for $40(if they are on sale i believe) or $50

[billythekidrock]

That isn't really a whole lot of wasted meat then, did your brothers arrow hit bone and shatter then? I am using the n fused arrows by easton now, but have used the original easton axis this past year and don't believe I have broken one yet. Lost a few, but yet to break one. Hit a rock today with those n fused arrows and it ruined the field point but the arrow was good to go.

No bone was hit. Went in tight behind the left shoulder, through the heart and lodged inside between the neck and the right front leg.

[MIKEXRAY]

Thanks for the info, I to will be careful. My arrow broke last year but just the broadhead broke off with no splinters. Made it through the chest cavity and lodged in flappy skin between chest and far leg. When I cut the skin up the leg it fell out. I didn't think it could be a problem until my conversation with my buddy. I didn't take any of the meat by the wounds or have to waste any other meat. I also have buried my carbons into wood etc and very tough , but I don't think the are tough at all when inside an animal and getting flexed from the side. I bent mine and would take very little force to snap bending sideways.

[Intruder]

Seems like a reasonable percaution to clean the wound channel if you break an arrow much the way you'd clean up if you had a bullet break apart and leave lead fragments.  Sensible handling would seem to be adequate rather than changing shaft material.