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Permalink Reply by allanm on October 12, 2016 at 8:25

I have not taken two deer with one shot Charles, but to be honest, I would have no hesitation if I would not be breaking the law and I could tell I would have clean kills.

Growing up in Africa I hunted small game - pheasant, guinea fowl and others mostly with a .22 LR rifle, and doves and others with a .177 Gecado (German make) break action air rifle. I used to sometimes get two for ones with head shots, but usually unintentional from not seeing two birds right next to each other. But with a small .177 pellet, from at least 20 yards I think that was still a testimony to the power.

More realistic to your question. Two years ago in Arkansas I used an AR-15 I built in 7.62x39 (> .23 with 3 round, or no magazine making it legal in states like VA where the minimum caliber is .23). One deer at +- 50 yards dropped where she stood and left a wide spray of blood for easily 3 - 5 yards at the exit wound. No issue with pass through energy. A second deer at 130 - 170 yards, pass right through no issue but of course more energy lost over the range. I have fired a 30-06 a few times but am far from experienced with it, and definitely not a ballistics expert. Based on the recoil I felt, I know it has far more knock down behind it than my 7.62.

Even more recent - last week I was away with my new Excalibur Matrix Bulldog crossbow and brought home a decent sized spike buck. That has a 280lb draw (kind of halved by the cocking rope) and is alleged to be 400 feet per second with a 400 grain arrow / broadhead. (250 grain arrow and 150 grain broadhead). That arrow passed right through the deer, tore him up and left some ugly cuts. I searched, and could not find my arrow, I suspect it buried itself deep in the soil. I would definitely not intentionally try for a 2-fer with an arrow but I suspect it would still be effective. I may have already mentioned this (but I claim age :-) and have likely forgotten if I did) - one day I must have been to excited at the sight of a 10 point, and misjudged distance, possibly also jerked my shot. I missed the buck, but it sounded almost like a rifle shot. I thought the deer was at around 40 yards, I think I was way off and he was more like 50, maybe 55. The tree was at about 45.

I found my arrow the next day - an Excalibur Diablo 18" carbon, with an Excalibur Bolt Cutter 3 fixed blade broadhead embedded in a 2" diameter tree. The broadhead is around 1" from the needle sharp chisel point tip to the arrow, with the screw inside the arrow of course. The entire broadhead and about 1/4" of the arrow were so far in the tree I could not get it out. I broke that tree because I wanted to see exactly what it looked like and how it survived. The arrow and broadhead were undamaged. The needle sharp chisel point tip is still needle sharp. The blades were unbent, dulled enough I won't use it to hunt unless I can resharpen suitably - but they are all still sharp enough you could get yourself a nasty cut if not careful.

So at about 45 yards, with a bow at max theoretical speed 400 feet per second to bury in a tree like that, I really believe I would pass through two deer at 40 yards. So yes, I'd do it with a rifle, but I still would not do it with my bow, just not enough confidence to do that.

FeaturedPermalink Reply by Charles Sample on October 12, 2016 at 11:06

Allan I have  a Barnett crossbow.  I believe it is a 150 pound pull and claims 350 fps.  I shoot a 125 grain three bladed fixed broadhead.  I have killed one deer, a large doe, with it.  I was hunting from my 17 foot ladder stand.  I was watching eight does feeding on acorns.  The largest doe was broadside to me at about 30 yards.  The bolt went through her and stuck in the ground about ten feet on the far side.  She surprised me by going about 100 yards before she dropped.  I had to blood trail her in the dark.

As for my .30-06, I have now killed 14 deer with it.  All have been through and through shots.  Also have killed two coyotes with it.  It almost cut one of the coyotes in two.

Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on October 12, 2016 at 18:44

I would imagine those shots do not come up often.  The responsible hunter in both of you are thinking ahead.  Do I have enough power to drop the second also.  I appreciate that, I know that sometimes in hunting an animal can be wounded and still get away.  It is the nature of a hunt that some kills will go to feed someone other than the hunter but it is a good hunter that knows how to prevent that as often as possible