BOW vs GUN Kill on Deer

[FORVOLS]

So if you take a deer with a bow giving the hemorrhaging vs taking with a gun where its more of a impact wound. Have you guys detected any difference in the meat bleed out kill vs a impact? I have not still think how the animal is processed is more important. I do my own processing.

[Bcxbow]

I have found that the final product depends on how quickly any animal is field dressed, thouroly cleaned and cooled. IMO it does not matter what method is used to dispatch them.

[janesy]

All except one of the deer I have shot with a rifle or shotgun have been clean chest shots with zero meat damage. The one deer that did see some meat damage dead immediately and the leg was basically removed prior to dressing. So there would really have been now difference I could tell.

Now I have yet to kill with my crossbows, but my friend fills his freezer each year with his bow. So between my rifle/slug shot and his cross bow deer, the only difference that can be tasted is the hemlock wild flavour that set up north tend to have. Compared to the grain feed deer of southern Ontario. But, I should mention, both his and my deer are hung and skinned as soon as possible, and processed by the same guy.

[paulaboutform]

Too many variables to give an accurate answer. I've killed more deer with my compound bow than anything. Next is my rifle and one muledeer with my crossbow. It really depends on where they're hit and the aftercare. That's about as much as I can offer.

Paul

[DuckHunt]

I agree with you. I haven't really noticed a difference in taste or look of the meat. Most everything I harvest is vacuum packed and in the freezer before I go to bed. So needless to say, the time from field to freezer is quite short. Shot placement does make a difference though regardless of the weapon. On the hard quartering away shots, you can sometimes get a little more 'special sauce' than you'd like. If you can keep things in the rib cage, life is just a lot cleaner and so is the meat.

My son bagged one that we still refer to as 'The Chili Deer'. It was not a pleasant experience field dressing that one.

DuckHunt

[xcaliber]

Too many variables to give an accurate answer. I've killed more deer with my compound bow than anything. Next is my rifle and one muledeer with my crossbow. It really depends on where they're hit and the aftercare. That's about as much as I can offer.

Paul

Absolutely!

[newbie]

gut skin and cool it down ASAP will make a difference.... method used to dispatch.... nope.

[papabear1]

gut skin and cool it down ASAP will make a difference.... method used to dispatch.... nope.

very true

Dave

[grouse]

I shot 2 deer with my crossbow last year and one with my rifle. They were all processed at the same shop and packaged the same way. I put them in the same freezer and didn't keep any of them separated so I never know which deer a package comes from. They all taste the same to me.

I think that a chest shot deer dies mostly from hemorrhaging whether it is shot with a bow or gun. A bullet doesn't usually hit anything in a chest cavity that will absorb much energy to create a lot of shock. Most chest cavity shot deer, regardless of weapon, will have a blood filled cavity.

[rayman]

All other factors being equal, I've not noticed a difference in the quality of the meat between deer being killed by bow, rifle, or wife's vehicle. Big difference in price tag between bolt/broad head, rifle shell, and insurance deductible though.