In the process of testing the Barnett Ghost 400, I’ve had a couple of opportunities to hunt urban deer with a depredation permit. It’s been difficult to find time to go hunting, with family obligations and the extreme heat that has been plaguing the country this year. The few times I have been able to climb in a stand, I have come up with a big zero.
That is until recently. Taking advantage of some overcast weather that cooled things down a bit, I climbed into my urban bowhunting stand with the hope of putting meat in the freezer. A storm was starting to move in when I had a fat doe walk out and stroll within 20 yards of the stand, providing a perfect broadside shot.
I took the deer down using a 125-grain Rage crossbow broadhead. I’ve never been a big fan of mechanical broadheads, but a friend and fellow hunter recommended them for use with the crossbow. That deer didn’t run 25 yards before dropping, even though the shot was a little high. I’ve shot deer with a multitude of sporting arms over the years, including rifles, shotguns and compound bows, and I’ve never had a heart/lung shot deer drop as quickly.
Examination showed an entrance wound of just over an inch with a 2 1/2-inch cut coming out. If you’re hunting small properties and need to drop deer quickly, take a look at Rage broadheads. I was very impressed with their effectiveness because I might have lost that deer if I had to track it in the rain.
