My Exomax with GT carbons took 6 deer last season and one oak tree that I still swear stepped in front of the largest buck I've seen. All of the arrows (that were found) were in great shape and lived to hunt again. Even the oak tree kill went on to take a spike later that week. The broadhead wasn't so lucky. It is a permanent fixture within the oak with only the threads exposed.
Good quality carbons should never splinter when treated properly and are far more durable. Unlike retiring an obviously bent aluminum arrow, knowing when to retire a nicked carbon arrow can be more difficult to determine.
For this reason I have to agree with some of the others that for a new hunter I would recommend good straight aluminum arrows.
"You have reached the pinnacle of success as soon as you become uninterested in money, compliments, and publicity." - Eddie Rickenbacker, World War I pilot
All of the arrows (that were found) were in great shape and lived to hunt again. Even the oak tree kill went on to take a spike later that week. The broadhead wasn't so lucky. It is a permanent fixture within the oak with only the threads exposed.