Hunting arrow and method

Abstract

A hollow shaft hunting arrow carries a small volume of liquified carbon dioxide which is released by flash expansion upon penetration into the thorax of a game animal. The thorax is pressurized with carbon dioxide gas at sub-zero temperature to cause collapse of the lungs and fibrillation of the heart, so that the animal can be harvested on the spot, thus avoiding escape and uncertain recovery. The liquified carbon dioxide is carried in an internal reservoir and is released by flash expansion upon opening actuation of a valve closure member. The arrowhead includes a freely movable center core which is attached to an actuator shaft that is engagable with a release valve. The release valve is actuated by either piercing a metallic membrane, fracturing a glass or ceramic lens or unseating the ball closure of a ball valve assembly. A small amount of fluorescent dye is introduced into the liquified carbon dioxide which provides a marker in the blood trail left by a wounded animal which will fluoresce or glow when exposed to ultraviolet light.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.