hunter_mike Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 I was in the backyard today with my bow and i wanted to try to get a squirrel. Right away i was able to get a shot. It was a 41 yard shot through the rangefinder but i was still able to hit the squirrel in the rib cage. I thought it was a done deal but to my surprise the squirrel ran and kept running out of sight. I was shocked! It looked like a great hit and even made a thud sound like it smacked him. My buddy was watching me as i took the shot also and he saw the same - a solid hit in the rib cage and a definite body hitting sound as the arrow connected. I just cant understand how this squirrel is not dead and i'm really discouraged about shooting at another squirrel. The only thing i can think of is the type of broadhead i was using. It was a "shocker" type with a blunt metal tip and springy metal prongs. Has anyone else had bad luck with these broadheads? And does anyone have a recommendation for a better type of broadhead to use specifically for squirrels? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bghunter777 Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 The only head i will use for squirrel is a Wasp mechanical! I hit a squirrel this year a little far forward but he still fell only steps from where I hit him! I would stay away from anything that has a large diameter as those shoulder blades are nothing to mess around with. As with most tough animals shot placement is everything! You may be able to hit a target at 40 plus yards but to shoot at a live squirrel that far is simply irresponsible. What if he bends down to pick up a nut in the time it takes your arrow to get there now you have a wounded squirrel something no archer wants. Just continue to practice and limit your shots to well within your comfort zone my best advice would be make sure you give him plenty of time you dont want to jump him after minumum 12 hours try and find last blood and start a grid search from the last place you saw him. Search all day if you have to. Good luck on finding your squirrel we are all expecting pics tomorrow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msman825 Posted December 18, 2010 Report Share Posted December 18, 2010 . What if he bends down to pick up a nut in the time it takes your arrow to get there now you have a wounded squirrel something no archer wants. Just continue to practice and limit your shots to well within your comfort zone my best advice would be make sure you give him plenty of time you dont want to jump him after minumum 12 hours try and find last blood and start a grid search from the last place you saw him. Search all day if you have to. ! (funny) geez, next time shot a rage 2 blader, lol just watch what tree he ran up and get the ole 12 gauge are a piece of tie wire if he went in a hole, are do as mentioned above lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dartonman Posted December 18, 2010 Report Share Posted December 18, 2010 I shoot squirrels with old Nugent two bladers......absolutely love it.......kills them on impact..........al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinhood Posted December 18, 2010 Report Share Posted December 18, 2010 I use my old thunderheads. but dont shoot him in less its in the head. there tough little animal. either you'll get him or have to wait another 15mins for the next shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
layin on the smackdown Posted December 18, 2010 Report Share Posted December 18, 2010 (edited) Dude....If you are going to try sniping squirrels at 40 yds with a bow, you need to use a blunt tip or a rage 2 blade....either one will comatose a squirrel, but the blunt tip is large and packs a punch...However, if you are going to continue to do this, you need to practice on shooting acorns at 40 yds first....and if you cant hit an acorn consistentlly at that range, you need to put the bow away, and get the .22 i have heard a few story's regarding squirrels running off with arrows....shoot with confidence, shoot to kill, and shoot to eat...dont just shoot to see if you can hit some animal becuse you may find it challenging. Thats what the range is for. Seriously, shooting squirrels with a bow at 40 yds...???... Edited December 18, 2010 by layin on the smackdown Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybear Posted December 18, 2010 Report Share Posted December 18, 2010 A few squirrels come to mind for me that got away. I've opened some up to the point that their guts were dragging on the ground behind them only to have them make it to the safety of a hole in a tree. Had one this year that I painted red with a 100gr. Muzzy 3 blade. Little sucka somehow scurried about 30yds and up a hemlock before doing the treetop hop outta site. Another I got this year nearly took off his entire face before coming to rest at the base of a large trunk still very alive. I finished him off with a big stick. Yet another left his tail behind at the shot site.....I'll assume he's alive and well getting picked on by his friends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bghunter777 Posted December 18, 2010 Report Share Posted December 18, 2010 A few squirrels come to mind for me that got away. I've opened some up to the point that their guts were dragging on the ground behind them only to have them make it to the safety of a hole in a tree. Had one this year that I painted red with a 100gr. Muzzy 3 blade. Little sucka somehow scurried about 30yds and up a hemlock before doing the treetop hop outta site. Another I got this year nearly took off his entire face before coming to rest at the base of a large trunk still very alive. I finished him off with a big stick. Yet another left his tail behind at the shot site.....I'll assume he's alive and well getting picked on by his friends. All joking aside guys I know we have had a little fun with this. Regardless if its a squirrel, deer, bear, turkey! I think we owe it to the animal to make a reasonable effort to take him as humane as possible. Graffic stories of wounding animals although wounding is part of hunting it should try and be avoided and certainly not glorified. I am the farthest thing from poilitically correct but even squirrels are living animals! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybear Posted December 18, 2010 Report Share Posted December 18, 2010 Oh no bghunter....not trying to glorify it. Just making a point to their toughness. This fella was feeling a little down about his shot placement. Anyone that's ever seen squirrel vitals will tell ya they are small. With an average diameter size head, most any hit will take them out as long as you hit the squirrel. Now unlike deer and turkey and bears, ....squirrels have that elusive escape ability of climbing trees and crawling down holes you can't fit your hand . They also have just as much will to survive as any other critter out there which compounds the recovery that much more. I'm certain the above mentioned rats are dead and the attempt to kill them was attempted humanely and ethicly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted December 18, 2010 Report Share Posted December 18, 2010 Think I'd stick with a .22 and go for a good clean head shot..that is a challenge in it's self Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Straight Shooter Posted December 20, 2010 Report Share Posted December 20, 2010 I've killed many squirrels with just my target tips from my tournament arrows. A good head shot or through the lungs puts them down for the count. I've tried the G5 heads and judo points but don't get great accuracy out of them beyond 20 yards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hardwood_HD Posted December 21, 2010 Report Share Posted December 21, 2010 i use whatever old broadhead i have in my quiver, thats why i like my 5 arrow quiver 3 new 2 blade rage and 2 old heads or used rage heads for small game.. i have never lost a squirrel but i have never shot at one over 20yds either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hunter_mike Posted December 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2010 Sorry it has taken me so long to get back to this post.............. Well the search did not end the way i wanted it to. A few hours after posting this thread i went back out and found a couple faint drops of blood and no way of distingishing the wounded squirrels tracks from the many other sets of tracks around the base of that big oak tree. I feel bad that i couldn't recover the thing. I am sure many of you can relate to the feeling i have about this hunt. While i sit with this feeling of regret and doubt about ever even taking that shot, its not going to stop me from trying to kill a squirrel with my bow. As any bowhunter knows, sometimes we wound animals and never are able to recover them. It is a sad truth. HOWEVER, it is our responsibility to try with all of our will to take game cleanly and humanely every time. - - - This is what i am going to do differently next time to make sure that squirrel dies when i hit it: Thank you guys for your input and advice. It has helped me rethink my squirrel hunting. - Range: While i feel totally comfortable shooting at 40 yards with my bow, i have realized that this is an unreasonable distance to shoot at a squirrel. Too many things can go wrong. I am almost sure that i would hit a big fat squirrel 9 out of 10 times at this range. I have now realized that i can not garantee that i will kill a squirrel at this range. When i took that shot the other day, my subconscious told me that as long as i hit the squirrel with that big fast blunt tip it would die right? Wrong. Squirrels are way tougher than i thought!!! I am gonna limit my range to not much more than 20 yards. I need to be able to focus on the vitals the same way i do on deer. - Broadheads: I think i am going to abandon the blunt tips. I feel that unless i make a head shot, this tip may be somewhat unreliable. I know that many people have probably had much success with this broadhead but i am now nervous about trying it again. I am going to use a broadhead with a cutting edge. I think if i was going to be shot at, i would rather be hit with something that cuts instead of something that smashes. - Respect: Squirrels are tough! I never would have thought a squirrel could survive getting smacked in the rib cage with a blunt tip. I will shoot at a squirrel with the same focus that i use when i shoot at a deer. Thank you all for your advice and i think i have wisened up. I'm going squirrel hunting the next chance i get and this time i think i have a better chance of bringing one home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWSmith Posted December 21, 2010 Report Share Posted December 21, 2010 Broadheads: I think i am going to abandon the blunt tips. I feel that unless i make a head shot, this tip may be somewhat unreliable. I know that many people have probably had much success with this broadhead but i am now nervous about trying it again. I am going to use a broadhead with a cutting edge. I think if i was going to be shot at, i would rather be hit with something that cuts instead of something that smashes. First off if your slinging good quality carbon arrows at squirrells that you pay for...you got way too much money...buy me some...LOL Secondly...If you are going to send your cash into the air like that at any animal have something on the front that will do some damage! FYI...An old friend of mine got into shooting these things and made his own "Broadhead" just for them out of a washer. Cut in 4 places with tin snips and the edges bent in one direction like a fan blade. Placed on the arrow shaft behind the field point with the bent sharp edges facing forward. He said it tore them up and also kept the arrows from going under the grass when he missed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted December 22, 2010 Report Share Posted December 22, 2010 I shoot at them when they start annoying me or when I'm about ready to end a morning's hunt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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