Hitting rabbits?

[WindWalker-AK]

Mr. AkDan,
Interesting.  In our area, Hare don't seem to "hold" worth a darn.  Of course my lack of ability might have something to do with it.
Best Wishes

[Charlie Lamb]

A lot depends on what kind of rabbit you are after. They all aren't made equal.

For midwestern and rocky mountain cottontails I've always had great success with regular steel blunts, rubber blunts and Magnus blunts sans bleeder.
 
 

The little desert cottontails of south Texas are tougher than nails. I have killed a pile of them with blunts also, though a small bladed head can be more dependable.
I head shoot all rabbits when possible.
 
 

Snowshoe rabbits give it up pretty easilly to a steel blunt or bladed head.
 

Jackrabbits always require a broadhead and sometimes several.
 

[StanM]

I think I've got a great head for you to try.  Check them out at our website.

Stan

[Firstarrow]

Judos, Hexheads, and blunts have done us well.

Some friends hunt with broadheads though.  

[Jason R. Wesbrock]

Old broadheads are a good idea, but there's no way I'd use them while hunting with a dog...or a large group of other rabbit hunters shooting at flushed rabbits. That's why I prefer Hex Heads for bunnies.

[Hud]

In my younger days, we used .38 special cases on 11/32 shafts, and also made some with nails. Drill two small holes and punch finishing nails thru in an "+" pattern about 1/2" from the back. File off the point or cut the nails with a hacksaw leaving 1/4 - 1/2" on each side of the casing. Drilling a hole prevents splitting the shaft when the nail is punched thru. A tight fit is important. Cut the feathers HIGH or leave full. You can buy casings if you do not have any.

[unregistered]

A rubber blunt works fine on head shots as said above, but I have noticed no real adavantage to shooting them with broadheads. The few times I have done it I have had pass throughs (go figure eh!) and the Rabbit ran even further than when I blunted him with a Judo. At least with a Judo there is more damage to muscle tissue and the arrows stay in the critter. I have also had rubber blunts penetrate the chest of a Rabbit when shot inside 10 yards with a 50# bow. A steel 125gr blunt inside a rubber blunt on a good carbon or aluminum arrow is my favorite.

[riivioristo]

If you will be able to shoot and hit the head, blunts are ok I quess, but my experience is, that broadhead is the best, sometimes the hit will be marginal and the cutting edge will be handy...just my nickel here  

[Stone Knife]

Anywhere in the head with a steel blunt works  

   

[Jeeps84]

Love the pics hope to have some for you guys soon.  
      Jeeps

[Tom Mussatto]

Originally posted by Charlie Lamb:
 
 

Ever notice when an archer gets really serious about his small game hunting he picks up an American style longbow....even recurve shooters?      

Very nice Charlie. Anybody can hit a moose but ya just gotta admire a guy who can fill a game bag with the small stuff. Charlie, we need to play with some bushytails this fall.

[mongoose]

I have been using a product called Adder Point by Neet Archery Products, it's similar to a washer except it has 8 prongs that stand out and you just place it behind a field point or old BH, works great for both cottontails and bushytails  

[soopernate]

I dont think you even have to hit them...I once shot NEAR one with a .243 and he died straight away.  NO hole NO wound...musta had a heart attack.  I use a 5/16th nut twisted on to a wood shaft mostly but also crimp a .38 or .357 casing over a field point to make a good heavy "steel" blunt for carbon or alluminum arrows.

[DVSHUNTER]

judo head with a washer keeps from messin em up to much

[DVSHUNTER]

[kat]

Don't underestimate how tough they can be. I couldn't believe my eyes when I hit one with a blunt, and the arrow stopped dead, as he ran off.

[J. Adams]

I have had great success with the Ace Hex, but have many other small game points that work just as effectively.

[Mudd]

Dang! I wanna go hunt bunnies with you Charlie!..lol Here's what a dull.... well not sharpened 4 blade can do.

 

God bless,Mudd

PS: I spewed all over my keyboard when I read the post that had the sentence with "hare in my stew" in it. I can hear it now... "Mom! there's hare in my stew!"...lol

[IndianaBowman]

I'm with Jason on this one. If lots of folks or dogs around I would steer clear of the broadhead. I've used the Ace Hex Heads, Blunts, and Wing Nuts, but the one I like most now are the ones I've tried this year. The Martin 2pt Skipper Stopper works awesome. I suppose the 4 pt Skipper Stopper would be excellent as well.

[Shawn Leonard]

Don't let anyone tell ya they expire quickly wiyj any hit. They are as tough as nails. I have seen rabbits take 3 even 4 hits to stop them. If you are not with other people or dogs wingnut has it, an old BH works very well. Judos are tough to use because bunnies are usually in cover and they hang up on brush. Blunts are my favorite or a .38 case over a field point work well too! Just yesterday Guru drilled one thru the front part of the head and than again thru the ribs a bit back and I put another one in the head to finally kill it. He also hit another in the ribs and it dragged the arrow 60 yards and than was shot by another bunny hunter. I myself say use all the weight ya can shoot and hit them as far forward near the head or in it, if possible! Shawn