What to use for bunnies?

[Dean Lintz]

I am going on my first trad bunny hunt next Sat. wondering what type of arrow fletch standard or flu-flu. And which tip I have ace small game hammers,blunts,field tips,or broadheads. We have about 8 inches of snow and would like half a chance to recover my arrows if they are off the mark. This hunt will be with some well trained beagles hopefully they won't be laughing at me.

[Charlie Lamb]

Dean... no field points!! They don't cut or create shock. A large faced blunt is a much better choice. The Hammer, Ace, Magnus blunt, Barta blunt are all excellent choices.

A small broadhead is pretty fool proof as well, though they glance and/or deflect easilly. Keep em sharp if you use them.
       

[LimbLover]

Hi Dean..I just shared your exact same experience for the first time yesterday! In Michigan as well, and yes...in the snow lol.

Honestly, anything will work but you probably ain't finding your arrow with a field point. I shot two yesterday with a judo point and a Saunders bludgeon tip - the ones that look like little meat hammers made out of plastic.

The Saunders bashes and breaks every bone it makes contact with. The judo will go through the bunny and tear it up. They both work but you are right - in this snow, you will probably lose an arrow. IMO, a really heavy arrow works great in the quiver for a cover shot when they hide!

Also...another option is to put a steel washer behind a blunt or rounded field point. 85 cents and they are great!

[razorback]

Check with the dog owners to see if they allow broadheads, they may not. I am going on a hunt next weekend and am using wingnuts under my fiels points. Good weight, bludgeoning power, tear em up a little and really cheap.

[LimbLover]

Check with the dog owners to see if they allow broadheads

Good point!

Hunting with dogs is an experience. Those beagles can get really quiet when they are rooting around in cover.

Always know where the dog is.

[jacobsladder]

Hi Dean....if by chance your going to the michigan bunny stomp at sleepy hollow..... we will be using judos, blunts, or small game heads...no broadheads or field points are allowed for safety reasons....I personally like to use bright feathers ..easier to find in the snow...i dont use flu flus because they can be tougher to sneak thru the brush at a bunny and are loud.... blunts and hex heads work great.....hope to see ya there!

[shortstroke 91]

My favorite is the old Muzzy 125 grain 3 blade replaceable blade broadhead. Only difference is I use the practice blades instead, the practice blades have a much steeper angle and generally barely pass through but create severe trauma and shock.
Probably wouldn't use them if dogs were involved though.

[Mudd]

I think if you use the search function you might find enough reading material on this subject to last you about as long as it was for me reading "Shogun".....lol

Good luck with your research and your bunny hunt.

God bless,Mudd

[Jason R. Wesbrock]

I agree with Charlie, and I also agree with those who stress to refrain from using broadheads when hunting with beagles. I personally won't run my dog with bowhunters using broadheads, especially bowhunters with whom I'm not familiar. I've heard too many horror stories about beagles being accidentally hit to risk my dog's life on such things.

[GingivitisKahn]

Flu flus would work but unless you are shooting them out of the air or trees (Ohio bunnies don't jump that high but I guess your mileage may vary), I'm not sure what the point would be.

Speaking of points - I really like Ace Hex Heads for bunnies (and stumps etc.).

[Stiks-n-Strings]

I took my rabbit hounds this year and hunted with a bow the first time.
 Met a couple of fine tradgangers that came down and hunted with me and we had a blast. I can roll'em all day long with the old double barrel but hittin them little furry boogers on the run with a bow is a whole other story. LOL

 We all flung some arras but never hit none, came real close but no dice.

 As far as heads I was using Judos and the other fellas were using some of those adders that go behind your blunt, they looked pretty good. Yesterday I bought two of those new fangled heads that montec makes I think there called g5's or something, they are a small game head but they look pretty nasty.

 Far as worrying about hitting a hound, I run my dogs with bells on the collars so I can hear them and know where they are all the time. I think it makes them bunnies that are sitting real tight jump a little easier too. Just my theory I may be totally wrong but mainly cause I don't want to stick a hound or pepper one and it let's me and whoever is hunting over my dogs know they ain't bunnies. At least I aint never heard a bunnie jinglin LOL.
 All these other fellas got some great Ideas too I like the washer idea and the wingnut too.
 
 Have fun it's a blast for sure.

[KSdan]

TBM had a very good article on this a month or so ago!  Guy used a fishing type arrow- heavy fiberglass with no fletching- it slips through the brush with no deflection with maximum blunt force.  Makes sense. . .