Most underated game animal for a bowhunter out there in my opinion. When deer hunting goes away for the average guy in Illinois...I will hunt tree rats.
Here is a tip for guys worried about arrows. Buy some wood shafts. Just parallel shafts are what I buy. I then paint the entire shaft Blaze orange...and I fletch them with blaze orange fletching. I just normally use spray paint, and I don't even bother to coat them with clear coat. Put an ace hex head on them and you are good to go. Alot of people do not believe me...but since I started doing this...I have not yet lost an arrow shooting at tree rats...including when they are in the tree. I HAVE broken alot of them, but when they don't break...I find them.
Makes things much cheaper. And since tree rats spend alot of time in trees, I prefer to be able to shoot at them in trees.
Alot of guys use flu' flu arrows to shoot at tree rats.
I consider this a waste of time. Even big midwestern fox squirrels can dodge an arrow with flu flu's.
I have a buddy who is a much better shot than me..who has never killed a squirrel with his recurve despite trying for years because he always uses Flu Flu arrows when hunting them.
In contrast...I shoot plenty of them each year...but I don't use flu flu's.
Also, I have found that it is easier to shoot them out of the tree. They seem less likely to dodge your arrow when they are in the tree.
Charlie...those pics are awesome!