Is hitting a squirrel a lot harder than I'm thinking it is?

[osagestick90]

I went out on 10/5 for my first hunt seen 20+ squirrels a 6pt and 8 doe one of them I missed at 10yds.

And since small game comes in this saturday I'm wanting to try a few shots at the tree dwelling rodents a dozen arrows I hope are enough to hit and kill one.

Most shots will be ground level at less than 15yds, anyone care to place bets on if I get one?

[macbow]

Hitting them isn't too hard. Killing them with traditional gear can be tough.

[osagestick90]

I don't have blunts or judo points so I'm just going to use my broadheads. This is after I wait an hour or so for deer to move then the squirrels start up.

[30coupe]

I don't use blunts on squirrels any more. They are tough little buggers. I hate wounding any game animal and not recovering it. Unless you can whack one in the head with a blunt, you aren't guaranteed a quick kill. I shot one from a tree stand last year at 15 yards with a Zwickey Delta. I aimed for his eye but hit him in the neck. The Delta decapitated him instantly. I've hit them in the shoulder with blunts before and had them get into nests or dens. No more. It's broadheads for squirrels. Blunts are fine for bunnies, but not for tree rats!

[osagestick90]

Bunnies are in on the 26th so they are my next targets.

From what im hearing maybe I shoud switch to some sharks for bigger holes.....

[Bowhunter4life]

I use broadheads almost exclusively for squirrels too... Haven't had much trouble since going that way.  I usually aim for the neck, gives you the most leeway... But, it really depends on what is presented... head, chest or depends...  

They are a blast, and if you do your part they make for some good table fare...

Best of luck!

[neuse]

I guess I was doing wrong, I shot a couple with broadheads, but the arrow and the squirrel got pinned to the tree.

[Jerry Jeffer]

Squirrels are super fast. My arrow usually hits where the squirrel was, but they are all ready gone.

   

[Gdpolk]

Squirrel hunting is fairly tough with traditional gear but it's great fun and amazing practice for stalking and shooting.  Also you'll get lots of shot opportunities which keeps it fun.  It's my favorite game animal to hunt for that reason.  I build my arrows around 125gr heads because that's what I can get both my favorite small game head and Judo points in.

[ChuckC]

I have done very well with nutters, and I don't mind shooting them up in the trees.  BUT... they don't kill the critter.  Knocks the heck out of them, drops them, but they tend to come back to life after a while.  I also carry my trusted hawk (thanks Ron LaClair)and bop them good after retrieving them.  No more issues.

Aim smaller , miss smaller.  You can do it, but the target is SMALLER than a pop can, so practice up.

ChuckC

[Fletcher]

They aren't that hard to hit if you really focus, but they are very easy to miss.

[nineworlds9]

I have been shooting at some in my yard recently that have tumors, wanna cull the herd, but man I always miss by mere inches..the arrow literally skims em..they somehow have arrow telepathy and move right when its gonna hit em.  Matrix style.

[damascusdave]

Sounds like they are a lot like ground squirrels around here...they are the ultimate string jumper...not likely you are ever going to hit one that is looking at you...and for that reason alone they are great hunting practice targets...we do have red squirrels here but not sure they would be  much to eat

DDave

[johnnyk71]

i have had tons of fun/frustration in the back yard for weeks. i have literally missed by fractions of an inch.

i keep reminding myself, though, that if i'm missing a wired squirrel by half an inch from 30 yards, the deer are in serious trouble!

  :D

[Gdpolk]

Originally posted by nineworlds9:
Matrix style.

My best friend and I refer to them dodging us as them Matrixing our arrows, lol.  It happens a lot to us too.

[buckeye_hunter]

I am 1 for 30 on squirrels. If I was betting on me, I know what the bet would be!

[seabound]

Ahh yes, my favorite game to hunt with friends. I've bounced broadheads and blunts off of them, extremely tough little tree rats. Be prepared to sacrifice many arrows. Flu flu's, at least for me, always seemed to lose too much KE even if you were lucky enough to connect.  In 4 years I've yet to bag one, although strangely enough I have taken one with a homemade high-powered hunting slingshot, go figure.  

[mahantango]

Matrix - yeah. Flu-flu's are definately out. I use old not-so-sharp broadheads, though not on shots up in trees. Really tough, but lots of fun.

[Rob W.]

I really like VPA SGT's but usually shoot them with a broadhead while deer hunting. Too hard switching out arrows on the ground and not getting busted.

[Caleb Monroe]

Never hit one yet with a bow. Agree with the fact they can move out of my arrows way eating a walnut looking the other way.
On a different note I don't shoot at them out of my blinds or stands. They are my friends let me know when yotes are coming. Another animal that dodges my arrows. Good luck with the tree rats.