2014 small game thread.

[frassettor]

Originally posted by twitchstick:
I have been seeing a ton of grouse this year during my deer and elk season. Finally after the season opened I had a flock of about ten grouse fly down off a ridge to roosted in the tree I was using as a blind. One nearly hit me in the face. I took these two out of the bunch. If I didn't want to dull up all my broad heads I could have shot more.      

 great shooting

[fnshtr]

Our white oaks hit real good this year. I like to combine squirrel hunting with scouting for deer.

I'll share a few pics from this past week as squirrel season came in last Monday.

[fnshtr]

I'm very fortunate in that I can walk 100 yards from my back door and be in the woods. This week I have seen a few dozen squirrels and probably a dozen deer. First trip out I spotted a nice (for this area) 9 or 10 pointer that I now have my proverbial sights on.

I've probably taken a dozen shots at squirrels this week.

[fnshtr]

I've hunted squirrels with blue jeans and a t-shirt, but once I put the fear in them I've got to start dressing differently. I really like the leafy suit. At this location, sitting on a log, I had a doe to pass within 7 yards of me and didn't know I was around until she got downwind.

[fnshtr]

I carry a couple of flu-flu arrows for these kinds of opportunities. I love the shots into the trees or on the sides of trees.

[fnshtr]

Why do they call these "near-misses"... they are COMPLETE misses!

[fnshtr]

Don't mean to hijack the small game thread, but scouting for deer is part of my reason to be in the woods. I drew "coup" on this little spike yesterday afternoon.

[fnshtr]

After about 10 misses... I was getting concerned. Then this morning as I was still-hunting along the edge of a flat, this guy shows up at 5 yards. He seemed to notice me, but didn't "high tail" it. He just moved ahead and to my right. At 15 yards he jumped up on a dead branch to survey his surroundings. As my arrow disappeared I heard a "thunk" and knew immediately the arrow had found its mark.

[fnshtr]

The hex head blunt really did its job on him. He was dead when I got to him.

[frassettor]

awesome job fnshtr !! I went out this am and missed one by mere inches, was on the ground as well with my ghillie on.

 
 

 

[alex321]

Frsessator,

What is the name of the blunt that you are using?  It looks pretty solid.  Is it any good for general roving and not getting buried in the grass?

I think small game hunting really sharpens up your shooting... I can stalk (sometimes) within 30 yrds of rabbits, but they are so small at the distance... can't hit the buggers..  

Cheers
Alex

[frassettor]

Originally posted by alex321:
Frsessator,

What is the name of the blunt that you are using?  It looks pretty solid.  Is it any good for general roving and not getting buried in the grass?

I think small game hunting really sharpens up your shooting... I can stalk (sometimes) within 30 yrds of rabbits, but they are so small at the distance... can't hit the buggers..    

Cheers


Alex

They are called SGT (small game thumper)
Very durable
 http://www.rmsgear.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=92&idcategory=30

[fnshtr]

I believe those are the same as I was calling a hex head blunt. 3 Rivers calls them "The Hammer".

Great small game head.

[JimB]

The Hex Heads and Hammers are different heads altough the Hammers are similar.I've got the 250 gr Small Game Thumpers as well and they are devastating.I shot lengthwise through this snowshoe hare and he never kicked.
 

[fnshtr]

Nice!!!!

[myjudge2]

I bought three hammer blunts from 3 Rivers and went out the other night looking for rabbits.  I shot a Swamp rabbit from 7 yards and swore I heard his skull crack but he ran off like I didn't even touch him.  I gave chase but he lost me in the woods.  I'm stumped as to what happened.  There's no blood anywhere.  I've been trying to figure it out but this is my first year hunting.  I use a 55# Samick Sage, drawing 27.5".  My arrows are a bit light at 8.3 gps but I was using the 175 grain blunt so I thought that would be enough.  Anybody with more experience have a word of advice?

[fnshtr]

Our cottontails are easy to kill. Are you sure you didn't hit a limb or something else?

I can't imagine it being shot at that range and not being recovered.

   

[myjudge2]

It was in the open,so nothing but dirt and grass around it.  After the strike, the nock end of the arrow flipped over and landed with the blunt facing back toward me about a foot the other side of where the rabbit was.  He had been facing to my right, but turned back to my left and away from me when he ran so I couldn't see the side of the head I struck. I don't believe in killing something you're not going to use, so it has literally been keeping me up at night wondering what happened and whether or not he died in a hole and I wasted an animal.  I'm a little scared to shoot at any more of them.  I would switch to broadheads but it seems from the videos I've seen that it's a much slower death.  :(

[JimB]

Cottontails are easy to kill.If you hit the rabbit,you would know.There would be blood and hair at the very least and more reaction from the rabbit than just it running off.Go get some rest.

[myjudge2]

I've done a good bit of stump shooting and hit practically everything in the woods.  Nothing else makes the sound I heard when I watched that arrow hit his face.  Maybe Swamp rabbits aren't as easy to kill as Cottontails?  They are easily four times larger.