Home › Forums › Campfire Forum › 2011: First strike, first loss.

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    • wildschwein
        February 27, 2011 at 2:28 am
        Post count: 581
        #4318

        Two days ago I went snowshoeing for Snowshoe Hares, and managed to find a fair few. Their tracks were all over the place and though it was cold (-37 C), it was quite sunny and the bunnies were up and about.

        After about two hours of spooking unseen bunnies, I set one to running when only about four feet away. I don`t remember drawing the bow or coming to anchor, but my Douglas Fir arrow somehow threaded itself through 20 yards of twigs and branches and smacked the the Hare in the back. He let out a short squeal and rolled to a stop with hardly a kick. Figuring him down for the count I went to claim my prize, but when about four feet away he came to life and bolted into the Spruce. I found my arrow (minus the tip) about two feet in, and very little blood. After searching for about 2 hours, I called it quits and swore to myself never to shoot a judo at an animal ever again.

        Instead I`ll be shooting small game with this. Should be a bit more effective, and hopefully give better blood trails.

        Either way I feel bloody awful about losing the bunny, and wish 2011 didn`t have to begin this way. Nothing for it except to try again.

      • Stumpkiller
        Member
          February 27, 2011 at 2:42 am
          Post count: 193
          #29496

          I agree it’s important to have 100% confidence in your gear. Sorry you lost one.

          What cement did you use on the judo? I’ve never had one come off on a bunny with Ferr-L-Tite hot melt.

          I also make sure I have a full 3/4″ to 7/8″ of tapered end for purchase and wipe the inside of any new head with alcohol to remove the manufacturer’s preserving & machining oils.

        • Stumpkiller
          Member
            February 27, 2011 at 2:48 am
            Post count: 193
            #29501

            I’d also mention shock is your best bet with rabbits and squirrel rather than hemmorage. They will take a broadhead and still run off unless hampered by the arrow – and a squirrel will ruin an arrow by biting at the shaft.

            I like flat-nosed GameNabbers (used to be called Critter Getters) and Barta Blunts (used to be called Tiger Claws).

          • Stephen Graf
            Moderator
              February 27, 2011 at 11:09 am
              Post count: 2429
              #29938

              I’ve shot rabbits with blunts and broadheads. My experience is that both go through the rabbit. Rabbits are such soft critters.

              But I have to say that the broadhead shot rabbits didn’t go nearly as far.

              I like the washer behind the broadhead.

              My current setup is just to add a washer behind my field point. I don’t think it is as effective as your broadhead/washer setup. But it is a lot cheaper. And so far, on the few rabbits I have shot with it, it has worked fine.

            • FUBAR
              Member
                February 27, 2011 at 10:18 pm
                Post count: 252
                #30502

                Dang, thats too bad that it got away. I would say that set up you now have should work good. If you miss though it may be a bear to find

              • wildschwein
                  February 28, 2011 at 4:11 am
                  Post count: 581
                  #30775

                  Yah I am a little worried about finding the arrow after I miss, but I am hoping with it being a three blade it might not slip too far under the grass. Either way I would rather loose a bunch or arrows rather than lose another bunny.

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