Recently I've been hunting snowshoe hares. On a missed shot or even a pass threw I'm having a heck of a time finding the arrow. Actually I've pretty much given up on trying to find it, time spent digging around in the snow is time I could be hunting.
Has anybody come up with any good methods? I've thought of tying a few feet of orange yarn to the arrow. Do you think it would effect arrow flight ?
Anyhow somebody's got to have experienced the same thing.
Thanks, John
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Have you got a Sharp Eyed "Little-Person" you can Borrow?? My Son could find them as soon as he walked out where I lost it!! I had Looked for Hours, and he walked right to it!! "Need Anything Else Dad?" :saywhat: "No Son, that was what I Needed! Good Eyes Boy!!" as I drug my Sorry- BLIND-Butt back to the Barn. :thumbsup:
Yah that would help but the arrows are buried under two foot of snow.
Blue carpenters chalk dust! They'll leave an entry trail in the snow.
I dust my feathers w/ chalk line chalk--the kind carpeners use. Red or blue--what ever-- you can easily find the entrance pt. into the snow, and work from there. Narrows the search area down considerably.
Good idea, does your arm turn blue???
How about scenting your arrows with a trappers scent of choice then training your Beagle to find them. Just kidding, but it could work if you were committed to training the dog I suppose.
Worth trying your yarn idea, keep varying the length, thickness and attachment method until you found acceptable arrow flight...or not. Kind of like a fish arrow, it should work. No harm in trying. As little as 6" could help find arrows perhaps.
Like lpcjon2, I use the brightest fletch I have, use judos and follow the arrow hole in the snow and start making perpendicular passes with a stick. It's not fun, I agree!
Kris
Steve-- did not see your post-- thought I was an was the only one who had thought of it. -- Just goes to show us "Indians" all think alike.
The carpenters chalk does it get all over you when you release the arrow?
I like the dog idea. Somehow I think I would suck in that puff of chaulk on the shot.
Does a lot of chalk come off the fletch at the release? Like shooting a black powder gun, eh? (LOL) Like the idea of chalk though, I'll have to try that.
Ultimately bright scab arrows maybe the best solution, if you find them...great, if not...so be it.
Kris
Yah the puff of blue dust would be a bitch with the wind in your face. You could join the blue man group!
Hey that blue chalk is innovative. Might be some collateral issues but finding the arrow could be worth it.
Billy
Hey Chuck, some good ol'e boy from Mazzoura taught me that, maybe they learned it from you before crossing the border.
Muskoxman
Is the hare population at the high end of its cycle around Palmer (in Alaska) right now? We used to have a lot of Snowshoes in N. Wisconsin but it has never been the same since the 80's and 90's or so....global warming? Not sure. Great fun bowhunting rabbits or hares!
Kris
I gave up along time ago trying to find 'em. I'll find em later when it thaws...if not, I just consider 'em gifts of the hunt.
Have you tried a string tracker? They are cheap and so is the string or at least cheaper than arrows.
Google it.
I turn to my two labs for finding lost arrows. They love to do it!...
I was wondering about the same thing just yesterday. I think I'll be packing some surveyor's tape so I can mark the spot and come back in the spring. I use aluminum arrows, so except for the fletching, they should be o.k.
you should check out a string tracker, IT-M-Grow said, I have never tried them, it would be like bowfishing, I just wondered what happened when the string ran out!
On our recent shoot in Wausau the guy I was shooting with had fashioned a deer horn hook at the end of his crafted stick to pull throught the snow to find our arrows. He also had a not so fancy but effective hooked 1/4" metal rod with wood handle. We found most of them however we had a better idea where to look when you're shooting at a stationary target.
Hey Kris,
Yes the hare population is up in a lot of places in AK. As far as global warming, I've yet to see it, this winter is a little milder than the last couple but still good old winter. Us guys in Alaska were kinda banking on it, there was even bumper stickers going around "alaskans for global warming " . Actually what's supposed to happen in my area is to get colder and wetter.
Great!
Thanks "Ox Man",
Targets of opportunity and a definite bonus to your hunting pleasure! Enjoy it whilst the population is up...obviously you are! Palmer is a beautiful part of the world...lucky you! If we had nice, big, fat, juicy Snowshoes in S. Wisconsin I'd be out losing arrows as well. Cottontails are fun too, but the increased coyote pop. of late has kept their numbers in check around here.
Keep up the fun!
Kris
Some good ideas here, I have a Springer that when he is in the mood he will help find arrows but if he is not in the mood he is no help.
Labrador Retriever. Finds 'em every time.
I wait for the snow to melt. That is why I have 2 woodsman tipped arrows still out in the field. 5 inches of fresh snow on it's way. Maybe I will get the arrows back for spring turkey, maybe....
Are you using Flu-flu's?
I've been told a three or four inch piece of that cinnamon dental floss tied at the back edge of your feathers works. Leaves a red line on the snow at the point of entry.
Never tried it myself, so take hearsay for what it's worth.
I would be very reluctant to tie anything to the rear end of the arrow.
It could easily wrap itself around the bow string and snap the nock right back into your eye!
John,
I live in Fairbanks and do alot of stumpshooting through the winter. One thing I have learned over the years is to NOT disturb the snow...very carefully walk into the area and you MUST find the entrance hole left by your arrow. Then it is a simple matter of checking perpendicular to the entrance about every 2 feet. ---+-----+-----+---+
This isn't 100%, but it has certainly saved me many arrows. Jeff
Mark the spot and go back with a metal detector. (one of my other hobbies)
Lot of good ideas here. I too have lost quite a few arrows.
Well I attached about 4 foot of yarn to the arrow right in front of the fletching. I laid the yarn over my bow arm when I shot. I could sure find the arrow but I think it affected arrow flight, or maybe I'm just shooting sucky today.
John
judo?
Go to the paint shop or hardware store and buy a long handled (18-24") paint roller handle for a 4" roller. I keep in in my back quiver for finding arrows. Just drag it thru the snow when you find the entrance hole. Chalk idea would really help find the hole.
JW
Use junk arrows or make more.
I do the entrance hole location thing, but half the time the arrow seems to hit something under the snow and turn left. Doesn't have tomove far to really mess up a search pattern.
I was thinking of getting some type of string tracker thingy that turkey hunters use. Might be a little complicated for the number of shots taken while stumping.
I wait till spring to look for any arrows lost in the snow, combine that with shed hunting,
Snow's rarely an issue here but I have a lab that has a nose for cedar and will sniff out a cedar arrow in short order. With carbon you just wait, but at least it won't be rotted or warped when you find it.
Wait till spring! :banghead: It can be very frustrating looking in the snow.
Mark the spot with a gps and go back for the tough ones. Usually I search for arrow tracks and then dig in the hole it goes down.
I was thinking I could untune my arrows so when they hit the snow they are flying sideways, that way they don't go as deep :biglaugh:
Well, how much snow is in your yard?
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Ali is 5 yrs & 40". This was the one that dumped 58". I missed my Javilina hunt, bummer. I need GPS to find my targets!