This mornings hunt had an unexpected ending....one I'm sure has happened before, but never to me...
As I was preparing to leave my stand, I took out my VPA Small Game Thumper and took my customary practice shot before I descended.
Shot taken, I was about packed up when I hear something running in the leaves...I thought "oh no!"
But it was 2 squirrels chasing....one stopped about 12yds away ans started feeding....I thought "what the heck, I'm getting down"
So I nocked an arrow with a VPA 1 1/4" 3 blade.....the squirrel stopped feeding as it became aware of me in the tree...but it didn't move.
I draw and shoot, and it goes into the squirrel matrix move....I knew I was close...and thought I may have nicked it because it jumped up on the stump next to it.....and it acted a bit weird.
It came off the stump as I reloaded, and shot again, but I knew I'd just missed this time.
As he disappeared over the hill I could see it was laboring a bit and I thought....hmmmmmm
This is what I found...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/oct18003.JPG)
I got closer and noticed something small laying under the arrow...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/oct18004.JPG)
A closer look revealed this...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/oct18005.JPG)
Cut clean off in a perfect v-cut where 2 of the 3 blades caught it's foot!
Crazy!!!
I did find some blood over the hill about 5 yds away, but no trace after that and the squirrel was long gone....
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/oct18006.JPG)
I'm sure it'll live to gather nuts another day....but like I said, I feel kinda bad about it.
Who knows, maybe I'll get another chance at it :dunno:
Just remember nothing goes to waste in the wild.
Happens to the best of us!
something will eat it Bro :thumbsup:
Knowing you're a taxidermist, if you shoot it, you'd have to mount it.
Make a lucky squirrel foot key chain. Lol.
Next time he might be a little slower
If you shoot him again someday, there will be no doubt it is him
Bisch
Guru,
Rodents will chew off a foot if caught in a trap and live to tell their buddies about it. If you were shooting the squirrel to eat, nothing to feel bad about. Being a veterinarian, my only rule in taking a shot is...I only shoot at an animal I am going to eat.
Guru, things like this happen.
I do question whether it should be posted.
I understand your feelings, my folks have a three legged squirrel that frequents their bird feeder, he gets around fine, I'm sure yours will too!
It sucks but things like that happen. Squirrels are tough critters and I'm sure he will be fine.
Keep your head up bud, I feel that it is fine that you express your feelings and compassion on this forum.
Bummer! They are tough though and he will be just fine.
This kind of thing, frankly, is why they don't allow bow hunting in the UK, as it's unavoidable, occasionally, that animals will suffer as a result of our actions.
I don't think the answer is to sweep it under the carpet. I think you made the right choice in posting about it. You made it clear that you regret the squirrel losing its foot. We've made it clear in our country that preserving our bow hunting heritage is more important to us than never wounding an animal. But it's more meaningful to make that choice with all the facts on the table than it is to pretend that regrettable things never happen.
No worries brother, you made owl, or coyote, or weasel, or whatever food out of that one!
Im sure you feel bad, you should and Im relieved that you do but it happens with guns and cars as well. I lost 2 this year and it bothers me a month later.
If you didnt feel bad, I would worry. It shows you care about the game you pursue.
That squirrel will more than Likely live just fine. When I used to massacre squirrels I shot a few with shot of tails and limbs and also shot one that was shot with a .22 and had gangrene. Stunk! Glad I got that one.
Took a rabbits ear clean off once. Spent the next two hours chasin and stomping and finally got him.
We have never met, but I have read enough of your posts to know that you are a good, decent, ethical hunter. This bothers you a bit, it would bug me also. We aren't murderers, like the anti's like to call us. We have thoughtful and appreciative views of nature. We earn the privilege of hunting by wincing a bit in situations like this.
That said....I can't count how many muskrats I have trapped that only had 3 feet. I have killed 2 deer with 3 legs. He will either be fine, or he won't. Either way, you meant no suffering. You have my respect. :thumbsup:
I was think of this the last couple weeks and today as a couple sat a few yards out side my blind. I had only broad heads. I prefer something that doesn't slice of parts. I like field points best for sous from stands. You can still do the same with those but I figure it is a little more often a solid hit or clean miss. I have a tendency to miss them just a little.
Those things can heal fast. I have gotten them with healed up holes and some nasty scars. Hard to recover from an arm loss, but that kind of thing is going to happen with bow hunting small game. It even happens with guns. After almost zero misses and no lost waterfowl last two years, I started off this year losing two well hit ducks in some thick cover on opening day. Spent hours looking for them. I was really disappointed.
Often it is the lost ones that make the greatest impact on us about the seriousness of what we do. A quick clean kill is an easy end for an animal. Something like this is harder to take but not a harder end than what most wild animals get.
Wild animals seem (to me) to be a tougher lot than we might expect. He was hurting for sure, but will probably recover and learn to live with his disability. He'll be no easy mark because of it, I'd wager.
Of course you feel bad, most of us would and good on you for that. It's tough, but get back out there and make it happen the next time. Talking about it like this will help.
You have been tricked by the rare "Ninja Squirrel." They carry a small pouch of bloody squirrel feet so they can leave one behind any time a predator gets close.
I can't believe you fell for that old trick. Amateur. :laughing:
Kingsnake
Funny there is a squirrel that has a nest above my blind spot in a tree and it has one paw missing , but also has some talon marks on his chest. he was lucky to excape a halk
As hunters we have to except the responsibility of our actions whenever we drop the string. Sometimes that means excepting the fact that we are fallible, whether in decision........or accuracy.
People always say. " it's ok" don't worry". Or "it happens"
But as humans we sometimes can't help but have feelings for our quarry. Especially when we know our best effort just didn't pan out for the best. It is part of what we do as hunters for sure. Maybe you'll get another shot at him. You never know. And it's ok to feel bad