Dear TradGangers,
My name is Max and in the past years I have been reading a lot this forum for more information related to bow hunting. I've been hunting since I was a boy, with my father in Italy. Finally I decided to switch to stick and arrow. As soon as I became competent enough to go hunting, I moved to UK for my job... result: 5 years shooting 3Ds (bowhunting not allowed there)... :rolleyes:
I am now in Gainesville, Florida, as a graduate student, and I have just got my hunting licence! Looking forward to be in the wilderness! :D
My favourite game is wild boars, but I would like to hunt for small game too.
I was thinking to get a back quiver for small game arrows (in addition to my bow quiver) but that would not let me have a backpack. I will probably get a side quiver, and maybe I'll reserve one of the backpack pockets for the game. I am not sure that would come in the way when walking though. Also, I may decide to use broadheads rather than blunts, that may require a different solution.
What is your set up / gear for small game?
Looking forward to receiving your suggestions
Max
For small game (rabbits in my case) I carry an Arrowmaster quiver with judos and blunts in it. I don't wear a backpack but a game vest to carry the game in. You don't want to weight yourself down rabbit hunting.
I use a highnoonhunter side quiver while rabbit hunting. And deer hunting to most of the time.
I use a Jack Bowers Side Stalker quiver. I can look down and select a blunt or broadhead (or other head) as needed. I also like to have a single arrow quiver on the bow with a broadhead. That always allows a fast choice.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/Stumpkiller/Bowhunting/HPIM2026.jpg)
I raise chickens and turkeys and when stumping should a coyote amble by . . .
Arrow Master and blunts (or broad heads) for small game. You can wear a pack with the Arrow Master too.
arrow master !
Welcome to Florida! I live a few hours south of you in Fort Myers on the Gulf Coast.
For years I've worn a vest pack and Asian style side quiver (the feathered ends of the shaft angle behind you, not towards the front) which makes it easy to slip through thick brush when needed. I too prefer a mix of judo points and slip-on blunts over field points, along with a broadhead or two just in case you run into something serious.
I am primarily a small game hunter and this is what I've found works for me. I hunt a lot of squirrel and rabbit.
For hunting, a bow quiver is by far the most convenient. If you build your arrows tough (I use Aluminum footed carbon shafts) then you shouldn't need more than 5 for a day in the field. If you also plan on stump shooting a lot then adding a back quiver might be nice.
For fletching, PINK is by far the easiest to see year round for me. White is great unless there is snow or light grey/white rocks around, then it becomes camo. Florescent yellow and orange show up great until fall when there are yellow and orange leaves everywhere, then again it becomes camo. Royal blue is fantastic in day time but is hard to see in low light, especially if tucked into a shadow. Pink is easily visible year round, in all lighting conditions, and in all settings (except maybe a field of wildflowers, in which case your up the creek anyway)
Carry mostly regular fletched arrows. They are quicker and quieter than flu-flu's. Keep one or two Flu-Flu arrows for two kinds of shots: (1) shots at upwards angles where you know your arrow will be playing hide and seek after the shot, and (2) shots into thick grass or vines where locating an arrow is often difficult. Use your regular fletched arrows for all other shots.
As for points, you can use a lot of kinds. I have settled on two points for field use. The RFA Talon is a fantastic hunting head. Also a great standby is a Judo point.
I keep all but one or two of my arrows tipped with Talons. The points on these heads keep them from skipping off the critters skulls. The cup in the front creates a great, concussive, blunt-force slam to the game, the edges can be sharpened to cut like a broadhead, and the pyramidal shape makes them easy to remove from trees when you miss or pile drive one through a critter. They are tough as nails, being hardened tool steel, and survive bouncing off rocks and what not regularly for me and don't bury under grass easily. They are by far the very best small game head on the market in my opinion.
(http://i881.photobucket.com/albums/ac15/casselmansteve/original_rfa_talon.jpg)
You should keep one of your flu-flu arrows and one of your regularly-fletched arrows tipped with a judo point for those shots into grass. The Judo point will keep it from burying up and you loosing your arrow. These work best on rabbits but sometimes don't smack with enough authority to kill squirrels. Also, for the stump shots that you can't pass up, Judo points are the king of stumping heads.
(http://www.abbeyarchery.com.au/mm5/graphics/B-525cc_large.jpg)
For what it's worth, I also hunt deer and hogs. For them I like a heavier arrow but because a Judo and RFA Talon both come in 125gr and I want all of my arrows to be the same, I restrict all my head weights to 125 and use 100gr inserts. The brass inserts are more springy than the standard aluminum ones so they hold up better and allow me to have 250gr up front after adding the 100gr insert, footing, head, and epoxy which is a better weight for medium game.
My typical small game setup includes one of the following:
3x Talon tipped, regular fletched arrows
1x Judo tipped, regular fletched arrow
1x Judo tipped, Flu-Flu fletched arrow
3x Talon tipped, regular fletched arrows
1x Judo tipped, Flu-Flu fletched arrow
(http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee146/gdpolk/Traditional%20Projects/IMG_0266_zpsca61adee.jpg)
See how visible that PINK flu-flu is under the 8" tall, thick grass! You can easily spot it from 20 yards away, even after 2/3 of the shaft was buried in the mud! Pink is king for small game hunting arrows.
(http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee146/gdpolk/Traditional%20Projects/IMG_0262_zps235f58df.jpg)
(http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee146/gdpolk/Traditional%20Projects/IMG_0261_zps41c4805e.jpg)
Hi,
Thanks to everybody for your comments!
I'll try and see what works best for me :)
Have a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and may your arrows fly straight :archer:
Max
Have a great time, good hunting!
This is what I did .n I shoot ground squirrels all year long and need lots of arrows douing it .But While i'm out sneaking up on squirrels I'm also looking for a spot to call coyotes.
Made this from an old bow quiver with some modifications . Holds six broad heads and seven squirrel or rabbit arrows
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v683/timkoi/028-6.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/timkoi/media/028-6.jpg.html)
Made it into a side quiver that laches on my belt with one of those cheap clips. Small game hunting is great stuff go get them.