What is the best spot for arrow placement on a cottontail? And will a broadhead kill one even if it is not ideal shot placement (70# draw weight)?
Ideal would be shoot them In the head so that way you wouldn't wreck any meat but I'm by no means good enough for that so I always aim for their lungs just like any other animal. Most of my rabbit shots are 25 yard to 30 yard shots. If mine were In that 10 to 15 yard range I'd aim at the head more often. Nope! This spring I cut a rabbit completely In half with my Snuffer (Man did I feel bad doing that). I was aiming for the lungs but missed back about 2 Inches and hit him In front of his back legs and cut him In half (he was still alive but I ended that right away).
Last year during Ohio cottontail season i shot one pretty much right up the rear, it ran into some thick stuff and died shortly after. but i would suggest the head.
There a pretty tough critter. I know guys that only use old BH's on them. I've seen them run away with arrows stuck in them and go into there holes, we were trying to pull it back out by the arrow with no luck! What ever you do try and pin em' to the ground!
Thanks for the info. Do they tend to bleed out very much? How do you find them if they head into thick cover in the woods?
I'd aim for the head, personally. They're more than likely going to sit there (thinking you don't see them) and let you shoot them. Here's a young rabbit I got a few years ago. Also, I'd recommend using the G5 small game heads. Virtually indestructible so you can get many kills with the same head. http://www.cabelas.com/p-0032836.shtml I'll also mention when I was younger I aimed right at the ribcage of a rabbit and hit him. The arrow was hanging out both sides and he ran into the brush and got away. Aim for the head!
Hve you had any troubles with the G5 small game heads, I bought one and on the second shot it broke off one of the prongs?
I killed one with those small game heads that have the wires coming off of them (can't remember name of them right now). Hit him behind the shoulder and it went right thru. He ran off into a thick pasture and my yellow lab found him right away.
I don't think I've ever seen a rabbit while bowhunting. I don't think I'd shoot one if I did, we raised them when I was a kid. I ate plenty of them back then, still not hungry for one lol.
I had the same problem with the 100gr S.G.H., awesome head just a little weak, broke on the 2nd shot. I went up to the 125gr and it held up for a long while. Sent em' back to G5 and they sent me 6 new ones! Now thats customer service!
Use a Grasshopper behind the broadhead to A) limit penetration, B) Stop the arrow from skipping and burying in the grass/dirt/leaves, C) Grab inners and create more damage. With them, usually anywhere in the rabbit will get you a recovery quickly. I've taken many rabbits with Muzzy broadheads w/ Muzzy Grasshoppers behind them.
