Head shots or body shots? - Page 2

andrew cochran · 03-24-2008, 09:11 AM

Sooner Shooter has that right!

BPierce · 03-28-2008, 09:59 AM

Got to agree with Webs. Head shot is the best but if not, a side to side shot through the rib cadge is the way to go. Around here they often head for the tops of the trees and do that "tree to tree, get out of Dodge" thing. When that happens you don't get much chance to set up a shot, sometimes having to shoot when they miss a jump and have to hang on till the branch droops and then climb back to something solid. One thing about head shots though is to look where he will fall. I have lost several that got caught in a big crotch and I couldn't get them down. In a case like that a ribs shot leaves them kicking long enough that they fall to the ground.

Silent Shooter · 03-28-2008, 10:14 AM

ANYTHING worth shooting is worth killing cleanly and quickly. I headshoot ALL of my prey. IF for some reason I cannot get a headshot, I will not take it.

Try hunting with a .17 HMR, that will definitely cure you of body shooting squirrels.

Savagebolter · 03-29-2008, 09:09 AM

I only use a 17 HMR, there is no other choice then the head, you hit the vitals and you have a bloody game bag and no stew/gravy and all the other tasty treats.

elmer fudd · 03-29-2008, 09:30 AM

i shoot any small game in the head besides bagers and coons but anything like a deer i shoot in the side so they will look better mounted (if i ever get one big enough to mount......................)

billy · 03-29-2008, 11:16 AM

i always try for a groin shot on any animal i am hunting.
i want them to suffer......

elmer fudd · 03-29-2008, 11:29 AM

^ LOL
your not right billy.

samuel · 03-29-2008, 11:38 AM

I shoot at a rock on the other side of them and bounce the bullet back and make a perfect heart shot.That way if they arent quite dead they charge the other way. sam.

Dookiebutt · 03-29-2008, 11:54 AM

I used to feed them - until they chewed holes through my gagrage door to get to the corn and peanuts when I was gone for a few days.

Farmer · 03-30-2008, 05:19 AM

We dont have squirels but ive shot heaps of bunnies and always head shoot. My thinking is its either dead or it gets away, no middle ground.

nc.hunter · 03-30-2008, 10:07 AM

I shoot them in the head to kill them faster so they dont run of plus that saves the body for the meat.

andrew cochran · 03-30-2008, 10:45 AM

+1 on what nc.hunter said.

BPierce · 03-30-2008, 11:17 PM

It's fiction that head shots are always either instantly fatal or a miss. The simple fact is that most animals have more head that isn't brain than head that is brain. I have found animals that were shot through the muzzle. When that happens they often starve. If you have the time and position for a good head shot fine, If it's a quick offhand shot or you are not an excellent marksman, the "boiler room" is a bigger target and even if you loose the animal it has only minutes to live, not a bad way to go if you are a squirrel.

tcwildcat7mm · 04-01-2008, 11:03 PM

I aim for the ear hole- seriously. you hit em in the ear and they die! period. 22, 17, air gun does not matter. and squirrel with sweet potato n blackberry brandy wine sauce... lil black pepper, tony chacheries n a lil splash tobasco.... ummm sher- now dats ha to pass a good time!!! les sez les bonton roulle!

billy · 08-07-2008, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcwildcat7mm

I aim for the ear hole- seriously. you hit em in the ear and they die! period. 22, 17, air gun does not matter. and squirrel with sweet potato n blackberry brandy wine sauce... lil black pepper, tony chacheries n a lil splash tobasco.... ummm sher- now dats ha to pass a good time!!! les sez les bonton roulle!

i aim for the a hole
if i cant get a good groin shot

Asphalt Cowboy · 08-07-2008, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billy

i always try for a groin shot on any animal i am hunting.
i want them to suffer......

I acctualy creased one once. Don't ask me how, it just happened.

Little bugger was directly above me facing up the tree when I shot. When he hit the ground he started into all kinds of gymnastics, totally going spastic fish floppin' around. Finally got him shot in the head and when I looked for where the first shot had hit, I found a big nasty welt on his nutsack.

billy · 08-07-2008, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asphalt Cowboy

I acctualy creased one once. Don't ask me how, it just happened.

Little bugger was directly above me facing up the tree when I shot. When he hit the ground he started into all kinds of gymnastics, totally going spastic fish floppin' around. Finally got him shot in the head and when I looked for where the first shot had hit, I found a big nasty welt on his nutsack.

good shootin cowboy!

andrew cochran · 08-08-2008, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billy

i aim for the a hole
if i cant get a good groin shot

Don't you call that a lead enema?

billy · 08-08-2008, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrew cochran

Don't you call that a lead enema?

well yes.
the uncouth among us may......

jimkim · 08-08-2008, 11:03 PM

I aim for the head when I'm using a 22 or pellet rifle. I use a shotgun a lot so with it, it doesn't matter.

View Poll Results: Do you shoot a squirrel in the head or body?
Head:	68	80.95%
Body:	16	19.05%
Voters: 84. You may not vote on this poll

03-24-2008, 09:11 AM	#21
andrew cochran Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Little town in ARKANSAW! Posts: 2,155	Sooner Shooter has that right! __________________ If you don't have anything good to say... Don't say it!

03-29-2008, 09:09 AM	#24
Savagebolter Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Southeast, Michigan Posts: 21	Head = fed I only use a 17 HMR, there is no other choice then the head, you hit the vitals and you have a bloody game bag and no stew/gravy and all the other tasty treats.

03-29-2008, 09:30 AM	#25
elmer fudd Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: pheasant country USA! Posts: 1,943	i shoot any small game in the head besides bagers and coons but anything like a deer i shoot in the side so they will look better mounted (if i ever get one big enough to mount......................) __________________ spur hard, shoot straight, party hardy!

03-29-2008, 11:16 AM	#26
billy spiritual counselor Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 12,164 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 146	i always try for a groin shot on any animal i am hunting. i want them to suffer...... __________________

03-28-2008, 09:59 AM	#22
BPierce Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Minnesota (Becker County) Posts: 148	Got to agree with Webs. Head shot is the best but if not, a side to side shot through the rib cadge is the way to go. Around here they often head for the tops of the trees and do that "tree to tree, get out of Dodge" thing. When that happens you don't get much chance to set up a shot, sometimes having to shoot when they miss a jump and have to hang on till the branch droops and then climb back to something solid. One thing about head shots though is to look where he will fall. I have lost several that got caught in a big crotch and I couldn't get them down. In a case like that a ribs shot leaves them kicking long enough that they fall to the ground.

03-28-2008, 10:14 AM	#23
Silent Shooter Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 292	ANYTHING worth shooting is worth killing cleanly and quickly. I headshoot ALL of my prey. IF for some reason I cannot get a headshot, I will not take it. Try hunting with a .17 HMR, that will definitely cure you of body shooting squirrels.

03-29-2008, 11:29 AM	#27
elmer fudd Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: pheasant country USA! Posts: 1,943	^ LOL your not right billy. __________________ spur hard, shoot straight, party hardy!

03-29-2008, 11:38 AM	#28
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,087	I shoot at a rock on the other side of them and bounce the bullet back and make a perfect heart shot.That way if they arent quite dead they charge the other way. sam.

03-29-2008, 11:54 AM	#29
Dookiebutt Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: America's North Coast Posts: 1,163	I used to feed them - until they chewed holes through my gagrage door to get to the corn and peanuts when I was gone for a few days.

03-30-2008, 05:19 AM	#30
Farmer Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Limbri NSW Au Posts: 296	We dont have squirels but ive shot heaps of bunnies and always head shoot. My thinking is its either dead or it gets away, no middle ground. __________________ Cheers, Rob

03-30-2008, 10:07 AM	#31
nc.hunter Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Forsyth county of north carolina Posts: 226	I shoot them in the head to kill them faster so they dont run of plus that saves the body for the meat. __________________ I'M A SOUTHERNER THROUGH AND THROUGH!

03-30-2008, 10:45 AM	#32
andrew cochran Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Little town in ARKANSAW! Posts: 2,155	+1 on what nc.hunter said. __________________ If you don't have anything good to say... Don't say it!

03-30-2008, 11:17 PM	#33
BPierce Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Minnesota (Becker County) Posts: 148	It's fiction that head shots are always either instantly fatal or a miss. The simple fact is that most animals have more head that isn't brain than head that is brain. I have found animals that were shot through the muzzle. When that happens they often starve. If you have the time and position for a good head shot fine, If it's a quick offhand shot or you are not an excellent marksman, the "boiler room" is a bigger target and even if you loose the animal it has only minutes to live, not a bad way to go if you are a squirrel.

04-01-2008, 11:03 PM	#34
tcwildcat7mm Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Hillsborough, NC Posts: 101	I aim for the ear hole- seriously. you hit em in the ear and they die! period. 22, 17, air gun does not matter. and squirrel with sweet potato n blackberry brandy wine sauce... lil black pepper, tony chacheries n a lil splash tobasco.... ummm sher- now dats ha to pass a good time!!! les sez les bonton roulle! __________________ "to disarm the people (is) the best and most effective way to enslave them" George Mason

08-08-2008, 11:03 PM	#40
jimkim Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Near the Little Ocmulgee river in GA Posts: 2,051 Blog Entries: 11	I aim for the head when I'm using a 22 or pellet rifle. I use a shotgun a lot so with it, it doesn't matter. __________________ Jan. 4, 2007...Gasoline $2.10/gallon HMMM? Jim