Anyone crossbow hunt pests?

[Microbuck]

I guess less hunt and more "see and shoot" for some, but anyone go after things like whistlepigs, yotes, coons, etc with their crossbows? I haven't gotten into larger game hunting yet, and find the smaller targets make fun sport and help keep my property in check. Plus, they're small and great target practice (still only take ethical shots).

I took probably a 15lb whistler the other day from about 45 yards offhand and felt pretty accomplished. Didn't take pics but any are welcome here! Anyone else use their bows for pest control?

If anyone's interested I'm using some of David's (wyvern) custom micro arrows with 100grn ramcats. Running a stock string micro with a Nikon bolt. Nothing has moved after being shot.

Eta: I shoot some with field points as well depending on the size of the animal, though none of those have gone anywhere either.

[BrotherRon]

Matrix 310

[TheBig1]

I love hunting squirrel with my bow but haven't had the chance to do it with my crossbow yet. I use the judo points for small game and not broadheads or field points. I do this so my arrow doesn't go so far that I can't find it and doesn't bury in the dirt.

For whistle pigs, coon, etc. I'd use broadheads.

I love shooting the squirrels out of the tree and watching them helicopter to the ground. The sheer concussion of the KE breaks ribs and kills them.

[wheelie]

Deer hunting one year and fired all four of my arrows at rabbits. Had to go home early with two rabbits, no arrows. Told my wife how stupid I was shooting four arrows all with Rage 2 broadheads. Cost me $75 for two rabbits. Told wife next time I want a rabbit to eat I will go to a rabbit farm and buy them as it would be a lot cheaper.

[Riflemanz]

I shot 2 yotes within 1/2hr of each other. The first one I used a Trauma 3 1/8" cut 2 blade and the second one got a hammerhead down it's throat into lungs. It was facing me at 15yds.

[galamb]

Disclaimer - in Ontario Chipmunks are a protected animal and can not be hunted. You can however, dispatch them in protection of property and this little beast chewed a hole through the side of my garage and continued to do considerable damage to the contents until he was introduced to my Excal



(PS - he was shot on the ground @ 17 yards - I pegged it up in the pine tree for the pic - and when you can do that @ 17 yards, Bambi looks like "Godzilla" @ 25)

[Microbuck]

Nice shots guys! Haven't been able to get a yote yet, I think my dogs keep them pretty far off property, but the other critters have no problem making themselves at home.

I've found coons are tougher than groundhogs and typically will go with a broad head, but a well placed shot with a field point on a hog gets the job done very quickly. It helps that I'm usually shooting down so as to not lose the arrows.

Never got anything smaller than a squirrel, very impressive!

Thinking about doing some nighttime basement mouse hunting this winter

[xcaliber]

Disclaimer - in Ontario Chipmunks are a protected animal and can not be hunted. You can however, dispatch them in protection of property and this little beast chewed a hole through the side of my garage and continued to do considerable damage to the contents until he was introduced to my Excal



(PS - he was shot on the ground @ 17 yards - I pegged it up in the pine tree for the pic - and when you can do that @ 17 yards, Bambi looks like "Godzilla" @ 25)

That is a great shot, and very well written post. I think i peed a little!
In my neck of the woods, deer are considered pests, and do severe crop damage year, after year. Not to mention the deer / car collisions we endure as well. So yes, i do hunt pests!