Of ant I could find in the winter.

I snowshoed into camp to check everything and get some shooting in. I had set some ant bait out last time I was there as it appeared we have a small carpenter ant issue inside my camp.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t get much stumping done with thigh deep snow. Fortunately, I was able to make the most of the carpenter ant issue.

Full disclosure—— these ants, while alive had injested poison, so although they are free ranging, both the poison and the snow slowed them down a tad.

Some of you may question my ethics hunting a creature not fully on its game, but rest assured these ants still had plenty of fight in them.

I placed a handful on a softball sized ice chunk and backed up to about 12 yards.

I had a small “ant-fever” attack and shot over them on the first attempt. I’ll have to wait until spring to recover that arrow.

My second shot was right on and the 500 grain ACE blunt tipped arrow exploded both the ants and ice.

I was only able to find one intact body. I’m thinking shoulder mount.

Out of respect for those individuals whom detest pictures of small game with blood or gore, I will only post the tasteful pictures.

Look at that beast!

I had to step up to a 44# bow to pursue and dispatch this beast!

Easily P&Y from mandible size to thorax girth.

The antics here...

I would have thought you needed at least 700 gr. to breach ant skin.

My step mother killed her first black bear with 38 pounds! About 15o pounds, perfect white V! She made a shoulder mont.

Shot place ment! Bla b!a bla..

God's truth.

Ants have feelings too

Glynn, I too considered that a sub 650 grain arrow may not penetrate the exoskeleton.

But remember I was under 20 yards. I suppose that’s how I got away with it.

Are you my aunt?

Are you sure those ants are still in season? Here where I live, Fire Ants (being an invasive species) are always in season, but our carpenter ant season ended Jan. 1st.

Lol - Good post Yooper!

Just lucky that mouse didn’t take it personally, I’d say....

I have a valid small game license, and it was “ doing harm” to my structure, so I believe I’m legal to harvest them.

I've heard of whites falling a sleep under a tree. It's good for the ants. Not so much for the Pearson on safari.

Water buffalos any one? How many GPP? God bless Nature!

K, I usually am a staunch follower of the 3:1 guidelines, but those shafts have the 100 grain outsert, so I’m stuck with 125s.

Although, last year I almost got a full pass through on a moth. Pretty sure my head got hung up in the opposite shoulder (well, one of them anyway).

Used to be an NDN family that shot sagebrush archery golf with us. Once I noticed that their two boys were hung up to the side of the fire hose puck and walked over to see what they were doing. They had .38 hulls on wood arrows and had found an ant hill. They were having a contest seeing who could kill the most ants with one shot by counting ones stuck to the bottom of the hull. Think 4 won the contest. Everyone knows about momentum and potential of a well placed blunt head! Congratulations on your trophy! Hope your knife is sharp enough to skin a nice shoulder mount from that boomer!

Larry I’ve alread contacted the taxidermist. Originally I was thinking shoulder but I may go with a pedestal.

I think you are OVER bowed!

Pedestal sounds great! May I suggest something like this?

Lol Larry!

SB I have have drawn a touch short now that I think on it. The damn things tried running away in the snow.

LLC

Just killed a fine trophy cockroach. Wounded it with a two pound newspaper drawn to about 30 inches & 1 yard distance. Very little penetration & no blood trail but tracked it quickly & dispatched with a second shot. I'm having it mounted & will post pictures soon.

Every so often a large yellow jacket wasp shows up in our house, it was winter outside. They are here somewhere.two years ago i got a bunch with a BB gun. However, when I found a piece of window trim they were getting under and out of, i went for the poison. I think I will keep following Batman's very unsporting method, don't be reporting me to PETW. I am certain they will start moving around more come spring.

Killed this one back in my prime.....no way I'd attempt it today,just way too dangerous.

80#@28" Black Widow (very fitting that a spider got him!)

When shooting ants I usually miss the shot high. Don't often shoot under them for some reason.

KPC,I agree to a certain degree,but you run the risk of a full on charge that way.....sometimes,even in archery,a brain shot is the best choice....let's face it,all shots in the sport of Carpenter Ant Hunting are dangerous.An abdomen hit is the WORST!!....nothing as terrifying as the charge of a very angry carpenter ant that is wounded,but not necessarily mortally wounded!

yooper-travler,Nice kill,and I'm glad you weren't injured,Sir!

Funny to read this morning.......

My father-in-law was recently released from a hospital stay and is currently in rehab for a couple of weeks before returning home. I checked his house yesterday and found a few carpenter ants having party in the place during his absence.

Had to check the Michigan DNR Ant Hunting regulations for baiting rules.........

“In areas closed to deer baiting or deer and elk feeding, the only legal baiting material is meat, meat products, fish, fish products, or bakery, confectionery products. It is unlawful for any licensed Ant hunter or his/her designee to establish or tend more than three bait stations per hunter.” No grain of any kind or chocolate allowed.

Set three bait stations consisting of a mixture of Sugar, Borax, a little water and set up trail cams. I plan on using blunts with an extreme FOC setup in the 700gr range....Hope that’s enough to get the job done, they’re tough little critters.

Yellow Dog, good luck and be safe!

We'll need pics if you have a successful hunt... which is defined as not getting killed or maimed... please, BE CAREFUL!!!

I tried to shoot a ant climbing up a tree with my BB gun, bounced back and almost took my eye out.

a large tennis shoe is your best back up

KPC, I’m going to have to rethink my setup. Using a 59 Kodiak, 42@28 drawn to 30” which gets me 47@30. Total arrow weight of 700gr on gets me to 14.9 grains per pound. Based on your recommendation I’m under gunned. Going to have to bump it up some and do a little more tuning..........

How are you guys preparing those ants for the table? BBQ, smoked, low and slow, jerky, chocolate dipped?

Did any of them jump the string on you? You're a brave man for hunting them with that light of a bow.

K. Fred Bear specifically addressed this well known flaw in the razor head. You just can't expect it to hold up well (or at all!) when using it against any chitinous exoskeleton!

Hell man Ashby himself dedicated a large portion of his report to this very matter! You were foolish---but lucky.

I wouldn't hesitate to go after a worm or caterpillar with those heads, maybe even a large mite. But never an ant. I admit I was lucky using a blunt. But remember, I also used poison and snow to tip the odds in favor!

Razorhunter-- I like the "sneak" mandible pose! The way your taxidermist captured the antennae was perfect.

Yellowdog remember that I'm in the UP. We have different baiting regulations that the lower does. Also, I was using a Border CH. I don't know if a Kodiak has the juice. Unless you get close, real close.

KPC,I'm glad you escaped with your life and a valuable lesson

Yooper-traveler,My taxidermist is jam-up

Supernaut,I don't eat them,just too tough

Always carry a can of hairspray and a lighter for back up. May not be traditional but it may save your life!

Knowing they can lift 5,000 x's their body weight I wouldn't even attempt trying to hunt one.

Well, I went out this morning and saddled a horse and rode my brush pastures, tied up by the trailer to grab some cold food, and had my horse taken over by a huge chipmunk that ended up knocking me down and riding off to golly knows where. If I had had my .300 mag in the pickup I would have chanced a shot, but all I had was a 30.06. I suppose next will be Rocky Raccoon!!! Got his picture. If anybody sees a muscular young bully riding a Ralph Shimon saddle on a brown horse, please call the sheriff. He may be wearing natural cowhide shotguns.

Sorry about no archery content, but the bow that could kill an animal that big hasn't been made yet!

Only God knows the horrors that horse is suffering......

That picture is tasteless. Not cool to disrespect that ant in such a fashion. The anti’s are going to get us. Hahahaha

Was the mouse in full charge when you shot?

They found my horse. He's 5 hands shorter and his hair turned white. Don't think he will be good for anything ever again. Trying to get some troops and tanks from the local Firing Center to get those monsters under control. Eliminate with prejudice! Look what happened to my good brown horse! He just keeps screaming, over and over----

Wudstix - actually he was stalking my wife as she snowshoed past. Thankfully I had the foresight to let her go first so I could cover her with the bow.

Larry where exactly did you find the saddle? Lol

So much for wash and wear! ;) bvd

If you have already registered, please

sign in now

For new registrations

Click Here