hopefully will be getting drawn for alligator tag this year. If so I am thinking about taking the bow. I have a martin recurve I use for bow fishing with a bottle reel set up. Can this bow be used for gators and if so what set up changes do I need to make. Thanks for any information you all might have.
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bowfishing for gators
- Thread starter lancek742
- Start date
joey1919
Senior Member
Is it a slotted receiver? I've used non-slotted successfully but its a little more hassle.
You'll need a little different arrow set up than what you'd normally use for fishing. You don't want to rely on a safety slide to hold a gator. You'll want a broad head designed for gators. It'll have a hole in the head to tie the string through. If the shaft breaks you'll still be attached. I like interlock three blade grapples but others work as well. I would have 2 or 3 arrows set up ready to go.
You may want to upgrade your line to a stronger gator cord. It won't be any bigger just higher test.
I'd have a buoy of some sort handy
I'd also have a heavy rod/real combo and a big treble hook on board. I've hooked gators that I just couldn't get close enough to for the bow but the bow is my first choice
You'll need a little different arrow set up than what you'd normally use for fishing. You don't want to rely on a safety slide to hold a gator. You'll want a broad head designed for gators. It'll have a hole in the head to tie the string through. If the shaft breaks you'll still be attached. I like interlock three blade grapples but others work as well. I would have 2 or 3 arrows set up ready to go.
You may want to upgrade your line to a stronger gator cord. It won't be any bigger just higher test.
I'd have a buoy of some sort handy
I'd also have a heavy rod/real combo and a big treble hook on board. I've hooked gators that I just couldn't get close enough to for the bow but the bow is my first choice
Not sure about the receiver. I will have to check. If it's not slotted is that an easy change? I have looked at some additional tips and even thinking maybe a float or bouy would be nice. What are your thoughts on floats and would I have to change the bottle reel set up for that?
joey1919
Senior Member
Ams makes slotted and non slotted receivers. Its one or the other, I think they call the slotted the Big Game.
I like having the buoy attached, a gator can get away with more line than your bottle will hold.
I like having the buoy attached, a gator can get away with more line than your bottle will hold.
joey1919
Senior Member
Yes, its easier with the slotted reel
donald-f
Senior Member
How many points do you have and what area are you hunting?
donald-f
Senior Member
With fewer tags means less gators for that area. Good luck to you. Are you going with a guide?
mattech
Deranged Throat-Puncher
The bow and reel can be used, but get you a couple gator getter arrows and the 500lb string. Gonna be hard to penetrate a gator with a recurve, the hardest part will be getting close enough to be accurate and have enough KE to penetrate.
HunterJoe24
Senior Member
Where can you get the arrows and line>
tgw925
Senior Member
We have tried the bowfishing setup but always end up converting to the trusty rod and reel...it will increase your chance of success but a great number!
tgw925 Thanks for the advice. I was actually thinking about using rod and real to get em close to boat and using the bow and bouy as an insurance policy lol. Now to change the subject. Nice picture of all the green heads. If you all ever need a couple extra shooters let me know.
I have a ams reel but do not like it or use it. I will try to explain what works well for me.
Use a innerloc 3 blade gator grapple attached to a heavy arrow. Tie your line only to your head. Pull the string as tight as possable down the shaft and tape it once near the head and again about3/4s of the way up.
Make a float with an empty milk jug and some of the expanding foam. Works great and a lot cheaper.
Next, get a 2.5 gallon bucket and position it on the front of your boat like a cannon. Pointing out. Put the float to the side of the bucket. Now place the string into the bucket. This is where the bucket shines. You can easily put 20-30 yards. With this much string in the reel, it will hang up.
When you shoot, as the arrow leaves the rest, the string will trail behind the arrow. This will allow much longer shots than using the bottle.
Good luck.
Use a innerloc 3 blade gator grapple attached to a heavy arrow. Tie your line only to your head. Pull the string as tight as possable down the shaft and tape it once near the head and again about3/4s of the way up.
Make a float with an empty milk jug and some of the expanding foam. Works great and a lot cheaper.
Next, get a 2.5 gallon bucket and position it on the front of your boat like a cannon. Pointing out. Put the float to the side of the bucket. Now place the string into the bucket. This is where the bucket shines. You can easily put 20-30 yards. With this much string in the reel, it will hang up.
When you shoot, as the arrow leaves the rest, the string will trail behind the arrow. This will allow much longer shots than using the bottle.
Good luck.
mattech
Deranged Throat-Puncher
You can buy them directly from muzzy, ebay, and at http://shop.backwateroutdoors.com/collections/alligator-big-bowfishing-game-hunting.
The rod and reel is a good way to connect at a distance and get them close.then get an arrow in them. Get as many lines as you can in them. They are powerful, and can easily break line.
Good luck.
tgw925
Senior Member
Yes a lot of people will get them to the boat then put a buoy in them with a bow fishing rig or harpoon for reassurance. I hunt a lot of public and private land in SEMO, I wish I could take just anyone. The list is long lol!
joey1919
Senior Member
Experiences will vary but I can get 20-30 yards of line I'm my bottle with no hangups, I also feel the tension of the line coming directly from behind the arrow, out of the bottle, will have less of an effect on accuracy than coming from 3 feet below the line of flight(out of a bucket). These are my thoughts and experiences, yours may vary.
markland
Senior Member
Agree!
We/Muzzy also have an economy gator getter version now with attached reel/float system, arrow, head and 400# line that will work just fine on your setup.
FYI I have shot all my alligators including my 12' 6" with 53-54# recurves and they work just fine, just need to get the point under the hide, not trying to shoot thru them. Good luck
