Verifying Humane Dispatch of Squirrel ?

[survivor45]

Do squirrels have a different nerve reaction than rats with a kill shot to the brain ?
Most of my pesting is on rats. So I’m familiar with how their body jumps twitches and helicopter tail.
I’ve recently dispatched two squirrels. (.177 Sub 12 FPE , 20 yards or less ) After the initial head shot I go to retrieve the squirrel(s). And they act like they are gasping for air. I then put one shot after another into their head. At close range. And they still act like they are gasping for air.
Is that the normal reaction from a squirrel with a fatal shot to the head ?
If/when I dispatch an animal I want it to be as quick and humane as possible.

 

[gendoc]

aim for the brain.......is what i do with my .177 pesting squirrels off my bird feeders.

 

[AmosBurton]

I've seen the same thing.
I'd say if you actually hit the brain you're good.
I believe that's why lots of people prefer a heart/lung shot because all those functions cease because of the physical damage the shot does.
Some functions continue for quite some time after death depending on how an animal died.
I once had a physiology lab where we "operated" on a live rabbit. Once we were done (they were still anesthetized) we bled them out using an artery. The rabbit's heart continued to beat for 1/2hr after being cut out.
It also tried to breathe well after it's lungs deflated from lack of blood.

 

[luckybuckeye]

I’ve killed many squirrels with sub 12 fpe air rifles and in my experience with a head shot they do “the dance” for about 5 seconds. I usually leave them lay for five minutes before I go retrieve them in case another one come out. I have made it a habit to look at them through the scope to verify that they are not breathing. I have missed and hit the spine once and the upper half of the squirrel was still lively but I thought it was dead because it wasn’t moving until I reached for it. If there are no concerns about the squirrel running to a hole I take the heart shot. They usually run around aimlessly back and forth in the tree and expire in 3-5 seconds and I don’t have to see the convulsing death with the head shot. It looks more peaceful but it probably isn’t for the animal as they are running out of oxygen/blood flow. So I’m torn between head and heart shot.

Wait until they turn their head to the side and aim between the eye and ear or diagonally through the eye and out the opposite ear. Other headshots like back of the head, top of the head, and between the eyes also work but aren’t my preference for longer shots.

 

[qball]

I’ve killed many squirrels with sub 12 fpe air rifles and in my experience with a head shot they do “the dance” for about 5 seconds. I usually leave them lay for five minutes before I go retrieve them in case another one come out. I have made it a habit to look at them through the scope to verify that they are not breathing. I have missed and hit the spine once and the upper half of the squirrel was still lively but I thought it was dead because it wasn’t moving until I reached for it. If there are no concerns about the squirrel running to a hole I take the heart shot. They usually run around aimlessly back and forth in the tree and expire in 3-5 seconds and I don’t have to see the convulsing death with the head shot. It looks more peaceful but it probably isn’t for the animal as they are running out of oxygen/blood flow. So I’m torn between head and heart shot.

Wait until they turn their head to the side and aim between the eye and ear or diagonally through the eye and out the opposite ear. Other headshots like back of the head, top of the head, and between the eyes also work but aren’t my preference for longer shots.

I’ve switched completely to heart shot so they don’t flop and attract attention.

 

[huntr]

I’ve gone back and forth between headshots and square through the shoulders. Absolutely square through the shoulders and there is no drama. They just tip over. If not perfect, they run a short distance. That can take them into the neighbors yard, so I’m back to headshots.

If you’re going to kill animals, stop feeling bad for them. You can’t have it both ways. Stop humanizing animals. They don’t think, act or react, have feelings like humans. Shoot inanimate targets if you’re going to worry.

 

[Squack]

Huntr, you have probably have not raised and killed animals based on your statement.

Survivor45, head injuries are described as a flash of light or confusion( from first-person accounts). The brain does not feel pain, according to medical experts.
As for incapacitated, a look at the lungs will answer your question. When an animals die, the stomach muscles go limp first, even if the heart is still beating. I have seen some gasping as things shut down, but they are gone.

 

[Firewalker]

I'll tread lightly so as to not incur the moderators wrath: As a witness to gazooggles of head injuries, only those that don't hit the sleepy button are considered painful or traumatic.

Sorry for the fluff but I'm tip-toeing here.

If it enters the cranium and eviscerates the contents, the remaining nerve impulses that cause motion are not causing discomfort.

I.e, the 'death dance' is not painful or cruel, it's just nerves firing randomly giving signals to muscles. The light switch is off, there is nobody home....

 

[JimD]

I take brain shots when that is presented but I shoot through the shoulders when that is what I have. Including with my 19 fpe 177 and 18 fpe 22. I have not had them run with a brain shot but I have seen them drop from the tree with a little life left in them with body shots. My dog is normally there when they hit through ground so there is no significant running allowed. She enjoys shaking any remaining life out of them.

I think my higher powered 22 and 25s drop them quicker. They almost aways shoot through the squirrel which I think helps. Only runners have been lengthwise shots with a 25 at 32 fpe.