A lot of years have come and gone since the last time I went frog gigging. I remember riding my Huffy bike through the dark with a frog gig strapped to the handle bars as me and a couple of the boys in my neighborhood slipped onto the local country club in search of big bullfrogs. These virgin lakes and ponds had never seen young rednecks with frog gigs. The action was hot and heavy all summer long as we “hunted” under the cover of darkness for the big green croakers. When I got a call the other night from a friend to take our boys frog gigging, I jumped at the chance. But unlike my junior high days, several decades ago, this time I’d be pond hopping for frogs with my bow. With the busyness of life lately I’ve honestly not had the time to shoot as much as I like to through the summer months. I figured froggin’ with a bow would be the perfect solution to help tighten my skills on a hot summer night.
Bows, frogs, and fun. It’s a great way to spend a hot summer night.
Light ‘em Up
We strapped head-lamps on our heads as we pulled up to the first pond of the night and made our way to the water’s edge. I was reminded really quickly that a good spotlight is a must. The same headlamps we use to light up the trail on the way in to the treestand is just not enough. You need a big, strong spotlight that enables you to take inventory of frogs from one end of the pond to the other. Good frog ponds also tend to house cotton-mouth snakes. A good light also helps you to watch where you step and avoid an encounter with an overly aggressive snake.
The fun in froggin’ comes with ample targets and shot opportunities at some of the smallest live targets you’ll encounter all year long. My first would-be shot opportunity of the night came when our 12-year-old “guide,” Davis Kinsey, walked right up on a big croaker just 5 steps away. In my scramble to grab an arrow from the quiver the fat frog made a quick retreat back into deeper water. I learned really quickly to be ready…and stay ready.
Between their tell-tale croak and eyes or white belly shining in the light, frogs are easy to locate. Within minutes we had slipped to within bow range of a number of frogs. The true challenge comes in making the shot on such a tiny target.
A knock on the door and a friendly conversation are sometimes all that’s required to gain permission for froggin’.
The Bow Advantage
The advantages of chasing frogs with a bow rather than a gig are many. I was able to make shots on frogs that were far out of reach of the guys with gigs. I could shoot from one side of the pond to the other, whereas the giggers would have to sneak from above and behind the frog, often spooking them before the deal was done. In most cases, even when I missed my target, the frog never budged, allowing for a quick follow-up shot. And to be honest, it was simply a lot more fun to chase frogs with a bow.
Frogs with a bow just might be your funnest archery opportunity of the summer.
Gear for Frogs
I used my Mathews NO CAM HTR bow at the same draw weight I’ll be deer hunting with on this shoot. You could tame it down with a light poundage rig, but I like to shoot/practice with what I’ll be using for big game in the fall.
As previously mentioned, a good headlamp is a must. The guys I shot with used Nite Lite brand spotlights like coonhunters use. Nite Lite’s LED Classic is an incredibly bright light with plenty of options, from lower power settings for lighting the trail at your feet, all the way up to a super bright spotlight for picking out critters at extreme distances.
Another great option for lighting up frogs, coons, or any other critter you can legally put a light on is the Laser Torch Pro from Laser Torch Lights. These super bright lights come in a no-hassle unit that is very user friendly, and you’ll hardly know it’s there. Both companies feature really good battery life to keep you in the game for days…even weeks.
The crew at NAP offers their Apache Predator L.E.D. Stabilizer for night-time hunting opportunities. The 6″ stabilizer light is another great solution for a hands-free light source mounted directly to your bow’s stabilizer hole. This light is water resistant and features a remote activated on/off switch.
The Apache Predator L.E.D. Stabilizer is a great hands-free light option for after-hours shooting opps.
Lighted nocks are a really cool addition to your gear when chasing frogs at night. Watching a lighted nock zip across the pond at night is about as cool as it gets. But a lighted nock also allows you to easily recover arrows following the shot. There’s no guesswork to the whereabouts of your arrow when using a lighted nock. Go in without a lighted nock, and you’ll likely be spending as much time looking for arrows as you will frogs. Several good options for lighted nocks are the Launchpad Illuminated nocks from Carbon Express and Nockturnal Nocks. Both companies offer a number of color styles, shaft options, and eye catching brightness.
Moving to the business end of your shaft; a spring-armed tip can greatly cut down on lost arrows. Sure, a field point is more than enough to anchor frogs where they sit. But the mud and shallow waters where frogs hang out will easily swallow arrows. You could honestly go through a quiver full of arrows in no time if you’re not careful with your shot angles. Tip your arrows with options like Muzzy’s SG-X Small Game Head
or Grasshopper rings behind your field tips. Try to take shots into the bank to contact solid ground and keep from losing arrows.
Arrows dressed out with lighted nocks in the back, and a spring-armed head up front, will likely make it back to the house at the end of the night, saving you time and money.
With another month of hot summer weather still ahead of us, it’s a great time to try froggin’ with a bow. You’ll be sharpening your skills for hunting season while putting some tasty frog legs on the dinner table. Line up a couple local ponds’ and give it a go. It’s a fun way to spend a hot August night with a bow in hand.
