How did they survive?

[Creep .22]

So since I've been ratting I've had two very weird hits. That didn't dispatch the rat, but should have. So I'm wondering have any of you guys seen the same? I'm using a .22 mrod with H&n terminators. They normally dispatch whatever I'm shooting at if it hits them. Even these two rats you can see the damage. They just refused to die. I had to take a follow up shot.

You can see one took a full shot right in the eyeball and the other lost half his head.

[BenjiHunter]

It happens.
I shot one thru and thru, but he took off up the tree.
They are tough animals.

[Creep .22]

It happens.
I shot one thru and thru, but he took off up the tree.
They are tough animals.

Hey Benji hunter. I've noticed you're the local rat hunting pro. I still have a good number of rats in the backyard. I only seem to get one a night. Once I take that first shot they same to vanish for the night. Is that your experience too? I have the bait station set up. You can see everything in my post for the ifart application lol. Is there anything that can be done to try and get more per day. I just want to stay ahead of the breeding numbers

[TF89]

I think that your shots did them in, rats dance a lot with head shots.  They are really dead, just the nerve center unleashes all the energy that it contains, which is a lot.  If they don't run away and hide, you got them.  As Stefan said, sometimes they manage to keep going even though they are dead, just don't seem to know it. 

Regardless, that is some nice shooting on your part.  Nicely done.

[JrSquirreler]

I feel like that could be the control center just buzzin. Nice shots, keep up the good work

[LDP]

If the rat that got shot in the eye was facing sideways the pellet was to far forward to hit the brain cavity. If the rat was looking at an angle towards you then the pellet should have entered the brain cavity.

[beachgunner]

Zombie Rats!

I have had Zombie Squirrels before with head shots. As Leland indicated, it is all about the angle and the point of entry and the path of the pellet. I shot one just a hair above the eye, did a through and through, and stopped the squirrel right in it's tracks. I went over to collect it and there was blood everywhere from both the entry and exit wound. I grabbed it and it was not dead. At all. Very much alive. Had to do a follow up.

Tough critters. Keep at it. You have lots of pellets. Use em' 

[Creep .22]

These definitely weren't control center malfunctions. I've seen them dance a bunch. This was me walking up to them. Watching them breathe and trying to squirm away. The eyeball guy kept going in circles. Two face over there looked straight at me and tried to crawl away. It freaked me out both times. Because when I saw the wounds and when I took the shot I felt confident it was a one shot one kill.

Missing the brain cavity does make sense though. They were probably so dazed they couldn't get their bearings together. I have a new respect for the nasty little things. They've adapted to being hunted and can take a punch.

[BenjiHunter]

It happens.
I shot one thru and thru, but he took off up the tree.
They are tough animals.

Hey Benji hunter. I've noticed you're the local rat hunting pro. I still have a good number of rats in the backyard. I only seem to get one a night. Once I take that first shot they same to vanish for the night. Is that your experience too? I have the bait station set up. You can see everything in my post for the ifart application lol. Is there anything that can be done to try and get more per day. I just want to stay ahead of the breeding numbers

When I shoot one, I remove it right away. It takes about 20 min. before I see another one.
But they show up.
You need a lot of patience.