Slingshot hunting was the last thing I thought of; not on my radar. I never owned one, and can't remember shooting one as a kid. I hunted with BB guns, pellet guns, .22 rifles, and shotguns.
The truth is I don't go slingshot hunting with only a slingshot. I now take a slingshot with me bowhunting, fishing, I keep a couple in my truck... My bowhunting led me to using the slingshot.
After more than fifty years of hunting with more sophisticated tools, the slingshot has won my affection. Note: I'll start calling them weapons, not tools, if a rabbit or deer attacks me.
The quail pictured here are special to me, because of the way they were harvested.
When a covey of quail came feeding behind my natural ground blind I was able to turn and shoot almost silently across the top of the cedar limbs. The quail didn't fly, allowed me to miss several times, and finally get two for dinner. Yum!
As I said above I don't purely do slingshot hunting; I am an opportunist when hunting. If I get an opportunity to take other game while deer hunting, or doing other things, it's a bonus!
Bow-hunting changed me,
I like the challenge, the close contact with wildlife, the long season... and also the opportunities. When hunting deer during the long bow-season I can also take turkey, coyote, bobcat... with broad-heads. But! I want different arrows, or points for quail, squirrel, rabbit...
When I started bow-hunting I soon found myself with flu-flu arrows, bird-points, small game points... and trying to find a way to effectively carry and use all the "stuff".
Deer hunting I use ground blinds, stalk, or still hunt. I'm often moving, walking... I like to travel light. I tried a
cat-quiver
with a small pack. I even tried using a hip quiver and a bow quiver at the same time.
It was never just right. Too much to carry, or not enough to do the job. I eventually gave up on the small game and bird arrows, and all the unnecessary things stayed in the truck.
With my bow and slingshot, I'm ready for anything at close range!
When deer hunting there is always a fear of compromising your chances. The less movement, noise, and disturbance the better. Guns make considerable noise. Arrows actually cause the most disturbance when you go to retrieve one.
Slingshot hunting offers some real, practical, advantages. It is simple, quiet, inexpensive, and easy to carry.You don't need to retrieve arrows! For small game at short range it appears to be effective.
Like a traditional bow slingshots can be shot from awkward positions. There is less disturbance than with a gun or even an arrow. So little disturbance I often get a second shot, or even more. Which I often need :-)
I haven't done any serious testing, but I have used some different ammo. I like the 1/4 inch steel ammo for inexpensive walking around and plinking practice. White marbles for the back yard target where they are retrieved. The larger steel or lead balls when slingshot hunting.
Projectiles appear to be traveling about the speed of arrows from my recurve, that's about 175 fps. They are fairly easy to see in flight which helps you learn to shoot.
It makes sense that the smaller and lighter ones are flying faster, like bullets, arrows... But, the heavier ammo will maintain it's speed better, and have more knock-down or killing power.
A powerful slingshot may not be necessary. You can't see it in the pictures, but one quail was hit in the head. The 3/8 inch steel ball almost completely removed one side of her head. It was a close shot, only about ten yards.
Pictured is the (folded or closed) wrist rocket style sling shot, a single 1/4 steel, OOO lead buckshot, and 3/8 steel ball ammo.
The Marksman slingshot above was my first slingshot which I bought shortly before my first
recurved bow.
I rightly thought a slingshot would shoot somewhat like a traditional bow. An inexpensive way, to try that style of shooting before making a larger investment. But I only tried the slingshot a couple of times and put it away.
After more than ten years of bowhunting I decided to give the slingshot another try. It is much like shooting the bow. I now know this style of "instictive" shooting, and I'm learning quickly.
After reading about a more traditional way of shooting/holding the slingshot I bought a cheap folding model at the farm & ranch store. I took the wrist-brace off to try that style of shooting. My only thought when I took it hunting was that it was small and easy to carry. That's why it was used on the quail.
Slingshot hunting for small game and birds is allowed in many places, but you should check your laws. Thus far my game bag only includes the two quail. But after seeing how effectively it worked on these birds; I'm excited.
I now consider the slingshot an important part of my bowhunting gear, my small game tool, my "bowhunting handgun".
