When most people think about hunting tools, they tend to think of either firearms or crossbows. Very rarely do people think about the slingshot for hunting. Hard to imagine a little Y-shaped frame with a rubber band, as being a serious hunting or defensive tool.
But in reality, hunting slingshots are more effective than you may think, and you won’t want to overlook them. Contrary to common public perception, slingshots are not just a kids toy.
A hunting slingshot utilizes kinetic energy delivered by the pull of the rubber bands to send a projectile rocketing into the air. If the rubber band is strong enough and pull back far enough, it can have enough energy to kill small game or birds, or to deliver serious damage to an attacker. It all really comes down to making sure that you have the best model hunting slingshot.
Let’s take a look at the uses for a slingshot in a survival scenario, hunting with a slingshot, what to look for in a slingshot for hunting, and then the best makes and models for you to consider.
Unpack This Article's Arsenal
Get Great Guns And Ammo Deals!
SAFEST NEWSLETTER - WE WILL NEVER SELL YOUR EMAIL
No Spam - No Selling Your Email
Uses For A Slingshot In A Survival Situation
There are two primary uses for a slingshot in a survival situation: for small game hunting and for emergency defense. It can be more effective for both of these purposes than you may have initially suspected.
Hunting With a Slingshot
While hunting with a slingshot may seem laughable at best, you should know that a slingshot is fully capable of killing small game within reasonable distances (such as around 30 feet). And this combined with the fact that the slingshot is quiet, dead simple, and has an infinite amount of ammunition (just pick up rocks on the ground) adds to its versatility.
Advantages to Hunting Using a Slingshot:
- It makes it harder for animals to spot you because you have a much smaller overall profile (versus if you were to use a crossbow or a rifle)
- It makes it easier for you to maneuver through tight conditions
- It won’t give away your location to anyone else or any other animals in the same area
This isn’t to say that the sling shot is the best small game hunting weapon by any means, but it is to say that it is a perfectly viable option. Keeping a slingshot in your bug out bag or your car could be a good idea for this very reason.
Hunting Slingshot for Self Defense
The slingshot can also be an effective self-defense weapon as well. The advantages for the slingshot as a defensive tool include the following:
- It’s incredibly easy to locate and use ammo
- It’s quiet
- You don’t need to worry about it staying dry, as you would a firearm
- It can severely injure an attacker, but without actually killing them (if you don’t want to use lethal force)
- It is very easy to carry and conceal
Again, the slingshot may not be the best defensive weapon just as it is certainly not the best hunting option. But also again, this doesn’t mean that the slingshot deserves to be overlooked.
Even if the slingshot should not be your primary weapon, it still fills a specific niche, and carrying one around in your vehicle or your bug out bag is not a bad idea for the above reasons.
Keeping Cattle Away From Feeder
One personal reason I carry a slingshot in my hunting bag, is to keep cattle away from my bow-stand and feeder. Even though I have a cattle fence around my feeder, where I bow hunt is a working cattle ranch. Nothing keeps deer away like a fat cow eating all the corn. So a well place slingshot rock in the ass of the cow usually gets them moving along without hurting them.
Qualities To Look For In A Hunting Slingshot
Selecting any random slingshot in the store would be a bad move. Rather, you want to spend the money on a quality slingshot that can actually be an effective hunting and self-defense tool.
Hunting Slingshot Frame
The first quality to look for is the material of the frame. Most slingshots are made out of one of three materials: plastic, metal, or wood. Each of these have their own pros and cons.
The wood is definitely the most classic option, but it’s not the most durable. Metal slingshots are far more durable (as well as usually lighter), but they are also the most expensive. Plastic slingshots often have a glass filled nylon, and are lightweight and resilient as well.
Hunting Slingshot Band
The next thing to look for is the band. A poor quality bad completely ruins the entire reason for owning a slingshot in the first place. Rubber tubes are the longest lasting option, and are also the best choice to use for hunting.
Flat bands are a good choice for those who do not use their slingshots often but strongly desire accuracy. A flat bad will, generally speaking, produce faster projectile speeds and improved accuracy over rubber bands.
Hunting Slingshot Grip
Next, pay attention to the grip of your slingshot. A comfortable grip is extremely important because without it, you won’t enjoy using your slingshot and that means you won’t get as much practice in.
A good grip will also reduce fatigue in your wrist and hand, which is another great benefit. It’s also why handling a slingshot in person before buying is a good idea.
While not completely necessary, does the slingshot you are considering have a hollow handle? If so, that could be a major plus because it’s a convenient location to carry spare ammunition or spare bands.
Not all slingshots have a hollow handle, and it’s certainly not a requirement. It’s just something to consider.
The Best Hunting Slingshots
Now that we know the qualities to look for in a slingshot, let’s take a close look at some of the best makes and models that are currently available and that meet the above criteria.
| Product Name | Where to Buy | |
|---|---|---|
 | Dankung Slingshot |  |
 | Pocket Hunting Slingshot | |
 | Scout Hunting Slingshot | |
 | Hunting Slingshot With Laser | |
 | Daisy P51 Slingshot | |
1. Dankung Slingshot
The Dankung Air Sniper slingshot is built out of aircraft aluminum with a pistol grip body that makes it very comfortable for your hand. It also many penetrating holes that allow you to attach lanyards or other gear such has knives.
Each fork will also rotate so you can accommodate literally grip as you see fit. The entire slingshot weighs only a half pound, so it’s a perfect choice for keeping stowed away in your backpack without noticing it.
2. Pocket Hunting Slingshot
This is a solid choice for both novice and professional slingshot users alike. It uses two high quality rubber band and has a stainless steel frame, with a weight of around twelve ounces. But what really stand out is the foldable arms on this hunting slingshot. Makes it easy to store in a pocket.
The bands that come with the slingshot are rather stiff, so some users of the slingshot report that they like to purchase less stiff bands separately.
3. Scout Hunting Slingshot
The Scout Hunting slingshot is built with a glass filled nylon construction, which makes it a very durable and resilient model with the ability to withstand heavy duty use. It utilizes latex bands with a premium quality leather pouch.
Overall, this isn’t the best choice of sling shot for beginners but it is a truly excellent option for people who are more experienced with the weapon. The indents in the slingshot also allow for a wide variety of different attachment options and bands.
4. Hunting Slingshot With Laser
When it comes to hunting slingshot this is without a doubt the Cadillac model. Not only does it use 3X3 high velocity bands to let it reach out farther most slingshots on the market. It comes with a laser flashlight to help you mark your target. We can all agree is bit of gimmick, but still cool.
Another feature that isn’t a gimmick is the magnetic base that can hold ammo for your slingshot.
5. Daisy P51 Slingshot
Last but not least on our hunting slingshot list is one of the most popular slingshots ever made. Daisy P51 utilizes a plastic wrist guard for comfort with a solid and inexpensive frame. The tubing is not the strongest on the market, but fortunately it’s not anything that you can’t easily swap out on your own.
The Daisy P51 is a great choice for beginners. The aircraft aluminum build quality is weather resistant, while the wrist guard itself will fold up so you can easily carry it in a bug out bag or a backpack.
Hunting Slingshot – Conclusion
When it comes down to it, the slingshot is a versatile tool that deserves more credit than it receives. Hunting Slingshots are a particularly good choice for anyone who are not comfortable with using firearms and/or those who do not have the strength to wield a larger weapon.
But as with any tool or weapon, proficiency with the slingshot comes only with practice. Sure, it can be a very effective hunting and defensive tool, but it won’t be if you’ve never used one before.
The slingshot may be one of the simplest weapons on the planet, but it’s also a skill based weapon.
Recommended Reading
Legion Usa Akm Rifle For Hunting
2 Responses
Tubes are the best choice for hunting but bands are more accurate and powerful??? What is this writer smoking? Also wouldn’t hurt to have an 8th grader check spelling and grammar.
Wrist rockets of any type are inaccurate at best. Looped tubes can be accurate and they are certainly durable, however, they require MAJOR practice to achieve the kind of accuracy humane hunting requires. I love the traditional Chinese slingshots (looped tubes) but be aware that no serious target shooter uses them.
Flat bands are the way to go. You have to learn to tie them yourself. They wear out after a few hundred shots (at best). Try a slingshot that is F, or Through the Forks. The Scout is an excellent example, but I’ve never owned one Google an R10. That’s a good design for most people.
Serious slingshots are a new thing. Makers are generally people working in their back-yard.
Everybody’s got an opinion, but try Precise latex in .70. It’s generally red. You can find it on eBay. Cut it 2 cm to 1 cm taper. This will give you plenty of power for hunting, but it pulls easily enough for accuracy. Make sure to measure your draw length. Buy steel balls 3/8″ ammo (most common) and get pouches to fit it. I suggest GZK pouches. They are the ones to sell latex also. GZK slingshot. Also try Dankung.com. There’s a lot to learn. I can’t tell you all here. Don’t listen to amateurs.