Slinging as a means of protection and hunting.

[siguy]

i forgot to mention before that there are a few guys on that website that i listed that have succesfully hunted, one using buckshot in a large pocketed sling, and another that has been using a sling since they could walk. another has designed special hunting ammo that are made from arrow broadheads attached to a heavy lead core, theoretically used for hunting deer and large game.

in order to gain consistent accuracy, the fellows on that forum seem to have decided on many years of consistent and constant practice.

some people on that site have crunched the numbers, and have decided that in the right conditions a sling can out speed some handguns.

i suppose that using the birdshot method, you could most likely do alright if you practiced semi frequently and were comfortable with your slinging style (there are alot of different styles, from simple overhand to the pirouette to the figure eight)

here is a link straight to the articles page, including making cheap consistent ammo and a large variety of slings:
http://slinging.org/articles.html

 

[runningboar]

I think it would be easier to build a sling than a slingshot in a survival situation.
Less materials to bring with you. Materials that could be used for more than one purpose. All you need for a sling is some cordage.

I think they are about the same but the slingshot is easier to aim and hit with, but is more complex and prone to breaking. For projectile weapons I think I will stick to the bow. Chris

 

[siguy]

ah but the bow is more complex and prone to breaking than either the slingshot or the sling, and it takes specialized ammo.

for trully feild expediant weaponry, i find that some slighty curved hardwood sticks, green or dried, make excelent projectile weapons. i like to put a blunt three sided pyramid tip on each end, just to add a touch of crushing power in the event of an end hit. also, these are easy to replace and it is no big deal if one breaks or is lost. these can double as clubs, for finishing off wounded game or killing snare catches, and of course for self defense.

easy to use too. everyone has thrown things, and all you have to do is whip it at a target. chances are, you will hit it or come close.

 

[SkunkWerX]

siguy,
I have read about the throwing sticks. They also rely on prey that naturally "freezes" when attacked. Rabbits?
I think the idea is to get a hit on them, they "freeze" and then you can hopefully take them out quickly once you get closer.

Of course, for all plans....

I have only seen rabbits run.

 

[siguy]

a loud high pitch whistle will cause some animals to freeze, as alot of animals are curious. i have read of this technique used in bowhunting deer, to get a shot as a deer walks away.

you will just have to make sure you are ready to throw when you whistle, because any motion will immediatly scare them away.

please take note that i have only read of this whistle technique, and have not actually practiced it.

 

[runningboar]

I have and it works but I don't think well enough to sling a stone. The animal usually freezes looks toward where the sound comes from and then takes off, if it saw someone whirling a sling I think it would be a very short pause. Chris

 

[TDahlgren]

Historically speaking slings were quite effective in warfare, although typically used in massed volley fire. At ancient battle sites sling projectiles made of rocks and even lead have been unearthered bearing marks such as lightning bolts or epithets such as 'here is one for your nose.' The Spartans were big fans of the sling, traditionally young boys were only permitted to eat meat that was self procured with the sling and the Romans used slingers - most commonly mercenary units from conquered tribes with a long history of specialization withe the weapon. Somewhat like the longbow, the sling is a weapon that requires years of practice to master.

 

[mewolf1]

please take note that i have only read of this whistle technique, and have not actually practiced it.

I've used this more times than I can count.

 

[Kevin the grey]

I think they are about the same but the slingshot is easier to aim and hit with, but is more complex and prone to breaking. For projectile weapons I think I will stick to the bow. Chris

For a sling you really only need cordage. This cordage can have many uses.

For the slingshot you must have an elastic material. While it could be used for other purposes it is much less versatile than cordage.

The only advantage I see on the slingshots part is that I think I would be reasonably proficient in one day.
With the sling I think reasonable results would only be had through a training regime and then a reasonable amount of practice.

The bow cannot come into play for most survival situations and most people.
It is the rare person who can make a bow and arrows in their home. A survival situation lessens even that small number considerably.

Even if a novice archer could make a bow in the wild when challenged by a survival situation I doubt if they could learn to use it. Even though using it would be infinitely easier than making it.

 

[runningboar]

I have made some pretty good bows with a knife and some string, certainly good enough for fish, frogs and birds. I am not talking about something I can bring down a buck with at 30yds but a robin at 5, I can do this with a field expedient bow. About the only thing I can bring down with a sling is the 10 year old neighbor kid standing behind me. Chris

 

[SkunkWerX]

OK, so, if i mgiht summarize:

It would take some time to become proficient enough with a sling to procure food. WHile the sling would be fairly eay to make, in a survival situation, it's use would yield less than adequate performance, UNLESS you were already well practiced.

Fabricating a decent bow, in a survival situation, is almost the opposite sitaution of the a sling, difficult to build one that would be operational, but, if one was available, someone could become proficient in a shorter amount of time.

In a survival situation, a sling isn't accurate enough, and a bow is a complex thing to build.

So, where does this leave us?? A Throwing stick. Throwing Rocks.
Traps and Snares and fishing.

Have a throwing stick or two handy, in case the opportunity arises to bag some small critter, and have those snares and fishing rigs set-up, working 24x7.

Anything else?

 

[runningboar]

About six to 10 drop lines or limb lines or a trot line, and an equal number of snares along with regular foraging and a rabbit stick should keep you pretty well fed. Like everything it depends on your knowledge of the local flora and fauna and your skills, when you have to forage to survive is not the time to learn the skills you will need.

This probably should go in your spear thread me and Kevin have already talked a bit about it, but I am going to try to make a gig to go in my kit. I already carry a nice B&M 3 prong that works well but I want one with at least 3 barbed tines and a flat tang with a couple of holes drilled in it for lashing. As far as I know nothing like this is made commercially so I am going to attempt to make one. Chris

 

[mewolf1]

In a survival situation, a sling isn't accurate enough, and a bow is a complex thing to build.
Anything else?

I disagree with this to some degreein that a green stick bow is actually quite easy to make. You might not shoot a 240 with it, but gettin food with it you will. I hope to have a digi cam soon and will post pics on howto.

 

[DOC-CANADA]

Quickee Survival Bow as per Tim Baker

An initial survival bow would surely be of green or dead wood, both weak in their own way.

Here's a way to store the greatest amount of energy/get highest possible cast from such wood. It's also the quickest way to make a bow:

Select a sapling or branch with a pronounced natural arc about equal to that of a braced bow. Cut to length, remove any branchlets, and the bow is finished. String it and shoot it.

At brace height a bow has used up about half of its ability to bend--the tips have advanced about half as far as they will at full draw. So, much of the wood's ability to do work is not available to the arrow. A highly deflexed bow makes all of its stored energy available to the arrow. So even though the bow will not be as efficient per pound of draw weight it will shoot an arrow faster. This because it can be pulled to such higher weight before breaking.

A deer-killing bow could be had in just a few minutes. The string and arrow are the time takers. But even here there are shortcuts.


Although I have not as yet tried this, I offer it for what it's worth. If Tim Baker says it's so, I believe it. BTW, the last I heard, Tim is in the hospital with a life threatening problem.

To Tim: Good luck, I hope you get better soon.

Doc

 

[DOC-CANADA]

It would take some time to become proficient enough with a sling to procure food. WHile the sling would be fairly eay to make, in a survival situation, it's use would yield less than adequate performance, UNLESS you were already well practiced.

Skunk, should this not be the case with all the survival skills you hope to use? My point is that, if you want to be able to use a sling (or anything else, for that matter), now is the time to learn how, not to pack it away in your BOB or GAG or whatever the current popular acronym is, and think that you're going to learn to use it when you need it.

Do I think I could use a sling as a reliable method to take game? Not at this time, but hopefully one day.

Doc

 

[Kevin the grey]

When we speak of possibilities here they must be viable. Generally speaking, for the average man. That is whom we address when we post here.

Generally speaking I do not think an average person may make a bow and arrow with a proficiency level great enough to take game in a short period of time.

I am speaking of an average man. This is not a man with a great deal of survival experience. He has not made snares before. He has not survived for a few nights in the woods before. He may(just may) have a half sharp knife in his pocket. His survival kit consists of a wallet with some credit cards,green toilet paper and a four year old condom.

Yes I know some of your eyes are lighting up . You are saying to yourself "that is plenty".
That is plenty for a man of experience. This average man has never used a credit card for anything other than buying things . The knife may have been used to cut cardboard,pry staples and actually be there at the stir of faint memories associated with being crafty.

I think there are many here who have so many layers of skills beneath their belt that they forget what being a common man is. There is a great deal of "If I can do this then anyone can".
Even this line has become blurred by the fact that there are others here with less skill sets and still are well above being a common average man. If we ever were common average men.
I think it takes a man who is a cut above the ordinary to be reasonably prepared. That may be why we see ourselves as ordinary. Our base line is above average.

There is a saying.
"Any white man can build a bow. It takes heap big Indian to make an arrow."

Immediately we say"Not true". That is because we are above average. I consider myself average here. Yet I scrape arrows from square lumber into tapered shafts. There are others who are great at snaring/hunting/camping yet have never made a bow. These people and others I can see making a bow which is not much more than a springy stick. I can see them taking a tree shoot and making an arrow. I can see them having the discipline and experience necessary to use the bow and sneak in to the twenty feet or so that is the limit of their primitive bows killing power.

The average man here could not do this. The man who lurks and so is invisible to us. The man who is embarassed to show his inexperience and so posts rarely but reads most posts that are of interest to him. The blowhards who question peoples right to hunt when they can go to the supermarket and have their killing done for them. The new man here, the most important man here. The man who has come to realise there is more to life than the distance between couch and television. I do not think any of these could build use and maintain a bow and arrow.

I think we tend to forget that which is not evident. I try to put myself in the shoes of the average everyday man. The man who needs our help the most.

 

[runningboar]

Great post Kevin and you are right, I don't mean this post to brag on myself I learn things on this site everyday, there are people on here far better than me, but as a commentary on the "common man".

My Company went to the land nav course a few weeks ago here at Bragg and as we were walking from point to point I was pointing things out to my soldiers, what types of trees we saw, and which produced mast and what ate it, what type of game sign we saw, a deer trail and a good place for a stand, a squirrel was barking close by and none of them new what the noise was, all of this in my mind is very basic outdoors stuff. They were all amazed that I new all of this, out of my team of 6 soldiers they barely new the difference between an oak and a pine, literally, if they were ever in a wilderness survival situation they were dead I have no doubt.

 

[Kevin the grey]

Chris it is exactly that you do not brag about your abilities that is my point.
I salute your open friendly nature.

It may be that I struggle with some things that I can see the struggles of others better. I try to keep things as simple as possible for the simple man.
It is not that there is right or wrong here. It is that there is a degree between the two. It is so darn mercurical that it is rare we can focus upon it.

I personally see snares combined with an element we are comfortable with, familiar with, as our best means of survival. Maybe that average man's best skill was throwing a common rubber ball. I think he would be best directed towards thrown projectiles. Maybe he can walk real quiet. That would be such an advantage in the woods.

Maybe he can stomach eating McDonalds hamburgers. That would be perfect for finding crap and insects that live under logs. After eating the clown poop they serve at McDonalds,maggots would taste like cake.

 

[Jeff Clark]

To guage the power and accuracy issues of hunting with a sling I would rate it as similar to hunting with golf balls and your favorite driver. You know that people do get killed or seriously injured by golf balls, but it is seldom on purpose. You can whack a ball hard and far down a fairway with a golf club, but your target is the size of a golf green.

I used to practice my slinging around the perimeter of a golf couse using lost balls I picked out of the brush. I could sling the balls further than most golfers could drive them so I would guess more like 160 mph than the previously quouted 80 mph. When you hurl rocks with corners on them they buzz through the air with an ominous noise. I have chased coyotes with my sling and it really makes them run. I was never really trying to hit one though. I guess that I was more accurate with the sling than most golfers with their drivers, but not enough more accurate that I would use my sling to get my dinner. If you are close enough to hit small game you are likely to spook the game as you wind up your throw. I would prefer to get up close and use a throwing knife or rock.

I did experiment with loading my sling with pebbles. It would sure discourage an attacker.

 

[mewolf1]

When we speak of possibilities here they must be viable. Generally speaking, for the average man. That is whom we address when we post here.

I like to speak for myself in that I think that the average man or woman with some curiosity and practice can increase thier ability to do whatever they want and find out the viablity for themselves. If this forum inspires them, great.:thumbup:

Generally speaking I do not think an average person may make a bow and arrow with a proficiency level great enough to take game in a short period of time.

Perfaps not, but they might try if they think there is a chance to survive because it.:thumbup:

I am speaking of an average man. This is not a man with a great deal of survival experience. He has not made snares before. He has not survived for a few nights in the woods before. He may(just may) have a half sharp knife in his pocket. His survival kit consists of a wallet with some credit cards,green toilet paper and a four year old condom.

This guy is screwed and has not been here for long.

Yes I know some of your eyes are lighting up . You are saying to yourself "that is plenty".
That is plenty for a man of experience. This average man has never used a credit card for anything other than buying things . The knife may have been used to cut cardboard,pry staples and actually be there at the stir of faint memories associated with being crafty.

This guy needs to spend more time here too.

There is a saying.
"Any white man can build a bow. It takes heap big Indian to make an arrow."

Immediately we say"Not true". That is because we are above average. I consider myself average here. Yet I scrape arrows from square lumber into tapered shafts.

Is this due to a 36" draw length?

There are others who are great at snaring/hunting/camping yet have never made a bow. These people and others I can see making a bow which is not much more than a springy stick. I can see them taking a tree shoot and making an arrow. I can see them having the discipline and experience necessary to use the bow and sneak in to the twenty feet or so that is the limit of their primitive bows killing power.

regulars to WSS.:thumbup:

The average man here could not do this. The man who lurks and so is invisible to us. The man who is embarassed to show his inexperience and so posts rarely but reads most posts that are of interest to him.

No, and many here can't spin up a fire either, but we are all here to learn and try things we learn here.(at least that's what I'm here for:thumbup: )

The blowhards who question peoples right to hunt when they can go to the supermarket and have their killing done for them.

Darwin will take care of these.

The new man here, the most important man here. The man who has come to realise there is more to life than the distance between couch and television. I do not think any of these could build use and maintain a bow and arrow.

No more than they could use a sling.