Grouse Hunting
Small Game
I know this may be a touchy subject, but I wonder if any of you have used a slingshot to hunt grouse. This year, I was fortunate enough to draw a rifle tag for bighorn sheep. Before the season, I had the idea of using a slingshot to harvest grouse as a way to supplement my backcountry meals. I ordered the slingshot, but didn’t get to use it since I filled my sheep tag 2 1/2 days into the hunt, and the slingshot hadn’t even arrived by then.
Because I fill my bighorn tag early, I got to spend the last two weeks of September chasing elk. Once I filled my elk tag, I went grouse hunting a couple of times with my bow. It was fun, but a little expensive considering the cost of arrows—even though I used old arrows and blunt tips.
Do you have any recommendations for a good slingshot setup? I know it’s legal in Colorado to hunt with a slingshot, and the Dusky Grouse season is open until November 24th. I’m super accurate out to 20 yards.
The heck with grouse. :) Let's hear about the sheep hunt!
^^^ Ya, let's hear about it! I have been using a King Rat Slingshot for past 3yrs, taken 3 Blue grouse and one Hair with it, get the heavy pull bands.
I have a couple of old slingshots I got specifically for grouse while bow hunting. I had to replace the bands and got the king rat but they didn’t improve my accuracy. But I am just using whatever small rocks I can find.
You mentioned you’re accurate to 20 yards. What more of a setup do you need?
I had a couple slingbow slingshots in the 1970's . I bought marbles for projectiles. I shot a lot of pigeons with them. The drawback was the surgical tube used. They often broke and were $1.50 a set. On my best day I got two pigeons flying and a few sitting still. Fond memories.
Never even thought about using a sling shot. As a kid, I killed a LOT of cat tail pods, frogs, cans - anything else that suited my fancy.
What brand sling sot says you?
Thanks! My ram hunt was with a rifle, so I didn't post anything here.
I bought a Simple Shot Scout XT, which is super easy to use and lightweight. I also ordered extra bands for it, along with 600 7/16 steel balls. The total cost was just under $100. While it’s not cheap upfront, it will be more cost-effective in the long run. The steel balls were $23, which is far cheaper than arrows or even ammo.
At least post a picture.
How did you decide on 7/16 ball bearing vs smaller or larger?
I have a Scout slingshot,put wide flat bands on it. I shoot 40 cal. lead balls . Made a catch box use the balls over and over. Simple Shot has videos plus me toob. Just takes a little practice.
We used small ball bearings from a plant where I lived. Rejects but great for ammo. Split shot sinkers work good to & not that expensive.
Nothin’ but feathers at 36 yards….
Nothin’ but feathers at 36 yards….
JMO, I would buy a #35-#40 Black Hunter recurve or longbow and hunt the birds with that…. Um, if I didn’t already have 9 bows on the rack from #40-#62….
The great thing about stickbows and flu-flus is that you just don’t blow through arrows the way that you do with a compound. Carbons footed with aluminum are really quite durable, even with standard fletchings — at least until I started shooting my #62, aka Destroyer. That thing will rupture the wall of a footed 340, bend a 100-gr brass insert, and torque a Judo point into scrap metal just for spite, I think. I guess she thinks Grouse are beneath her calling.…Though she’s absolute Hell on Pineys..
I choose 7/16 (11mm) after reading several articles. From what I read it is the heaviest and therefor would cause the most damage in the ranges I plan on shooting 5 to 20 yards.
Wow, great pic and nice ram !!
Gorgeous ram, and an excellent, honest photo. Incredibly refreshing!!
For a skilled archer (especially trad) accurately shooting a slingshot is almost second nature. Just make sure it's legal for hunting grouse or small game in your state.
Mike, it is legal in Colorado, but I can't speak to any other state. For me it was farily easy to become accurate. I bought my wife a slingshot too. She is not an archer or hunter, and it is taken her some time to get there, but she is getting closer. I built a little 2 foot by 2 foot box that I hang target off that is right off the porch. The box is great so we get most of the steel balls back. I shoot almost every day, before I walk down and shoot my bow. I'll take a picture of my box this evening if I remember.
“For a skilled archer (especially trad) accurately shooting a slingshot is almost second nature. ”
Should be. Even better, the transferability operates both ways. :D
