A guest post from Scott Huntington to The Prepper Journal.
Life is unpredictable — you never know what kind of curve ball it will throw at you. But if you can’t roll with the punches, you’ll have a hard time surviving. Sure, there are “proper” tools for hunting. But sometimes you just don’t have them with you. Sometimes you have to work with the things you have on you. Here are four alternative hunting weapons that may end up being life-savers later on. We’ll start small and then work our way up.
The Spear
We’ll start off at the times where you don’t have anything but what’s around you. The spear is an age-old weapon that is easy to craft, and deadly to use. While it can require a good deal of strength to use, and may not be the most accurate — spears are great to use for their relative stealth, ease of construction and utilizing the materials most likely at hand.
You’ll need to work on your stalking and still hunting skills if you want any success. Stick close to tress, brush, and whatever can block your silhouette. Try as much as possible to find an area that blends in with what you’re wearing. Search for animal trails and consider waiting in an overhanging tree.
The spear you use makes a difference as well. For a stronger spear, put the tip near a fire and slowly roll it so it’s slightly charred. Don’t keep it too long in the fire or it will break. You just want a golden-brown color, like cooking a marshmallow. This hardens the tip. Attaching a knife to the end with paracord is also an option assuming you have paracord, ow other string material AND you are willing to lose your knife.
The Slingshot
While likely not your first choice in hunting tool, the slingshot is a portable, easy-to-make weapon that could help you take down small game.
Slingshots are made of basic materials such as wood and leather and have been used for thousands of years. While they may not be the most accurate of weapons, there is something to be said about mastering the art of stalking prey because of this shortcoming. If you’re able to get close enough to prey to effectively hit and kill it, you could use pretty much any weapon you want.
A slingshot is a reliable weapon because it’s one of the more affordable and compact options, making it easy to acquire and take with you anywhere — just in case. Sometimes it can be the only thing you have, so you better learn to use it.
What’s the best part about using a slingshot when you’re in a pinch? Ammo is everywhere. Rocks and pebbles may not fly straight, but they are easy to come by. Slingshots are really only meant for smaller critters such as squirrels, rabbits and birds, so be sure you’ll be able to get a head shot to avoid internal bleeding and spoiling the meat. Practice on small targets at home to improve your shot.
The Crossbow
An upgraded spear and slingshot combo — the crossbow packs a lot more punch than a spear and has more accuracy than the slingshot — all without sacrificing the stealth.
The portability is most of the problem with this weapon — however, if you’re lucky enough to have packed a crossbow and ammo, or bolts, you can hunt prey quietly and take down medium to large game.
One of the best crossbow perks is that you can reuse your ammo. A surplus of ammo is a perk of the slingshot, and may even be what makes survivalists use them, but reusable ammo that is accurate and reliable can help bring in more meat over time.
The AR-15
Let’s say it’s deer season, but your hunting rifle is out of commission. The AR-15 can be configured to shoot like a rifle with superb accuracy and enough punch to take down prey such as deer.
The AR-15 is almost like comfort food for military vets. It’s a weapon that’s understood, efficient and versatile, and it’s becoming much more common as a method for hunting deer. If you’re looking to take down deer quickly and without spoiling the meat, the AR-15 perfect for the occasion.
You can set it up with the ideal 6.8 Remington or 6.8 Remington SPC caliber, and it’s powerful enough to take down deer without having a recoil that leaves you rubbing your shoulder afterward. Even an AR chambered in the NATO standard 556 will do the job when you have to put meat over the campfire.
Endure and Survive
What you prep for and how you react to life’s little tests will make all the difference for survival. If you’ve trained yourself in firing non-traditional hunting weapons, you’re already ahead of the curve. If not, go out and try something different.
Take the time to learn how to craft weapons out of raw materials and see how they fire — that way, you’ll have an easier time persevering if you find yourself caught in the cross hairs.
Editors Note: Preaching again but do note that if you have to make the first three weapons you can NOT make them if you are not carrying a knife, your EDC staple.
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