Hunting Small Game With A Slingshot?

[Max-4]

Hey, I was wondering if anybody knew the regulations on hunting small game like rabbits and squirrels with a slingshot in southern Ontario?

I have looked at the reg's in the booklet but can't find anything about slingshots. If you could please answer my question or point me in the right direction it would be appreciated!

When I say slingshot I'm talking good quality plastic, metal and wood ones with strong flat bands and shooting 3/8 steel ball bearings. Thanks

[mpsmyth6]

I've never seen them mentioned in any hunting regs, however I know guys in the city that use them for rabbits and such as they also aren't part of firearm bylaws for many cities.

[finsfurfeathers]

I've never seen them mentioned in any hunting regs, however I know guys in the city that use them for rabbits and such as they also aren't part of firearm bylaws for many cities.

yup here in Vaughan discharge of slingshot prohibited by bylaw.

[Fox]

The regulations say what you cannot use for big game but except for the caliber limitation for parts of southern Ontario and restrictions during a big game gun season there is not much other than not a restricted or prohibited firearm. They used to say you could not use a revolver or handgun but that was removed as they acknowledged the use of airgun pistols under 500fps as legal firearms. In this case why could you not use a sling shot if it were legal in your municipality. Why could you not use a paintball gun (I have seen it done) to knock our grouse.

[Lakon]

Many moons ago, when I used to hunt moose in Northern Ontario, I asked a CO that same question, he said it was perfectly legal. The very next year, in my backpack, I carried a homemade Magnum monstrosity of a slingshot, made up of bent 1/4" SS rod and part of old shovel handle. Walking an old logging trail one morning I saw a Spruce grouse casually walking away from me, about 15 feet away. Well...grouse fever set in and I couldn't for the life of me find any of my packed pellets, so I reached for whatever projectile I could muster-up, in this case a rock the size of a large egg... In all my years of grouse hunting, I can safely say I have never made a more humane shot on a bird, hit him square between the shoulders and propelled it about a foot forward, I believe gun-hunters refer to it as a DRT shot.

[GrouseWhisperer]

Many moons ago, when I used to hunt moose in Northern Ontario, I asked a CO that same question, he said it was perfectly legal. The very next year, in my backpack, I carried a homemade Magnum monstrosity of a slingshot, made up of bent 1/4" SS rod and part of old shovel handle. Walking an old logging trail one morning I saw a Spruce grouse casually walking away from me, about 15 feet away. Well...grouse fever set in and I couldn't for the life of me find any of my packed pellets, so I reached for whatever projectile I could muster-up, in this case a rock the size of a large egg... In all my years of grouse hunting, I can safely say I have never made a more humane shot on a bird, hit him square between the shoulders and propelled it about a foot forward, I believe gun-hunters refer to it as a DRT shot.

I'd love to see that slingshot...mostly because I've whittled up a few eyebrow-raising ones too over the years. Still have the wildest one..interesting conversation piece. lol

I can relate to your story though. I "clear" pigeons from barns belonging to friends and depending on the farm...might mean my slingshot is the best tool. If you've ever tried to hit one off a rafter near a darkened, inside peak of a barn..you know it's not the easiest thing to do. For a few years, I used to work hard to get a clear shot but spent more time climbing/positioning then actually shooting. Then, while playing pool one day...it occurred to me that with my 1/2" raw steel ball bearings, I might be able to skip/ricochet the shots into tight pockets where the birds were hiding and well...bingo! They make an audible sort of "thuk" sound on impact and drop like...well..like a pigeon. My high power air rifle is a more surgical approach, but I don't always have it with me if I'm out there groundhog hunting during the spring/summer and decide to check the barn while I'm there. In the fall/winter...it's the slingshot/air rifle program for the indoor pigeon-ing.

Technically, pest-control more than hunting so I'm not sure it answers your question.

[FishHog]

completely legal in general. You will have to check your local bylaws to ensure you can hunt whatever small game your hunting at the time, but the weapon isn't an issue.

[terrym]

My guess is you will wound 10 for every one you kill. Why would you want to do that?

[smitty55]

Not sure about that one. In a skilled set of hands I can see a half inch steel ball doing some major damage to a pigeon. I'll have to check youtube lol.

Cheers

[MikePal]

My guess is you will wound 10 for every one you kill. Why would you want to do that?

Don't you ever tire of trolling threads with negative comments Terry...It's gotten really old.