Hunting is not just a primal pursuit of food. It is also a favorite pastime that showcases natural survival skills. Considered one of the most dangerous sports in the world, hunting requires training and gears to get you ready with all the safety codes in play. It is also necessary for hunters to select an effective weapon that fits all their hunting needs.
The large bulk of hunters today rely on firearms to bag their prey. Using firearms, however, has disadvantages due to the amount of noise they produce even when they are suppressed. But a weapon that creates minimal sound inaudible beyond several dozen yards is perfect for those who need to hunt for survival.
Here is a list of silent hunting weapons that will help you maintain your cover and bag even the jumpiest of preys:
Bow
One of the oldest weapons used by mankind, a bow remains applicable today for a variety of purposes but particularly for the hunting of large game.
Modern bows, especially compound bows, are more accurate and powerful. Bows are quiet despite the whispery twang of a bowstring when an arrow has been fired.
Compound bows make a noticeable sound and noise but this is a lot quieter than the quietest firearm. Traditional or improvised bows can prove to be powerful, deadly and quieter when compared to modern compound bows.
Crossbow
The crossbow is another ancient weapon that's more powerful than a traditional bow.
One advantage of the crossbow is it can remain cocked and ready to fire with the pull of a trigger. It can even benefit from modern sighting systems like telescopic and reflex optics.
The crossbow can also be an ideal ambush weapon since a bolt can be prepared and requires only a press of the trigger in order to fire that fatal bolt.
Crossbows are noisier by a significant degree compared to traditional bows.
Slingshot
The slingshot is a frighteningly capable compact projectile weapon. It depends upon an elastic band or other elastic material to propel a small projectile, usually a pebble, marble or ball bearing to extraordinary speed. With practice, it is able to have superb accuracy even against a moving target.
Slingshots are available in diverse styles, from models that feature long forks and an arm brace to the stereotypical and compact y-shaped examples made from surgical tubing and a durable branch. Slingshots are quiet, but they are limited by range. The size of game they can take depends on the ammunition you have.
A truly designed for hunting slingshot with ceramic marble or smaller ball bearing as ammo can knock down small to medium game with a precise hit but only at close range.
Blowgun
The blowgun is another primitive weapon and it is optimized for taking down small game, though with a few variations it might also work against larger game. A blowgun is suitable to fire small darts that fit inside the bore.
Getting more or less range out of a blowgun depends on the length and bore of this weapon, aside from the skill and power of the user's lungs.
Although the range and accuracy of a blowgun are limited, it can take down small game – particularly birds and reptiles. In action, blowguns are very nearly quiet, blowing only a muffled shush sound.
Spear
The spear is a basic battlefield and hunting weapon. It has been a reasonable hunting weapon that is used directly or thrown to take down game at a distance. (Related: Researchers find proof that "spear-thrower and bow-and-arrow technologies" allowed modern humans to hunt better than Neanderthals.)
A spear produces no noise on its own unless it hits a hard surface or the user makes noise when it is being wielded or thrown. A thrown spear creates nary a whisper as it glides through the air before hitting its target.
Atlatl
The atlatl is a kind of spear launching weapon and it contains a nocked or semi-tubular spear holder and a long, slender dart that looks like a small spear.
The atlatl depends upon mechanical advantage to quicken and hurl a dart or short spear with much more power.
An atlatl with a bundle of spears or darts can be an imposing weapon. And just like launching a spear out of hand, it makes nearly no noise until the spear hits an obstacle or the wielder creates noise in the process.
Bolas
The bolas is a weapon consisting two, three or more stones or weights connected by a type of cordage and is intended to tangle or ensnare a target to take it down.
This is another weapon that is completely silent in flight until it hits the target. It can be used as a main weapon against small or delicate game considering it is very likely to kill on impact.
Throwing Club
The throwing club is a weapon used by many cultures around the world in one form or another. It can be as simple as a hefty stick or a multi-part, sophisticated and designed club that is able to make ample power on impact.
It is another weapon that is silent or nearly silent until it hits a target but it will create a clatter should it strike any hard surface.
The best throwing clubs are usually wider and heavier on one side to boost its impact and flight traits while being slender and angular on the other to serve as a working handle and provide better advantage upon release.
More related stories:
Prepping for SHTF: Top gear you need.
Survival weapons: Things to consider when buying your first bow.
Self-defense 101: Improvised weapons to use when SHTF.
Watch the video below to know how to make a walking stick sling as a useful basic hunting weapon.
This video is from the Signposts channel on Brighteon.com.
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