Acorns And Slingshots

TitleAround this time of year acorns begin to fall to the ground. On a windy day it is wise to avoid standing under a tree.! I wrote an article called “Harvesting And Processing Acorns” that explains the process of harvesting and preparing acorns as a food source. However, I have a different focus for the use of acorns in this article.

How many readers carry a slingshot in their Bug Out Bag? I keep one in my outdoor bag but rarely use it. The ammunition that I use are usually rough rocks that tend to curve out at their launching. A person can use marbles or steel shot for more accurate shooting but that can be expensive for ongoing practice sessions.

As I was traveling on a country road recently I noticed the abundance of acorns on the ground and it dawned on me that their near-round shape and density would make good material with which to practice shooting with my slingshot. I was able to collect quite a volume of acorns in a very short time to have on hand. I selected the acorns without the caps and with no splits down the side. Split acorns can come apart when shot and can be dangerous to anything along the sidelines down range.

Each acorn has a large dot at the top where it had been fastened to the cap. My best results come when I place that dot in the center of the leather pouch. The acorn shoots straight and I only need to adjust the elevation of my aim. The mass of an acorn is quite devastating.

So take advantage of this season and collect an abundance of acorns to help sharpen your slingshot skill. For shooting tips and inspiration you can watch “Carolina Camera: The Sling Shot Man” to witness some remarkable marksmanship.

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