I have a couple of catapults, some going back years but fancied something special while I get round to making my own. After a little roaming around the bushcraft forums I found a catapult being talked about fondly and promptly ordered it.

It's from Hunter Catapults and is a hand made hardwood laminate dyed a 'Jacobean oak'.

Here is the Bumf from the website:

'Hunter catapults' is a small cottage based company nestled into the downs of rural Wiltshire.
I have been making catapults for a couple of decades and have made many custom catapults for folk for some time too, some metal and some wood. I have always preferred wood, it looks great and the varieties available are extensive.
The Hunter has been developed specifically with hunting in mind and I have taken a good few meals with one too!

The feature that really sets these catapults apart from  other commercially available catapults is the fitting of doubled 'Theraband gold' ,this is believed to be the world’s leading catapult elastic and is used by many of the  leading catapult shooters and catapult craftsmen alike, and makes the Hunter capable of 210fps!!! That’s 18ftlbs. 

'Hunter catapults' have been developed to fit comfortably in large and smaller hands assuring many happy hours of target shooting or hunting.

Being left handed I shoot my catapult in my left hand which i thought was the left handed way but this actually seems the norm as others feel the right hand/stronger hand is better placed drawing the catapult back. (When using a bow I draw back the arrow with my left). for me though, I feel the front aiming hand is more important so prioritise my left hand over my right. It's not tough to pull back the Theraband Gold elastics. Just to hold them there.  Handedness would not normally matter in purchasing a catapult but these Ergo Hunters are made to fit either the left or the right.

After a couple of trips out it has not taken me long to find the 'eye' I had when I was a kid and would be confident hunting dinner should the need ever arise.

It's a beautiful bit of kit that I love to use. Way better than the cold hard factory made, mass produces catapults you can get. When I can afford it I'd love to get Fish (the guy behind Hunter Catapults) to make me a custom one. The laminate is nice but some of his 'specials' are just that. Very special indeed.

If you are not sure of the UK law around slingshots/catapults check the BushcraftUK forum for more info.

And if you want to see how accurate a slingshot can be.. check out the video on my other blog.

Happy hunting!