Whittling really is a great hobby when you are snowed in.
>>1158539It is mostly about the bands and ammo you use. The basics, rather minimums are:
Ammo Weight: 125 grains (8 grams)
Steel ball size: 15/32" (12mm)
Speed: 200fps/61mps
Energy: 10-12ft⋅lb/13.56 Nm-16.27 Nm
Max Distance with above minimums: 25yards/22.86m (projectile energy drops to 9ft-lb/12.20 Nm at this distance)
If you can deliver more energy to further distances, using stronger bands then you can hunt at those distances, if you can consistently hit the target. Anything less than that and you risk injuring the animal where it can still run off but die in a burrow or something similar. You should be going for a clean fast kill. Use the band calculator to help you size the bands. Use a gun chronograph to find out how fast your shots are. Make strong bands if you can't get your ammo speed fast enough.
Target practice using 2 inch/5cm diameter spots/targets. That's the size of the vitals in most small game. Practice at different distances. Only hunt animals after you are 80%+ proficient at one distance. If you can hit 80% at 10 yards/9.14m, but only 70% at 15 yards/13.7m then only shot at things at 10 yards or less.
Always target practice using the ammo you'll be using for killing. You'll better understand how it reacts. I recommend using a drop cloth pinched into an upside down triangle with the bottom fulled into a bucket to catch your ammo. Old carpet or old towels work well for that.
The elastic bands you are using don't work very well in colder weather. Keep them pressed against your body and warm. When you pull the pouch back to fire, release as fast as possible. The heat that is created, in the bands when you pull back, needs to be there when you release. Otherwise, your shots will not have enough energy when they hit the target. That means you need to be a quick draw and shooter in cold weather, no dillydally
To a point, wider forks on the slingshot will be more accurate than narrow ones
