Post by zoompitman on Sept 23, 2006 6:55:08 GMT 8
Blowgun Shooting Games
There are various shooting games that can be played with the blowgun. These are normally are informal games between friends and can be quite a fun way to pass the afternoon. Always remember safety first, as nothing spoils a day more than injuries. I have listed a few ideas here, but feel free to invent your own.
This is a game where only one winner will prevail. Each player will shoot one round, 5 darts, one for each of the 5 targets used in the target game. All scores will be totaled for that round and the player with the lowest score will be eliminated. The process is repeated until only one player remains.
Animal Cracker Hunting is done with stun darts, and since the crackers are biodegradable, there is no mess to clean up. Each person sets up 5 Animal Crackers at various ranges and positions, out to 20 feet from the firing line. The players take turns shooting at any of the crackers, and the person who hits the most, when all the crackers are hit is the winner. Other crackers or cookies can be used of course.
Shooting balloons can be a fun and challenging way to test your shooting skills. Mount inflated balloons on a safe backstop, and let fly with the darts. The Range can be varied depending on the size of the balloons and the skill of the shooter.
Two shooters stand facing a pair of blowgun targets, with loaded blowguns. At a signal, each person shoots, and continues t o shoot until one has placed three darts in the same target. The targets are placed no closer than 20 feet, but may be moved further away if the shooters wish.
Another version of this game uses Soft-Point Darts and the Soft-Point type dartboard. Each shooter picks a number from one to twenty, and must place a dart in their number, before the other person does. Hits to the center do not count. This version is played using the Regulation 27-inch blowgun, and the shooters stand 11 feet from the target.
The Field Round involves the use of Stuffed animals, or other safe targets, such as toy foam balls, or even blocks of wood. The use of Stuffed Animals is good practice when hunting, and can be purchased for a few dollars each in most department stores. Look for semi-real looking critters that approximate the size game you will be hunting. The Monster and Space Alien types tend to avoid complaints from Anti-Hunters, but still provide good practice. In a safe area, with no houses or other thing s that can be damaged from a stray dart, place your targets. On or near stumps, piles of dirt, in scrub brush, or a bush are good locations. The shooters walk through the area, until a target is spotted. Each shooter takes one shot at the target, with a hit scored as one point. A miss is minus one point. Each person must fire from the same spot as the first shooter, but they may choose any position they want. The game continues, until one shooter has reached a set number of points, such as ten.
This is an age old past time, and just as much fun today as it was years ago. Aluminum drink cans, paper cups, etc, can be stacked up or put in a line, and knocked down one by one. Stun Darts work well for Plinking, and tend to avoid lost darts. Try putting 6 cans in a pyramid, and knocking them off one by one, from the top down. When you can do this, increase the range, or add to the size of your pyramid.
This is perhaps the most challenging game you can play. It requires accuracy and a steady hand. A stick 1/4-inch or less in diameter and 5 to 6 inches long is placed upright in front of a safe backstop. Starting from a distance of 10-feet, try to hit the stick. Another version is to use a wood match, and attempt to hit the matchstick.. Wax birthday candles also make good targets. Being very careful, and with the proper precautions, you could light these candles, and than put them out with a dart. Only do this in a safe area, and make sure all fires are out when you are done. Personally I don't recommend using lighted candles as the danger from fires, spoil any added enjoyment.
This involves the use of the metal animal silhouettes sold for use with air guns, and Stun Darts. These targets can be purchased from various airgun dealers, and some department stores. They come in sets of four different targets. The targets are stood on a board with the smallest target on the left and moving right in increasing size, in front of a safe backstop. Each shooter tries t o knock over all the targets, starting from the left, with one shot allowed per target. If the player misses a shot, they must move on to the next target in line. Any target hit out of order is considered a miss. Each shooter shoots five times, at the g roup of four targets, with their score being two points for every target knocked over. The targets are reset for each round. Highest possible score is 40 points. If a target is hit but not knocked over, one point is awarded for that target. The firing line is 7 yards or 21 feet from the muzzle of the blowgun.
This game may also be played using a paper target of the proper type with the Silhouettes printed on it. This target is still used with Stun Darts, with any hit to a target counted as two points.
There are various shooting games that can be played with the blowgun. These are normally are informal games between friends and can be quite a fun way to pass the afternoon. Always remember safety first, as nothing spoils a day more than injuries. I have listed a few ideas here, but feel free to invent your own.
Knockout Game
This is a game where only one winner will prevail. Each player will shoot one round, 5 darts, one for each of the 5 targets used in the target game. All scores will be totaled for that round and the player with the lowest score will be eliminated. The process is repeated until only one player remains.
Animal Cracker Hunting
Animal Cracker Hunting is done with stun darts, and since the crackers are biodegradable, there is no mess to clean up. Each person sets up 5 Animal Crackers at various ranges and positions, out to 20 feet from the firing line. The players take turns shooting at any of the crackers, and the person who hits the most, when all the crackers are hit is the winner. Other crackers or cookies can be used of course.
Balloons
Shooting balloons can be a fun and challenging way to test your shooting skills. Mount inflated balloons on a safe backstop, and let fly with the darts. The Range can be varied depending on the size of the balloons and the skill of the shooter.
Quick Draw
Two shooters stand facing a pair of blowgun targets, with loaded blowguns. At a signal, each person shoots, and continues t o shoot until one has placed three darts in the same target. The targets are placed no closer than 20 feet, but may be moved further away if the shooters wish.
Another version of this game uses Soft-Point Darts and the Soft-Point type dartboard. Each shooter picks a number from one to twenty, and must place a dart in their number, before the other person does. Hits to the center do not count. This version is played using the Regulation 27-inch blowgun, and the shooters stand 11 feet from the target.
The Field Round involves the use of Stuffed animals, or other safe targets, such as toy foam balls, or even blocks of wood. The use of Stuffed Animals is good practice when hunting, and can be purchased for a few dollars each in most department stores. Look for semi-real looking critters that approximate the size game you will be hunting. The Monster and Space Alien types tend to avoid complaints from Anti-Hunters, but still provide good practice. In a safe area, with no houses or other thing s that can be damaged from a stray dart, place your targets. On or near stumps, piles of dirt, in scrub brush, or a bush are good locations. The shooters walk through the area, until a target is spotted. Each shooter takes one shot at the target, with a hit scored as one point. A miss is minus one point. Each person must fire from the same spot as the first shooter, but they may choose any position they want. The game continues, until one shooter has reached a set number of points, such as ten.
Plinking
This is an age old past time, and just as much fun today as it was years ago. Aluminum drink cans, paper cups, etc, can be stacked up or put in a line, and knocked down one by one. Stun Darts work well for Plinking, and tend to avoid lost darts. Try putting 6 cans in a pyramid, and knocking them off one by one, from the top down. When you can do this, increase the range, or add to the size of your pyramid.
Stick Shooting
This is perhaps the most challenging game you can play. It requires accuracy and a steady hand. A stick 1/4-inch or less in diameter and 5 to 6 inches long is placed upright in front of a safe backstop. Starting from a distance of 10-feet, try to hit the stick. Another version is to use a wood match, and attempt to hit the matchstick.. Wax birthday candles also make good targets. Being very careful, and with the proper precautions, you could light these candles, and than put them out with a dart. Only do this in a safe area, and make sure all fires are out when you are done. Personally I don't recommend using lighted candles as the danger from fires, spoil any added enjoyment.
Silhouette Shooting
This involves the use of the metal animal silhouettes sold for use with air guns, and Stun Darts. These targets can be purchased from various airgun dealers, and some department stores. They come in sets of four different targets. The targets are stood on a board with the smallest target on the left and moving right in increasing size, in front of a safe backstop. Each shooter tries t o knock over all the targets, starting from the left, with one shot allowed per target. If the player misses a shot, they must move on to the next target in line. Any target hit out of order is considered a miss. Each shooter shoots five times, at the g roup of four targets, with their score being two points for every target knocked over. The targets are reset for each round. Highest possible score is 40 points. If a target is hit but not knocked over, one point is awarded for that target. The firing line is 7 yards or 21 feet from the muzzle of the blowgun.
This game may also be played using a paper target of the proper type with the Silhouettes printed on it. This target is still used with Stun Darts, with any hit to a target counted as two points.