Blowguns have been around for hundreds of years, and they are still as fun as they were back in the day. And thanks to technology, modern blowguns are incredibly powerful and can be used to hunt small animals and birds.
Blowguns are also relatively cheaper than other instruments used for hunting. However, this does not mean you should throw caution in the wind when buying one. This is especially if you are looking to buy one for hunting small animals.
To help you find the best blowgun for hunting, I researched and tested hundreds of blowguns to find the best hunting blowgun. I came up with a list of six that will be sufficient for any hunter.
A Quick View Of My Top BlowGun Picks
Last update on 2024-04-28 / Please note that Prices and Availability Are Subject To Change /Paid links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Today’s Best Blowgun For Hunting: My Top 6 Picks
Cold Steel 4 Foot .625 Blowgun Big Bore Hunting Weapon
The Cold Steel, DB6254Z, 4 Foot .625 Blowgun Big Bore Hunting... is at the top on my list. This is the best all-around blowgun on the list. It is powerful enough to kill most small animals and is not too long as to be difficult to handle.
The Cold Steel 4 foot .625 blowgun is perfect for hunting small game. It has enough penetration and stopping power to take down a raccoon and even a groundhog. In addition, it comes with 12 stun darts that I found to be surprisingly powerful.
.625 caliber
How does this .625 caliber blowgun compare to the more common .40 and .50 blowguns? As already stated, this is an incredibly powerful blowgun. And in all honesty, I am yet to find a .40 or .50 caliber blowgun that can match it.
Darts included
The description comes with 36 darts, divided into 12 mini broadheads, 12 stun darts, 6 broadheads, and 6 bamboo darts. However, I did not get the 6 broadheads, and a quick check online revealed I wasn’t alone.
While this was a bit disappointing, the mini broadheads have proven quite capable on rabbits, squirrels, groundhogs, and even raccoons.
4 foot long
I was also surprised at how accurate this blowgun is right out of the box. Also, it is a 4-footer, which may seem a little bit small but is actually great. I found it easier to handle than the longer 5-foot Tim Wells edition blowgun, especially in a suburban environment.
The construction
The walls of this blowgun are 1.5mm, and it is made from a combination of polymer, rubber, and aluminum. The ferrule is made of rubber. It also comes with a dart quiver and a quiver guard, which is excellent.
Pros
- It comes with a lot of darts included in the package and can be used with other .40 caliber darts.
- The mini-broadheads and stun darts are surprisingly powerful
- The 4-foot length makes it easier to handle than longer 5 foot or 6-foot blowguns
- It offers more stopping power and penetration than a .40 and .50 caliber blowgun
- It is very well constructed with 1.5 mm thick walls
Cons
- The product description is incorrect, and it does not come with broadheads as written.
- The bamboo darts are simple wooden skewers that you will probably not use.
Who is it for?
If you are looking for a blowgun for pest control capable of taking down even a feral cat, this is the blowgun for you. It is incredibly powerful and can actually be an excellent alternative to an airgun for squirrel hunting.
Venom Blowguns 36″ 108 Pcs .40 Cal Blowgun
Second place goes to The Venom Blowguns .40 Cal Blowgun Destroyer Kit (Black). It may not be as powerful as the Cold steel one, but it still packs quite a punch. Also, it is excellent for target practice and comes with a lot of different darts included.
The Venom .40 caliber blowgun comes nicely packaged with many blow darts for you to experiment with. It came with 20 target darts, 20 spearhead darts, 20 nylon tip broadheads, 16 stun darts, 16 spike darts, and 16 super stunners.
Plenty of darts included
This blowgun comes with a lot of darts, and you will be spoilt for choice. Also, I found that it works pretty much with any .40 darts. So if you have another .40 caliber blowgun or darts, you will have more darts to play with.
.40 caliber blowgun
I have been using this mainly for target practice and have to say it is an excellent addition. It is pretty powerful for a .40 caliber blowgun. And while I think it will do damage on small animals, I believe there are better options for hunting small game out there.
Quiver and anti-inhale mouthpiece
You will notice at first glance that it has a lot of quivers all around it. These are used to store the many different darts you get. There is also a slight stop in the mouthpiece that prevents the backflow of darts when firing.
Great construction
The barrel is made of solid aluminum, meaning it should serve you for a long time. Also, it is pretty lightweight and easy to handle. It measures about 3 feet or 36 inches long, which I think is on the shorter side but isn’t what I would consider a deal-breaker.
Pros
- It comes with a lot of darts included in the package and can be used with other .40 caliber darts.
- It has a slight stop on the mouthpiece that prevents backflow of the darts, which is a nice safety feature.
- It is very well built, and the barrel is constructed from solid aluminum
- It comes with quivers for storing the different darts you get with it
Cons
- It does not come with an instructions manual, and it can be a bit hard to get started with it.
- It is pretty short and may not be the best option for hunting small game.
Who is it for
While you can use it on small animals such as toads, I would recommend this for target practice rather than actual hunting. It has a lot of darts to practice with, and once you get the hang of it, it is pretty easy to shoot.
Predator Blowguns – 36in. Two-Piece .40 Caliber Blowgun
One of the cheapest blowguns on my list is the Predator Blowguns 36-inch .40 caliber blowgun. I was a bit skeptical about this blowgun after, but after using it several times, I think it has its pros that are worth talking about.
Packs a punch
Now, this is not a blowgun meant for hunting, and I didn’t expect it to be. But I tried it on a steel tip dartboard, and the darts went quite deep. Shooting darts with these blowguns on different targets was a lot of fun.
Customizable blowgun
One of the things I found unique about this blowgun was the fact that some of its parts are easily removable and changeable. This makes it easy to customize the blowgun, and there is a lot you can do.
Nice price and construction
This is an affordable blowgun designed for recreational purposes. It is made from a hard plastic that feels quite strong and durable.
Quivers built-in
While it is inexpensive, it does come with quivers for the darts. This is a nice addition for such a low-cost blowgun.
Pros
- Is an affordable blowgun
- It comes with some removable parts that make it easy to customize
- Has quivers for storing your darts
- It is quite accurate for such an affordable blowgun.
Cons
- It May not be powerful enough to be used for hunting
- Since it is made from hard plastic, it may not be as durable as others on the list.
Who is it for?
This is one of those blowguns that I think is best left for recreational purposes. It can do damage on small animals, but I wouldn’t recommend it for hunting. However, this will be a great option if you want a blowgun just for fun and don’t want to spend arms and legs.
Geekhigh Blowguns 36″ 48″ .40 Caliber Blowgun
The Geekhigh .40 caliber blowgun comes in two versions, a 36-inch and a 48-inch. For this review, I picked the 36-inch. Since it’s shorter, it costs a few dollars less than the 48-inch, but both are .40 caliber blowguns.
Single-piece barrel
I wasn’t expecting anything extraordinary in terms of construction for its price. However, the plastic barrel with a comfortable grip does feel well made. Assembling it was quite easy, and the only negative I noticed was the directions that were a bit confusing.
Fast and accurate
What surprised me about this blowgun was how fast and accurate it is. For such a cheap option, it was surprisingly fast. And as you might expect, this isn’t a toy and should not be treated as one.
Anti-inhale mouthpiece
There is an anti-inhale in the mouthpiece that prevents darts from flowing backward. This is a nice safety feature to have. There is also a fiber-optic sight at the front, but I don’t think it is something usable.
Short and easy to use
This blowgun is relatively short, about 3 feet or 36 inches long. It makes it easy to handle for even kids and is something you can buy for older kids.
Pros
- Is an affordable blowgun
- It comes with a lot of darts, including 12 long darts, 12 middle darts, and 12 short darts.
- It comes with 2 pieces of target papers
- It has an anti-inhale in the mouthpiece that prevents darts from flowing back.
Cons
- It may not be as durable as others on the list
- It is quite short for some people
Who is it for?
Suppose you want a blowgun for target practice before transitioning to a more powerful blowgun. In that case, this Geekhigh blowgun will be a great place to start. It is an excellent option for target practice and as a first blowgun.
Few Things Need To Consider Before Buying Blowgun For Hunting
What are some of the things you should consider when shopping for the best blowgun for hunting?
Is Blowgun legal in your state?
You will need to check with your local hunting regulations to see if blowguns are legal for hunting. In some states, blowguns are specifically prohibited from being used in hunting. Fortunately, we have a comprehensive guide on the legality of blowguns in every state.
Construction material
Blowguns are mainly made from either aluminum, carbon fiber, or plastic. Aluminum offers more durability and the ability to shoot heavier darts. Carbon fiber also provides durability but is more lightweight than aluminum. Plastic blowguns are cheap and are typically not as durable as aluminum.
If you want a blowgun for hunting small game, go for one made of aluminum. These blowguns can shoot heavier darts capable of dropping most small animals. A cheaper plastic blowgun will do if you want a blowgun for recreational purposes or for target practice.
Length of the barrel
Similar to a PCP air rifle, the longer a blowgun is, the further it can shoot darts. Typically blowguns measure 3 to 6 ft in length. Longer blowguns are best for hunting, while shorter blowguns are mainly for target practice and recreational use.
If you want a blowgun for hunting, go for one that is at least 4 feet long or longer.
Size of the dart
The most common dart sizes are .40 caliber, .50 caliber, and .625 caliber. Anything smaller than .40 caliber will be incapable of taking most small animals. Thus .40 caliber darts are used mainly for target practice.
You want a blowgun that can shoot .625 caliber darts for hunting small animals such as squirrels. These offer enough penetration to kill most animals.
Darts available
Most blowguns come with several darts included. Razor darts are best for most small animals, such as squirrels. You can also get stun darts .625 stun darts can offer enough concussive power to take down small animals.
Bamboo darts do not have enough penetration but fly in a straight line and are very fast. Ideally, you want a blowgun with several different types of darts included.
Power:
True blowguns are not more powerful as more advanced weapons like firearms, but they can still shoot darts that have a lot of power. For example, If you shoot out of a 4-foot blowgun, a 14-grain dart has a muzzle velocity of about 160 fps, yielding muzzle energy of about 0.80 ft-lb. Try to choose a blowgun that can shoot darts with a higher muzzle velocity for greater power.
Portability:
A key factor to consider when choosing a blowgun is its portability. Blowguns can be either small and lightweight, or large and heavy. For example, a 4-foot blowgun may be more portable than a 6-foot blowgun. However, since smaller blowguns are less powerful, you might need to use more darts per shot with them in order not to miss your target.
Conclusion
Blowguns have come a long way from the bamboo-made dart guns of yesteryears. Today, most blowguns can be used for hunting small animals such as squirrels. And if you want the best blowgun for hunting, you will need one with enough penetration and stopping power.
Frequently Asked Questions
What blowgun caliber is appropriate for hunting?
You want to go with a blowgun with at least a .40 caliber for hunting small animals. However, it is worth noting that the larger the caliber, the harder the blowgun is to control.
How long should the barrel of a hunting blowgun be?
Ideally, you want a blowgun with a length of 6 feet. However, a shorter length of about 4 feet may be ideal if you can get closer to your target and are 5 feet tall or shorter.
About The Author:
Lake Streeter, A Gun enthusiast, and loves to hunt in the middle of the wood. Always check the latest hunting gears out in the market and try to share his honest opinion with the audience in Hunting Nook.