Hunting weapon Hunting weapons are weapon s designed or used primarily for hunting game animals for food or sport , as distinct from defensive weapon s or weapons used primarily in warfare . Characteristics . Since human being s are lacking in the natural weapons possessed by other predators , humans have a long history of making tools to overcome this shortcoming . The evolution of hunting weapons shows an ever increasing ability to extend the hunter ' s reach , while maintaining the ability to produce disabling or lethal wounds , allowing the hunter to capture the game . The spear was in use for hunting as early as five million years years ago in hominid and chimpanzee societies , and its usage may go back even further . The spear gave the hunter the ability to kill large animals , at ranges as far as the hunter could throw the spear ; the Roman pilum , for example , had a range of 30 meters ( 100 ft ) . Spear throwing devices such as the bâton de commandement , woomera , and atlatl extended that range even further by giving the hunter leverage to throw the spear faster and farther . The atlatl allowed a skilled user to throw a dart up to 100 meters ( 110 yards ) . Archaeological evidence of the atlatl has been found on all continents except for Antarctica . The atlatl was displaced starting in the late Paleolithic with the easier to make and use bow and arrow , which remains in common use today in both sporting and hunting . With the advent of accurate , reliable firearm s , firearms became the weapon of choice . Each new evolution of hunting weapons extended the range and accuracy ; a skilled hunter , with suitable equipment and good conditions , can take game at ranges of over 1 , 000 yards ( 1 km ) . Another hunting weapon , based on different principles than the spear , is the throwing stick . While at its simplest the throwing stick is just a heavy club thrown at the game , a well designed throwing stick uses the principles of an airfoil shape and gyroscopic stability ; the oldest of these dates back 200 , 000 years to ancient Poland . The " kylie " , for example , an Australian hunting boomerang in use into modern times , uses the bent shape and a symmetric airfoil cross section to provide stability and low drag for long , accurate throws . Kylies do not return ( a good thing , since they are large , heavy , and dangerous ) but smaller , lighter versions , the classic boomerang , exhibit the classic circular path that made the boomerang famous . Boomerangs , of both the non - returning and returning variety , have been found in many ancient cultures , ranging from Egypt to North America . Other early weapons used for hunting include the sling , which allows small stones or metal balls to be thrown at much higher velocities than the arm alone , and the blowgun . The African blowgun ' s curare tipped darts , intended to paralyze small game , is very similar in function to modern capture gun s , with the substitution of a barbiturate for the paralytic curare . Usage and regulations . Hunting weapons are typically regulated by game category , area within the state , and time period . Regulations for big game hunting often specify a minimum caliber or muzzle energy for firearm s . The use of rifle s is often banned for safety reasons in areas with high population density , limited topographic relief , or for hunting on bodies of water where the danger of ricochet exists . Specific seasons for bow hunting or muzzle - loading black powder guns are often established to limit competition with hunters using more effective firearms . The state of Oklahoma , for example , has a three and a half month archery season , a 25 day muzzleloader season , and a 16 day modern gun season History . The most popular hunting weapons during antiquity were the bow and the spear . Atlatls , consisting of a weighted stick with a flexible spear or dart , are one example of primitive weapons that are commonly used today . In the U . S . , the Pennsylvania Game Commission has given preliminary approval for the legalization of the atlatl for hunting certain animals . The animals that would be allowed to atlatl hunters have yet to be determined , but attention is focused on deer . There are some who object , stating that the atlatl is rarely capable of a clean kill , resulting in undue suffering for the sport animal . Currently , only Alabama allows the atlatl for deer hunting , while a handful of other states list the device as legal for rough fish ( those not sought for sport or food ) , some game birds and non - game mammals Primitive hunting weapons are the only weapons permitted for some types of modern - day hunting . For example , the newly opened 2007 Florida Alligator Hunt specifically prohibits firearms due to the dangers of firing bullets around bodies of water , and recommends instead the use of a detachable - head harpoon for hunting alligators during the nighttime hours that hunting is permitted . A bang stick , a specialized type of firearm , is then often used to sever the spinal cord of the alligator just to the rear of the head . This kills the alligator immediately upon its being taken , as required by regulatory laws governing the hunt . Firearms by type . Modern cartridge firearms are generally broken down into classifications based on their characteristics . Due to the vast number of laws regulating firearms in different jurisdictions , legal definitions may vary widely from the technical definitions provided here . Rifles . Rifles are shoulder fired guns with rifled barrels , and provide the greatest accuracy and range of all hunting weapons . Centerfire rifles are generally used for killing big - game species . Rimfire rifles , such as the . 22 Long Rifle , are used for killing small - game species . Shotguns . Shotguns were originally designed to fire multiple small projectiles in a single shot . This method is still used mainly for hunting small game , and , occasionally , for hunting deer with buckshot , but modern shotguns can also be used for bigger game ( deer , bear , etc . ) when loaded with slug s . Hunting shotguns are shoulder - fired weapons , and are generally smoothbores , but guns designed to fire slugs may have rifled barrels . Shotguns are used for short range shooting , and are less accurate than rifles , though the ability to fire multiple projectiles makes them ideal for small , fast moving targets . Additionally , the shorter effective range of shotguns , measured typically less than 100 yards ( 91 m ) when using shot or slugs , with a maximum slug travel range of a few hundred yards for missed shots , becomes a safety advantage when hunting in areas with high population densities relative to using rifles that may have a maximum bullet travel range of several miles for missed shots . The following are popular shotgun actions for hunting : Handguns . Handguns are becoming increasingly popular for hunting . Intended to be fired with one or two hands , but lacking a shoulder support , handguns are more challenging to shoot accurately than a long gun ( a rifle or shotgun ) . Hunting handguns differ from defensive handguns in a number of ways ; hunting handguns usually have longer barrels , better sights ( often mounting telescopic sight s or red dot sight s ) , and , depending on the game , will fire a much more powerful cartridge . Rimfire hunting handguns can be of any action type , but centerfire hunting handguns are dominated by the single shot and revolver actions , such as the Thompson Center Arms Contender . Powerheads or bang sticks . A powerhead or bang stick is a device which fires a firearms cartridge or blank cartridge in contact with the target , and relies primarily on the muzzle blast to kill the target . Powerheads are often attached to spears used for spear fishing , or attached to a handle to make a bang stick , which is thrust ( while still held ) at the target . Bang sticks are often carried for defense against shark attack , but are legally required for alligator hunting in some areas . Firearms by action . Firearms are often broken down further by the action type , which describes how the firearm loads and fires each cartridge . Single - shot firearms . Single - shot firearms used for hunting generally fall into three categories : Single - shot firearms when used for hunting have some advantages over other rifles : they are cheap , they are usually more accurate , and their silent action does not scare game . On the other hand , their single - shot characteristic limit one ' s ability to make follow - up or repeated shots quickly , when the first round does not provide a clean kill or when multiples of game appear . Likewise , when hunting dangerous game , having only a single shot capability increases the danger for the hunter , and single - shot firearms are therefore rarely used for hunting dangerous game . Single - shot designs can be found in all classes of hunting firearms , including rifles , shotguns , and handguns . Multi - barreled firearms . Rifle s and shotgun s containing multiple barrels are some of the oldest types of multi - shot firearms , and their use continues to this day . These guns are traditionally used for hunting fast - moving or dangerous game , as the simplicity of the design makes a rapid second shot quick and certain ; double rifles are known as express rifle s or when combined shotgun with rifle , are known as drilling or more accurately combination gun ( the term " drilling " is German , the original " combination " guns manufactured in Europe had three bores overposed , but could be fashioned in more or less . The double - barreled shotgun is still the primary choice for most shotgun sporting events , as well as hunting of game birds . The double rifle , due to the difficulty involved in regulating the two barrels to impact at the same point of aim , is prohibitively expensive ; for example , a Purdey , Parker or Holland & Holland double rifle sells between US $ 40 , 000 - 150 , 000 . Combination guns , containg two , three , or four barrels , most often a mix of rifle and shotgun barrels , are popular choices for hunting in Europe . A typical three barrel drilling mix of a rimfire rifle , a powerful centerfire rifle , and a shotgun barrel allows the taking of a very wide range of game with a single gun . Multi - barrel designs in hunting guns are generally restricted to rifles , shotguns , and combination guns . Revolvers . Revolvers use multiple chambers and a single barrel to provide much of the reliability of a multi - barreled firearm without the weight and expense . Generally found only in handguns , the revolver is becoming increasingly popular for hunting ever larger game , as shown by recent developments such as the . 44 Magnum , arguably the first dedicated hunting handgun cartridge , and the new . 500 S & W Magnum . Repeating action types . Repeating actions provide an easy way for the user to load a new round of ammunition into the firearm , usually from a spring - loaded magazine . These may be manually operated , or powered by energy tapped from the firing of a cartridge . Air rifles and air pistols . Air rifles have long been used as hunting weapons , for well over 200 years . Lewis & Clark , on their early journey through the Western United States , carried a repeating air rifle for use as a hunting weapon , it being considered more reliable than the flintlocks they also carried on their exploring journey . Air rifles are well suited for hunting small game such as squirrels and rabbits in commonly available powers . Such hunting is widely practiced in the United States and in the UK . Nonetheless , some states in the United States prohibit the use of air rifles for hunting regardless of the foot pound equivalent ( FPE ) of the projectile that is launched ; for example , Florida prohibits the use of any air rifle for any hunting . On the other hand , in the UK , 12 FPE is the categorical limit for air rifles used for hunting . Above this muzzle energy rating , air rifles are considered to be firearms from a legal standpoint in the UK , and normal firearms regulations apply to these higher power air rifles . Air pistols and rifles are also well suited for hunting vermin ( e . g . , rats ) . Large game air rifles have experienced a resurgence in the last several decades , and are now capable of taking all game in North America , unlike the earlier Quackenbush rifle . Power levels of modern large game air rifles have greatly exceeded the hunting capabilities of the earlier Girandoni Air Rifle . Currently , large bore air rifles made by Mr . Dennis Quackenbush , or those imported from Korea ( i . e . Dragon Slayer 50 caliber imported by Pyramydair , are capable of generating about of energy with large bullets ( or more ) , making them capable of taking large game . Animals . Trained animals , most commonly dogs , are often used to track , flush , or retrieve game in various forms of hunting . In some sports , animals are also used as the weapons for bringing down the game . Examples of animals used in this way are some breeds of hound and terrier , and birds of prey .