Guide
Bowfishing with a slingshot.
The Hammer XT handle has a rail, and the slingbow head puts arrows on that same handle. Add two adapters and a reel, and you are fishing.
Can you bowfish with a slingshot? Yes, with a slingbow. On the Hammer, the XT slingbow head shoots the arrow, the Rail Adapter mounts a 1-inch accessory such as a bowfishing reel to the XT handle’s rail, and the Archery Accessory Adapter adds a standard 5/16-24 thread for a reel seat. Check your local fishing regulations first.
What goes into a Hammer bowfishing rig?
- XT handle and slingbow head. The XT handle carries the wrist brace and a Picatinny rail for bowfishing rigs and lights. The slingbow head holds the arrow centered with a circular brush rest.
- Rail Adapter. Mounts any 1-inch accessory, such as a bowfishing reel or a light, to the rail on the XT handle. An HDPE shim and installation instructions come in the pack.
- Archery Accessory Adapter. A 1-inch insert with a standard 5/16-24 thread for a reel seat, a stabilizer or a camera. Machined from 6061 aircraft aluminum. It mounts to the Hammer XT through the Rail Adapter.
- Slingbow tubes and D-loop. The tubes set your draw weight by length. The D-loop is where the nock sits and a mechanical release clips in.
- Your reel and arrows. Bring the bowfishing reel and arrows you like. The Hammer gives them a mount.
The XT Slingbow Heavy Duty is the kit to start from: the braced XT handle, the slingbow head, tube bands and flatbands, so it also shoots ammo.
How do the two adapters fit together?
Think of it as a stack on the rail.
Rail Adapter
Mounts to the rail on the XT handle and gives you a 1-inch mount. A reel, a light, or any other 1-inch accessory goes here.
Archery Accessory Adapter
Fits that 1-inch mount and turns it into a standard 5/16-24 thread. Threaded archery gear screws right in: reel seat, stabilizer, camera.
Need only a 1-inch reel or a light? The Rail Adapter does it alone. Running standard threaded archery accessories? Get both.
“Rail adapter is perfect!” Roy B.
What draw weight should I run?
The Hammer XT slingbow tubes set the draw by length. At a 28 inch draw they run about 32 lb at full length, about 36 lb at 6 inches and about 44 lb at 5 inches. Each set comes with two 3/8 inch steel balls for the ball-in-tube attachment, and the tubes come fitted with the D-loop assembly and a pinch tab.
Pick the length you can draw smoothly and hold steady, shot after shot. A draw you control beats the heaviest one you can manage.
What should I check before I go?
- The law. Check your local laws and licensing for where you bowfish and what you fish for.
- The rig. Adapters snug on the rail, reel line clear of the arrow’s path and the brush rest.
- The tubes. No nicks or cracks near the D-loop or the ball-in-tube ends. Carry a spare set.
- Your eyes. Wear eye protection, and know what is beyond your target, on the water and past it.
Want more on the arrow side? Shooting arrows from a slingshot covers the brush rest, tubes and D-loop in detail. The bowfishing page lays out every part.
FAQ
Questions, answered.
Can the Hammer run a bowfishing reel?
Yes. The Rail Adapter mounts any 1-inch accessory, including a bowfishing reel, to the rail on the XT handle. The Archery Accessory Adapter adds a standard 5/16-24 thread for a reel seat.
Do I need both adapters?
It depends on your reel. The Rail Adapter alone takes a 1-inch accessory. For 5/16-24 threaded archery gear, add the Archery Accessory Adapter, which needs the Rail Adapter to mount to the Hammer XT.
Does the LT handle have a rail?
No. The Picatinny rail is on the XT handle. Build a bowfishing rig on the XT handle.
Is a reel included in a Hammer kit?
No. The kits and adapters give you the mount. The reel and bowfishing arrows are your own.
Is bowfishing with a slingbow legal?
It depends on where you fish and what you fish for. Check your local laws and licensing before you go.
