What can I use to knock litter, frisbees, nests, trash, etc out of trees?

I often end up in a situation where I have a clump of tree litter, a frisbee or other toy, or some (abandoned) nesting materials or other trash up in a tree or stuck into some other piece of infrastructure 20+ feet off the ground. Or even a precarious dead branch. And I think, "I wish I just could smack that out of there with a big fat projectile". I don't want to penetrate anything, and I don't want the projectile to be dangerous coming down, but I want to reach up and whack something.

So I have the idea stuck in my head that I want something that could launch a blunt projectile, something like a Nerf football or tennis ball, at a few hundred feet per second. I think that'd be useful ability to possess.

Is there such a product? Any insight on how I could build such a product? I think I'd prefer a PCP version.

If I stuck a Nerf football or tennis ball on the end of an arrow, and fired it out of something like an AirJavelin, am I liable to explode the arrow shaft? Does anybody make an arrow shooter I can regulate to fire heavier-than-normal projectiles at what I'd expect to be a slower-than-normal velocity?
 
I would use a cheap paintball gun if it were me. You can get them really cheap nowadays they are more than accurate enough for such duties and the liquid filled fish oil shell is biodegradable to an extent or environmentally friendly haha. I have done that very thing with them in the past for years having a very active outdoor family ;) :LOL::coffee:
 
I would use a cheap paintball gun if it were me. You can get them really cheap nowadays they are more than accurate enough for such duties and the liquid filled fish oil shell is biodegradable to an extent or environmentally friendly haha. I have done that very thing with them in the past for years having a very active outdoor family ;) :LOL::coffee:
Sounds like a good solution.
Is there such a thing as a paint ball that smacks something without splattering paint all over it? Like a paint-free paintball or a rubber ball?
 
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Have you tried the DIY water cannons that river rafters play war games with? My husband made one that he uses to surprise squirrels or deer that are hanging around too much. Harmless, quiet, and should have enough oomph to knock down small and medium nests or Frisbees.
Got a link to what you're talking about? Some sort of man-portable super super-soaker?
 
I often end up in a situation where I have a clump of tree litter, a frisbee or other toy, or some (abandoned) nesting materials or other trash up in a tree or stuck into some other piece of infrastructure 20+ feet off the ground. Or even a precarious dead branch. And I think, "I wish I just could smack that out of there with a big fat projectile". I don't want to penetrate anything, and I don't want the projectile to be dangerous coming down, but I want to reach up and whack something.

So I have the idea stuck in my head that I want something that could launch a blunt projectile, something like a Nerf football or tennis ball, at a few hundred feet per second. I think that'd be useful ability to possess.

Is there such a product? Any insight on how I could build such a product? I think I'd prefer a PCP version.

If I stuck a Nerf football or tennis ball on the end of an arrow, and fired it out of something like an AirJavelin, am I liable to explode the arrow shaft? Does anybody make an arrow shooter I can regulate to fire heavier-than-normal projectiles at what I'd expect to be a slower-than-normal velocity?
This is something I have personal experience with...I would use a ladder.

Cos the tee-shirt cannon...would be fun...but you might get more tee-shirts in the tree

Super soaker/water cannon, paintball...hmmm

For all the items you listed, I can see the logic ...but... nests??? hornet nest? (tall ladder, extra help, night time no moon with a big ole plastic garbage bag and NV goggles...oh and an Epi pen just in case...better safe than sorry).
 
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Got a link to what you're talking about? Some sort of man-portable super super-soaker?
Here you go:


Keep a bucket of water handy to suck up the “ammo” and then let it blast. There are many variations on this theme, but this resembles the one we have. At worst, you water the tree a little. And yes, he knocked a squirrel out of a tree with it.
 
Sounds like a good solution.
Is there such a thing as a paint ball that smacks something without splattering paint all over it? Like a paint-free paintball or a rubber ball?
rubber paintballs.PNG
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In my much younger days we made lighter fluid powered tennis ball cannons out of connected beer cans, then later more powerful potato cannons out of pvc pipe that shot those projectiles at rather amazing distances, and rather accurately once you shoot them enough to figure out their trajectories. Certainly enough to knock frisbees and such out of trees. I just did a google search to see if those are still in vogue, and yes all kinds of diy plans popped up including some that are air driven.
 
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