Balloon hunting in Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a fan-favorite pastime as it's a great way to earn some decent items and Bells. However, balloons only appear every so often, and if you find yourself without your slingshot because it's broken, then you might think you're out of luck.

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If you enter a building, the balloon will disappear and it will also reset the balloon spawn rate again. However, there is a helpful trick that you can utilize to pop those balloons without slingshots, and we've got everything you need to know about using this method right here.

How To Pop Balloons Using the Bug Net

Animal Crossing Popping Balloons without Slingshot - first build a cliff

So you're without a slingshot but a balloon has appeared? No worries! As long as you have the Building Permit App and a ladder on you, you can still get that balloon. First, get ahead of the balloon's directional path and build a cliff pillar by using the Cliff Construction Permit tool.

Animal Crossing Popping Balloons without Slingshot - climbing cliff with ladder

Next, whip out your ladder and climb onto your newly-made cliff, then swap to your bug catcher net. Now you just need to lie in wait for the balloon to drift past you, and as soon as it's within reach, hit it with your bug net.

Animal Crossing Popping Balloons without Slingshot

Congratulations — you've just popped your first balloon without a slingshot. Don't forget to remove your cliff pillar afterward, and then grab your prize.

How Often Do Balloons Spawn?

Animal Crossing New Horizons Balloon in the Sky

Balloons spawn every 10 minutes. They appear to spawn on the fourth or ninth minute of the hour, so for example, if a balloon doesn't appear at 9:14, it will then appear at 9:19. Balloons spawn from one side of the island for 12 hours, before they switch and then start arriving from the other side of the island.

The ideal way to look for balloons is to find out which side of the island they are spawning from, then run up and down the beach when the time is XX:X4 and XX:X9, listening out for the tell-tale sound of the wind carrying the balloon.

Next: Animal Crossing: New Horizons: Ultimate Friendship Guide