2014 LRH Shooting Class with Non-Typical Outfitters-Review
Day two was a great day shooting in the mountains and it ended with one of the most fun things a person can ever do with a rifle. Near camp we had set up a zip-line with a steel coyote target attached and took turns in 2-man shooter teams working on a simulated running shot at 100 yards. The competition was fierce and lots of hooting and hollering went on, but let me tell you that the coyote probably had the last laugh as this proved to be extremely difficult and the hits were few and far between. Again a lesson in the need for practicing every type of shot one may encounter while hunting. When we played the game again on day three we did much better. I personally wish I could shoot the coyote zip-line every day, it's that much fun!
On day three we again rode up into the beautiful mountains. The rides were never extremely long or difficult, just the right length to feel a bit of adventure and excitement. We spent much of the morning in the boulder fields working on uphill cross-canyon shots to the left and to the right creating the appropriate support in the rocks. Robb said the goal was for the students to be able to set themselves up quickly, because rarely do the really big trophy animals stand in one spot very long. In fact, they often only show for brief moments before and after dark. He taught the students how to pack their backpacks such that they can use their gear most effectively to quickly create the necessary support.
After the boulder fields we worked our way on horseback to the top of the mountain, where we spent the rest of the day stretching shots out from 700 yards to over 1000 yards from the prone position. Len taught about proper prone position, bipod loading, trigger control, reading the wind and the effects of canting the rifle at these longer ranges along with the proper shooter-spotter communication techniques and how to adjust for misses. The winds were constantly changing, so the students got a chance to experience firsthand how much effect the wind can have on long cross-canyon shots. The students also had the option to shoot our Long Range Rifles, LLC rifles at these long ranges and they were really blown away by their accuracy!
The day ended the same as the day before with a fun-filled round of "running" coyote target shooting followed by a great dinner and chatting around the fire.
All-in-all I believe our first LRH Shooting Class with Non-Typical Outfitters was a huge success. Our students learned a ton of new techniques that are invaluable in the mountains but also are useful in any type of uneven terrain. They also learned or improved upon their long range shooting skills and knowledge and will be much better prepared for future hunts. I believe the unique aspect of our class is that it focuses on real-world hunting scenarios first and foremost. We try to get our students into the mindset that they will be ready and able to handle any situation that presents itself while hunting. On the first day of class if we had said, "There's a monster buck over there, you have 30 seconds. Pick your spot, get set up and take the shot", every one of them would have floundered. By the end of the class they had the foundation and the confidence needed to do what had to be done to make that shot of a lifetime. And most importantly they left knowing exactly what skills they needed to practice, practice, practice in the future to be truly ready for that moment.
We will be offering more class sessions for the summer of 2015 beginning in early August. If you feel you could use some real-world hunting training at both long and short range and you love spending time in the beautiful mountains of Wyoming, email Len for more information.
Andy Backus is a husband and father of two little girls. He grew up hunting whitetail deer in Wisconsin with gun and bow and over the years has been fortunate to hunt and explore most of the Western US states and Alaska. He plays soccer to stay in shape and also enjoys most other sports and outdoor activities. Andy is the Field Editor for Long Range Hunting Online Magazine and also manages the Long Range Hunting Store.
On day three we again rode up into the beautiful mountains. The rides were never extremely long or difficult, just the right length to feel a bit of adventure and excitement. We spent much of the morning in the boulder fields working on uphill cross-canyon shots to the left and to the right creating the appropriate support in the rocks. Robb said the goal was for the students to be able to set themselves up quickly, because rarely do the really big trophy animals stand in one spot very long. In fact, they often only show for brief moments before and after dark. He taught the students how to pack their backpacks such that they can use their gear most effectively to quickly create the necessary support.
After the boulder fields we worked our way on horseback to the top of the mountain, where we spent the rest of the day stretching shots out from 700 yards to over 1000 yards from the prone position. Len taught about proper prone position, bipod loading, trigger control, reading the wind and the effects of canting the rifle at these longer ranges along with the proper shooter-spotter communication techniques and how to adjust for misses. The winds were constantly changing, so the students got a chance to experience firsthand how much effect the wind can have on long cross-canyon shots. The students also had the option to shoot our Long Range Rifles, LLC rifles at these long ranges and they were really blown away by their accuracy!
The day ended the same as the day before with a fun-filled round of "running" coyote target shooting followed by a great dinner and chatting around the fire.
All-in-all I believe our first LRH Shooting Class with Non-Typical Outfitters was a huge success. Our students learned a ton of new techniques that are invaluable in the mountains but also are useful in any type of uneven terrain. They also learned or improved upon their long range shooting skills and knowledge and will be much better prepared for future hunts. I believe the unique aspect of our class is that it focuses on real-world hunting scenarios first and foremost. We try to get our students into the mindset that they will be ready and able to handle any situation that presents itself while hunting. On the first day of class if we had said, "There's a monster buck over there, you have 30 seconds. Pick your spot, get set up and take the shot", every one of them would have floundered. By the end of the class they had the foundation and the confidence needed to do what had to be done to make that shot of a lifetime. And most importantly they left knowing exactly what skills they needed to practice, practice, practice in the future to be truly ready for that moment.
We will be offering more class sessions for the summer of 2015 beginning in early August. If you feel you could use some real-world hunting training at both long and short range and you love spending time in the beautiful mountains of Wyoming, email Len for more information.
Andy Backus is a husband and father of two little girls. He grew up hunting whitetail deer in Wisconsin with gun and bow and over the years has been fortunate to hunt and explore most of the Western US states and Alaska. He plays soccer to stay in shape and also enjoys most other sports and outdoor activities. Andy is the Field Editor for Long Range Hunting Online Magazine and also manages the Long Range Hunting Store.
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