Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
Articles
Latest reviews
Author list
Classifieds
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles and first posts only
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Forums
Hunting
How To Hunt Big Game
What's your Shooting Positions
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Hand Skills" data-source="post: 1378362" data-attributes="member: 103303"><p>I think geography plays a part to a degree. I grew up hunting in the foothills, and now I live on the plains. Most of my shooting at game is off hand, probably 50%, even now. I think a lot of this has to do with the way I hunt, which is typically on foot. Half my time practicing is 'offhand'... It's funny because whenever possible I will use an improvised rest. Whenever possible I will pick a better position. I enjoy the challenge of shooting offhand, but I don't like offhand shooting per se. The practice is tough and humbling. To be proficient demands not only solid shooting fundamentals, but also some degree of physical/cardio health. In reality most shots I encounter are under 200yd. If I have a chance at greater distance, with no solid tree or fence post available, my next choice is sitting. I realize prone is the most stable, and probably the position that lends itself best to shooting long range. In a hunting scenario, prone just doesn't happen often for me - I find i typically have to expose myself building the position. For me it's a lot easier to stand next to a tree or sit in a bush. Not showing movement, having a good field of view and holding my rifle ready has accounted for most of my successes. Last year I walked up to a herd of deer. I spotted them at 600yd, and it took me 30min -maybe a little more- keeping my legs together and moving slowly to close that to 250yd. They did not feel threatened and were walking slowly to get down wind of me to catch my scent. Had I knelt or sat I'm sure they would have spooked. I picked the one I wanted and let fly. I was literally standing in the middle of a field. This year I hid behind a fencepost for my whitetail. I knew their morning routine, and stationed myself for an ambush. Watched him from about 300yd out, as the group (of 4) came straight toward me. When they got to about 100yds I whistled, and they stopped, trying to find what/where the sound came from. I held low and broke the trigger. He was still trying to figure out where the shot came from as he turned around 270 degrees, trotted 3 paces, stopped and fell. I joined this forum in hopes of picking up some tricks to extend my game. I do get the odd LR opportunity; usually with predators, and sometimes /really/ big-for-their-species (read smart and wary) ungulates. For me it's an exception and more about challenging my marksmanship than my hunting abilities.</p><p></p><p>Speaking generally, 'long range hunting' is a contradiction of terms. It only becomes meaningful at a personal level. To me, a long shot is anything over 300yds. I've been practicing out to 400 and 500 (seated with shooting sticks). I like the definition of luck; where preparation meets opportunity. It takes a heck of a lot of preparation to become consistently good at extended ranges. Even with the best gear and years of practice, we are all subject to environmental factors. The community here offers a depth of experience which I greatly respect and appreciate. Some guys here are literally pushing the limits of physics, in terms of what is ballistically possible.</p><p></p><p>When seasons are short, game is scarce, and opportunities are far between, it seems worthwhile to prepare to the best of our abilities. That said, it's easy to get carried away in the theoretical realm in between seasons, I'm as guilty of this as any... It can be helpful to remember; as much as we like to tell stories about our longest (or shortest) shooting successes, most of the action happens somewhere in between... well, it does for me at least.</p><p></p><p>My guess would be; 50% standing, 25% leaning (trees, trucks and things), 20% sitting, 5% prone</p><p></p><p>There is a strong correlation between the positions and the distances I'm shooting. Probably 50% of my shots are <100yd, 25% 100-200yd, 20% 200-300, 5% 300+. Obviously there is some crossover - I may take a 250yd shot offhand, and 100yd prone. Bottom line, all of the positions (even rice patty prone) are valuable, and deserve practice.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Hand Skills, post: 1378362, member: 103303"] I think geography plays a part to a degree. I grew up hunting in the foothills, and now I live on the plains. Most of my shooting at game is off hand, probably 50%, even now. I think a lot of this has to do with the way I hunt, which is typically on foot. Half my time practicing is 'offhand'... It's funny because whenever possible I will use an improvised rest. Whenever possible I will pick a better position. I enjoy the challenge of shooting offhand, but I don't like offhand shooting per se. The practice is tough and humbling. To be proficient demands not only solid shooting fundamentals, but also some degree of physical/cardio health. In reality most shots I encounter are under 200yd. If I have a chance at greater distance, with no solid tree or fence post available, my next choice is sitting. I realize prone is the most stable, and probably the position that lends itself best to shooting long range. In a hunting scenario, prone just doesn't happen often for me - I find i typically have to expose myself building the position. For me it's a lot easier to stand next to a tree or sit in a bush. Not showing movement, having a good field of view and holding my rifle ready has accounted for most of my successes. Last year I walked up to a herd of deer. I spotted them at 600yd, and it took me 30min -maybe a little more- keeping my legs together and moving slowly to close that to 250yd. They did not feel threatened and were walking slowly to get down wind of me to catch my scent. Had I knelt or sat I'm sure they would have spooked. I picked the one I wanted and let fly. I was literally standing in the middle of a field. This year I hid behind a fencepost for my whitetail. I knew their morning routine, and stationed myself for an ambush. Watched him from about 300yd out, as the group (of 4) came straight toward me. When they got to about 100yds I whistled, and they stopped, trying to find what/where the sound came from. I held low and broke the trigger. He was still trying to figure out where the shot came from as he turned around 270 degrees, trotted 3 paces, stopped and fell. I joined this forum in hopes of picking up some tricks to extend my game. I do get the odd LR opportunity; usually with predators, and sometimes /really/ big-for-their-species (read smart and wary) ungulates. For me it's an exception and more about challenging my marksmanship than my hunting abilities. Speaking generally, 'long range hunting' is a contradiction of terms. It only becomes meaningful at a personal level. To me, a long shot is anything over 300yds. I've been practicing out to 400 and 500 (seated with shooting sticks). I like the definition of luck; where preparation meets opportunity. It takes a heck of a lot of preparation to become consistently good at extended ranges. Even with the best gear and years of practice, we are all subject to environmental factors. The community here offers a depth of experience which I greatly respect and appreciate. Some guys here are literally pushing the limits of physics, in terms of what is ballistically possible. When seasons are short, game is scarce, and opportunities are far between, it seems worthwhile to prepare to the best of our abilities. That said, it's easy to get carried away in the theoretical realm in between seasons, I'm as guilty of this as any... It can be helpful to remember; as much as we like to tell stories about our longest (or shortest) shooting successes, most of the action happens somewhere in between... well, it does for me at least. My guess would be; 50% standing, 25% leaning (trees, trucks and things), 20% sitting, 5% prone There is a strong correlation between the positions and the distances I'm shooting. Probably 50% of my shots are <100yd, 25% 100-200yd, 20% 200-300, 5% 300+. Obviously there is some crossover - I may take a 250yd shot offhand, and 100yd prone. Bottom line, all of the positions (even rice patty prone) are valuable, and deserve practice. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Hunting
How To Hunt Big Game
What's your Shooting Positions
Top