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fairchaser said:
Many if not most will venture into the deer woods this weekend and plan on shooting their deer from an unsupported position. Some will use there deer stand with their elbows while others will try to lean against a tree. Some even think it's unmanly to kill a deer other than free handing it.

Sadly, some will have to share stories about the big one that got away clean or worse yet, wounded. Thick clothing, heavy triggers and adrenaline all work against a precise shot. Distance adds to the equation. Here are some guidelines to consider and maximum ranges.
1. Unsupported-sitting 50 yds
2. Partially supported front of rifle, sitting 75 yds
3. Supported front and back sitting 100-150 yds
4. Prone on a bipod 150-250 yds
5. Prone on a bipod and rear back 250-350 yds

Consider that 1/10,000 of an inch in movement is worth 1 MOA. At 350 yards that's equal to 3.5 inches roughly.

I take a trigger stick into my climber and shove it into my boot. Using this with my elbows on the top of the climber gives me a stable position.

Best of luck this weekend!
Click to expand...
great info. i never thought of sticking my shooting stick in my boot!
 
fairchaser said:
Many if not most will venture into the deer woods this weekend and plan on shooting their deer from an unsupported position. Some will use there deer stand with their elbows while others will try to lean against a tree. Some even think it's unmanly to kill a deer other than free handing it.

Sadly, some will have to share stories about the big one that got away clean or worse yet, wounded. Thick clothing, heavy triggers and adrenaline all work against a precise shot. Distance adds to the equation. Here are some guidelines to consider and maximum ranges.
1. Unsupported-sitting 50 yds
2. Partially supported front of rifle, sitting 75 yds
3. Supported front and back sitting 100-150 yds
4. Prone on a bipod 150-250 yds
5. Prone on a bipod and rear back 250-350 yds

Consider that 1/10,000 of an inch in movement is worth 1 MOA. At 350 yards that's equal to 3.5 inches roughly.

I take a trigger stick into my climber and shove it into my boot. Using this with my elbows on the top of the climber gives me a stable position.

Best of luck this weekend!
Click to expand...
that math is wild!!!! thank u
 
fairchaser said:
Many if not most will venture into the deer woods this weekend and plan on shooting their deer from an unsupported position. Some will use there deer stand with their elbows while others will try to lean against a tree. Some even think it's unmanly to kill a deer other than free handing it.

Sadly, some will have to share stories about the big one that got away clean or worse yet, wounded. Thick clothing, heavy triggers and adrenaline all work against a precise shot. Distance adds to the equation. Here are some guidelines to consider and maximum ranges.
1. Unsupported-sitting 50 yds
2. Partially supported front of rifle, sitting 75 yds
3. Supported front and back sitting 100-150 yds
4. Prone on a bipod 150-250 yds
5. Prone on a bipod and rear back 250-350 yds

Consider that 1/10,000 of an inch in movement is worth 1 MOA. At 350 yards that's equal to 3.5 inches roughly.

I take a trigger stick into my climber and shove it into my boot. Using this with my elbows on the top of the climber gives me a stable position.

Best of luck this weekend!
Click to expand...
Iirc you or maybe someone else posted a similar thread last year, and i remember you having the suggestion of the stick in the boot. Would work in many situations, except for shooting behind you. Last couple times I sat the homemade steel stands I had great opportunities on the trail behind me and to my left. No way a stick in the boot would have worked, but I have improvised on those shots before.

Anyway, thanks for the reminder on a very good tip.
 
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I took a free hand shot at a buck one time. Clean miss. I was probably a teenager and knew no better.

I have never taken one since. I always make sure I am positioned so that I can have a secure rest and a clean shot. I have killed multiple bucks while on the ground but I always use a tree or limb or brace my gun on my knee while seated.
 
fairchaser said:
Many if not most will venture into the deer woods this weekend and plan on shooting their deer from an unsupported position. Some will use there deer stand with their elbows while others will try to lean against a tree. Some even think it's unmanly to kill a deer other than free handing it.

Sadly, some will have to share stories about the big one that got away clean or worse yet, wounded. Thick clothing, heavy triggers and adrenaline all work against a precise shot. Distance adds to the equation. Here are some guidelines to consider and maximum ranges.
1. Unsupported-sitting 50 yds
2. Partially supported front of rifle, sitting 75 yds
3. Supported front and back sitting 100-150 yds
4. Prone on a bipod 150-250 yds
5. Prone on a bipod and rear back 250-350 yds

Consider that 1/10,000 of an inch in movement is worth 1 MOA. At 350 yards that's equal to 3.5 inches roughly.

I take a trigger stick into my climber and shove it into my boot. Using this with my elbows on the top of the climber gives me a stable position.

Best of luck this weekend!
Click to expand...
I added a 2" piece of wood to the bottom of my shooting stick so it won't go through my stand.
 
Good post! I have found that most people struggle not so much with the technical skill of making the shot, but with the patience to not take the wrong shot.

There are a whole bunch of hunters out there that have never willingly passed a deer, so they have not gotten to experience just watching and observing the natural movement and shot opportunities that arise from being patient.

As soon as they see brown or horns they go into kill mode. Unfortunately, that is a great way to learn a lot about deer behavior and they never get to see it.
 
backyardtndeer said:
Iirc you or maybe someone else posted a similar thread last year, and it tense remember you having the suggestion of the stick in the boot. Would work in many situations, except for shooting behind you. Last couple times I sat the homemade steel stands I had great opportunities on the trail behind me and to my left. No way a stick in the boot would have worked, but I have improvised on those shots before.

Anyway, thanks for the reminder on a very good tip.
Click to expand...
You're correct if sitting. If it's a potential shot behind me, I will stand and turn around. My trigger stick comes with me and I simply extend it to standing height.
 
Tn_Va_Hunter said:
I always carry a set of bog bipod sticks. I hunt 90% from the ground. So I always make sure I have a comfortable setup. Gun resting on sticks and I like to lean back if possible to stable my shoulder and back. Hand around the sticks with one finger holding the gun to help stabilize it. Just how I have always done it and found it to be most accurate for me.

But I do practice different scenarios. I never take an off handed shot further than 40-50 yards and it's got to be at a deer standing still.

Some great advice here
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If I'm hunting on the ground from a single position out of a chair, I will use my bogpod death grip tripod and it's super steady. I've easily made 200 yd shots. But I like your idea for moving around using the cross sticks. The more points of contact the better.
 
DeerCamp said:
Good post! I have found that most people struggle not so much with the technical skill of making the shot, but with the patience to not take the wrong shot.

There are a whole bunch of hunters out there that have never willingly passed a deer, so they have not gotten to experience just watching and observing the natural movement and shot opportunities that arise from being patient.

As soon as they see brown or horns they go into kill mode. Unfortunately, that is a great way to learn a lot about deer behavior and they never get to see it.
Click to expand...
To add to your comments DeerCamp, I often see hunters quickly line up the shot and pull the trigger even if the deer is walking towards them. In essence, they will attempt an unnecessarily long shot just because they see a deer they want. If they would wait, the deer might walk right past them presenting a close-range shot.
 
BSK said:
To add to your comments DeerCamp, I often see hunters quickly line up the shot and pull the trigger even if the deer is walking towards them. In essence, they will attempt an unnecessarily long shot just because they see a deer they want. If they would wait, the deer might walk right past them presenting a close-range shot.
Click to expand...
If you think about it statistically, the odds of the first shot you get being the best shot is not that high.

One guy I know has wounded and lost a lot of deer. He will say things like "it's the only shot he gave me" or "I had to hurry up and shoot", and I think my question to him would be "but, did you really? Did you have to take the shot?"

A responsible hunter knows that sometimes the best shot is the one you didn't take. When you decide not to pull the trigger, the WORST case scenario is that the deer gets away.

When you do take the shot, there are a whole lot worse "worsts".
 
Jcalder said:
Most of those same people rushed thru 3 shots to check their scope. Some found them to be just fine, some found them off, but they were just fine last year. But the biggest majority of them haven't sat thru more than 1 range trip since last season. If people actually practiced, and not just off bags, they'd find their success rates would go up considerably, the need of a dog would drop, and the overall experience would skyrocket.
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As far as a rest goes, that's a plus to saddle hunting. Always facing the tree, and you can use the bridge as bracing.

Glad I reverified my rifle. Shot 5 different otc shells this week. Scope was off, low about 6 inches. Only 1 otc shell grouped within an inch at 100 yards. Remington Core Locked. That's what I am shooting.
 
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DeerCamp said:
Good post! I have found that most people struggle not so much with the technical skill of making the shot, but with the patience to not take the wrong shot.

There are a whole bunch of hunters out there that have never willingly passed a deer, so they have not gotten to experience just watching and observing the natural movement and shot opportunities that arise from being patient.

As soon as they see brown or horns they go into kill mode. Unfortunately, that is a great way to learn a lot about deer behavior and they never get to see it.
Click to expand...

I think it comes with experience. When you haven't killed many good bucks you don't want to let the few you see slip through your hands. But once you've got enough under your belt that the horns don't matter as much, it's easier to just watch. Also easier to let one walk away. Just part of the growth as a hunter.
 
With all this said I think you should practice freehand shooting . Why ? Because your not always going to have the perfect shooting rest. Yes...those in the shooting houses do but those of us hunting otherwise don't. These deer don't always come in like we expect them to . Certain muscles need to be toned for off hand shooting ...that don't mean you have to shoot thousands of times but you can throw your gun up and hold it for a few minutes every day you can in your home .
 
Snake said:
With all this said I think you should practice freehand shooting . Why ? Because your not always going to have the perfect shooting rest. Yes...those in the shooting houses do but those of us hunting otherwise don't. These deer don't always come in like we expect them to . Certain muscles need to be toned for off hand shooting ...that don't mean you have to shoot thousands of times but you can throw your gun up and hold it for a few minutes every day you can in your home .
Click to expand...
Excellent advice.

Back when I worked for Dr. Woods, and we held deer management "summer camps," to prove to hunters how hard shooting offhand is when you're excited, we would make the hunters sprint 50 yards to their gun (to get their heart pounding), pick it up, and shoot off-hand standing at a life-size deer target at 100 yards. Almost no one could hit the target, let alone make a kill shot.
 
BSK said:
Excellent advice.

Back when I worked for Dr. Woods, and we held deer management "summer camps," to prove to hunters how hard shooting offhand is when your excited, we would make the hunters sprint 50 yards to their gun (to get their heart pounding), pick it up, and shoot off-hand standing at a life-size deer target at 100 yards. Almost no one could even hit the target, let alone make a kill shot.
Click to expand...
Right on . Staring down the barrel at a nice buck will even excite seasoned hunters. Practicing your breathing is also important. A hunter needs his best to calm down and exhale slowly once he has his target in sight and ready to pull the trigger. If your breathing is heavy it can throw your shot off some . I know it's easier to say than do but you could miss an easy shot if your not steady .
 

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