At what distance do you decide your shooting position while hunting?

I usually and comfortable taking off had shots out to 100yrds. But if I can find a rest in time I'll always use it. I am not a fan if getting prone out in the rain and mud. I will take a kneeling position or lean on a tree.
 
I got my 30-06 Forbes rifle exactly for off hand shooting, heavy rifles, i find are harder to shoot off hand... In my book that is... JP.
 
caramel said:
I got my 30-06 Forbes rifle exactly for off hand shooting, heavy rifles, i find are harder to shoot off hand... In my book that is... JP.
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I find exactly the opposite. A heavy rifle settles down much quicker than a light one IMO.

A sling like the Ching or a Palma-type setup with an arm loop (not for hunting, obviously) negates this quite a bit.

Women or men with long upper arms can rest the elbow on the hip bone for much greater stability; I can't. Arms are way too short LOL.
 
Silverado said:
I find exactly the opposite. A heavy rifle settles down much quicker than a light one IMO.

A sling like the Ching or a Palma-type setup with an arm loop (not for hunting, obviously) negates this quite a bit.

Women or men with long upper arms can rest the elbow on the hip bone for much greater stability; I can't. Arms are way too short LOL.
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But a heavy rifle will shortened the time you can hold it steady, a very light rifle will permit to keep your stance steady fo 5-6 minutes... JP.
 
caramel said:
But a heavy rifle will shortened the time you can hold it steady, a very light rifle will permit to keep your stance steady fo 5-6 minutes... JP.
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I suspect that your not a well seasoned big game hunter. What does holding a rifle for 5 to 6 minutes have to do with big game hunting? I'm 56 years old and never even held for 1 minute let along 6 minutes. To the contrary, a light rifle does not hold steadier than a heavy rifle weather freehand or on the bench. I'll call you out and state that's lots of bovine manure just exited your upper orifice...........come on, enough................
 
track said:
I suspect that your not a well seasoned big game hunter. What does holding a rifle for 5 to 6 minutes have to do with big game hunting? I'm 56 years old and never even held for 1 minute let along 6 minutes. To the contrary, a light rifle does not hold steadier than a heavy rifle weather freehand or on the bench. I'll call you out and state that's lots of bovine manure just exited your upper orifice...........come on, enough................
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7 mooses, 17 deers, 5 buffalos, 8 caribous, 42 wild turkey, 9 blacks bears, 100+ grouses, 100+ hares, 100+ various ducks, 100+ Canada, 100+ snow geese, 25 coyotes, 200+ marmotts, i guess you are right, i dont have much experience, maybe one day i will get to your level... PS: I may have forgotten a few species... JP.
 
I know that, in the past ten years, except a 100yd gong, gophers, and rabbits, nothing has been shot off-hand. Not worth it, percentage-wise. I just turned 50 and I found out last year that I HATE dragging animals out by myself, and I hunt by myself 90% of the time.
For that reason, I only take shots on big game I am SURE of. Rested. Ambush. Taking my time. I don't like missing, wounding, tracking all day any more.
 
caramel said:
7 mooses, 17 deers, 5 buffalos, 8 caribous, 42 wild turkey, 9 blacks bears, 100+ grouses, 100+ hares, 100+ various ducks, 100+ Canada, 100+ snow geese, 25 coyotes, 200+ marmotts, i guess you are right, i dont have much experience, maybe one day i will get to your level... PS: I may have forgotten a few species... JP.
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You didn't answer my question, what does holding a rifle for 5 to 6 minutes have to do with hunting, shooting or this thread? For your mini collection of big game, what was the longest you held to shoot one, 5 or 6 minutes? Your saying that a light firearm is steadier than a heavy? How many were guided hunts and how many were solo? Many times I bite my tongue when I hear B.S., but not this time buddy.
 
No problems with that, it is not really important to discuss our hunting stance, results are individual accomplishments... JP.
 
track said:
You didn't answer my question, what does holding a rifle for 5 to 6 minutes have to do with hunting, shooting or this thread? For your mini collection of big game, what was the longest you held to shoot one, 5 or 6 minutes? Your saying that a light firearm is steadier than a heavy? How many were guided hunts and how many were solo? Many times I bite my tongue when I hear B.S., but not this time buddy.
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Not going to get into the light vs. heavy debate.... bute here in Ontario when brush hunting or doing spot and stalk it has not been uncommon for me to hold up a rifle or shotgun for a few minutes just waiting for a whitetail or turkey to move into a shooting lane.... I typically take the first opportunity to shoulder the gun while the animals vision is obscured by an obstacle....

Proper use of a sling almost make the rifles weight vs. steadiness a non issue as well....
 
Superbrad said:
Not going to get into the light vs. heavy debate.... bute here in Ontario when brush hunting or doing spot and stalk it has not been uncommon for me to hold up a rifle or shotgun for a few minutes just waiting for a whitetail or turkey to move into a shooting lane.... I typically take the first opportunity to shoulder the gun while the animals vision is obscured by an obstacle....

Proper use of a sling almost make the rifles weight vs. steadiness a non issue as well....
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If this is the way people hunt in Ontario, then I would suggest that all hunters go back to the drawing board and take another hunter education course. Is this why want to be, trigger happy, negligent hunters are being knocked off in your province. I do "not" raise and point my rifle until I identified my quarry/target and ready to pull the trigger. Thank God I hunt in remote areas!
 
Huh. I'm guessing you only hunt the wide open there Track? Hunting thick timber I can think of dozens of times where I've identified a shooter buck, but no shooting lane existed where he was. In fact I can think of at least a dozen where a rifle has been shouldered, tracking an animal through the brush looking for an opening to slip a bullet through.

Just because caramels way isn't your way, doesn't mean his opinion doesn't have merit.
 
track said:
If this is the way people hunt in Ontario, then I would suggest that all hunters go back to the drawing board and take another hunter education course. Is this why want to be, trigger happy, negligent hunters are being knocked off in your province. I do "not" raise and point my rifle until I identified my quarry/target and ready to pull the trigger. Thank God I hunt in remote areas!
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Actually, the majoroty of those cases were self inflicted so do not apply here, but I digress....

First of all, we do not often have the luxury of a 500+ yard shot here.... We need to stalk and get close to our game or hunt in a stand..... Second of all, there is nothing wrong with raising a rifle prior to game getting in your shooting lane.... As long as said rifle is pointed in a safe direction... You then identify your target and what is behind it, then complete aim and fire sequence.... I never said I "pointed my rifle"... I said I held it up.... This eliminates a long motion sequence in close quarters with my intended prey.

Whether you choose to believe so or not, your rifle is always "pointed" somewhere... Do you always keep your rifle pointed at the ground?.... When you shot that buck you are so proud of you must have been glassing for him first? How were you carrying your rifle?... Did you put it down to glass?... was it loaded and slung?.... If so, you had no control and it was "pointed" somewhere... Lose the condescending attitude, it's not doing any of us responsible hunters any good.....
 
Just watching some video from our trip to Africa and I had my rifle pointed at my sable, waiting for a broadside shot, for 5:28 minutes. Thank goodness for shooting sticks. I too often have my rifle pointed at my intended target for extended periods of time. Use what opportunity you can to get the rifle to your shoulder undetected and then wait for the shot to present itself. Not sure what's unsafe about that.
 
track said:
If this is the way people hunt in Ontario, then I would suggest that all hunters go back to the drawing board and take another hunter education course. Is this why want to be, trigger happy, negligent hunters are being knocked off in your province. I do "not" raise and point my rifle until I identified my quarry/target and ready to pull the trigger. Thank God I hunt in remote areas!
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You either don't get it, or you're being deliberately argumentative... I've never raised my rifle without knowing exactly what I'm pointing it at, and I don't shoot unless I'm reasonably sure of making a killing shot. Still, it's just common sense to get the gun up at the first opportunity before the deer or whatever can see you... otherwise they will spot the movement, and you'll have nothing but a white flag waving goodbye to shoot at. Last year I had the deer in sight possibly for 10 minutes before I could get a shot in ( it felt a lot longer).
 
sheephunter said:
Just watching some video from our trip to Africa and I had my rifle pointed at my sable, waiting for a broadside shot, for 5:28 minutes. Thank goodness for shooting sticks. I too often have my rifle pointed at my intended target for extended periods of time. Use what opportunity you can to get the rifle to your shoulder undetected and then wait for the shot to present itself. Not sure what's unsafe about that.
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Do you post any of your videos online, such as a youtube channel TJ? I'd be interested to see some action from some of the hunts you've written about.
 
THanks guys, many good pointers and much research led to something pretty good for me to build on. So far my experience is marksman team for cadets (basic but its better than nothing and its time behind a rifle), I shoot rifles every 2-3 years or so for work, and I have been hunting off and on during my teen years picking off partrige/grouse from 10-20 yards - mostly headshots.

In the last year I have been doing a lot of bench shooting with my 10/22 - but very little offhand. I can get 2-3 moa with the ruger and the right ammo when sitting still on a bench, but then trying to hit a 1 inch target at 25 yards is another matter altogether lol..

I will definitely buy a whole lot of CCI Minimag and practice offhand!
 
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