Off hand shots.

captonion

captonion

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Of all the big game animals you have taken what %, or number of animals did you take off hand? Just curious.
 
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About 20% [ Still a fairly substantial number of animals.]
I like it better if I have a rest, but sometimes that is not an option.
I limit offhand shots as to distance as well.
Regards, Eagleye.
 
99% or better, In fact I can think of only one time I used a rest in this province, that was a very unusual 300 yard shot on a standing deer, from Prone.
All my Ontario game is at close range typical of Central and Northern Ontario. That is to say under a hundred yards. Many have been under 50 yards, and many under 50 feet.
 
It depends on the area. I can go years without takeing an offhand shot around home, then go somewhere else and take nothing but. So far this year I'm sitting at about half off-hand or 10 animals from that position. Falls comeing and will change the average.
 
While I practice off hand shooting at the range, I really prefer to use some sort of rest or more stable field position when shooting game. I would say probably around the 10% mark for off hand.
 
Probably 50/50 , and I do practice them a bit as well.

If you can consistently hit an anti-freeze jug, then that is your safe zone.Start missing, that is your limit.That is how I judge myself.
 
I do a lot of shooting from a sitting position,I carry a stool when possible,still off hand I guess.Shooting stick and bi pods are also part of the arsenal!
 
I have probably taken about 25% of my critters offhand. Most times I was busted with an animal looking at me, most shots less than 150 yards, but last years buck was 258 yards paced off.

I find that offhand shooting only works when you don't think about it, just pull up on the animal with both eyes open as soon as I see hair I close my offeye and squeeze, kind of like shooting a shotgun.
 
Almost never in 25 years of hunting - maybe three times at very close deer and one moose when I've had no time to go sitting.

I firmly believe in the adage:
If you can get closer, get closer if you can get steadier, get steadier.

No reason to take a low percentage shot on game - ever! IMHO
 
I consider offhand the worst of all possible alternatives. Probably have shot about a third of my big game animals that way, mostly because I didn't know any better for a long time. I normally carry shooting sticks when walking open grassy areas, and if I don't have them find a fence post, tree or rock, and if I can't find one of them I sit, and If its too wet to sit I kneel.
If I feel I have to take a running shot I do it offhand. And I have killed a bunch of stuff when it was running. But I seldom choose to shoot running game any more.
 
I used to do all my big game shooting from the offhand position. However I also had at the time, a mitten full of off season varmint hunting in Saskatchewan too. Rabbits, jackrabbits, foxes & coyotes galore! And plenty of time to polish up the shooting skills.
My recent gopher shooting is too little & too infrequent now. These days I'm more apt to sit down or use a tree branch for an improvised rest. I'm not the same high percentage game shooter as I was, than when I was a decade younger.
 
it's funny, I've taken some pretty close shots while supported. Mostly becuase I as sitting already when the deer came in to 20 feet and I just swiveled the rifle over my knees and shot.

Probably 10-15% off hand (for biggame)
 
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