Off hand shots.

For big game, I have never used a rest. I have a bipod on my varmint rifle,but thats it.

Most of my deer hunts are short distance shots...50-75 yds...Longest shot I ever took was 150yds accross a small clearing.
 
most likely 50% or so,i used to do most of my shooting offhand.i now carry a set of shooting sticks with me.the only way the shot is offhand is if i get caught out in the open and do not have time to get into a more stable/steady shooting position.
 
I'd love to have a rest for every shot I take... BUT deer hunting the way we do 98% of the deer I have shot have been off hand with 90% of them in the proccess of leaving the area ;)
 
senior said:
I'd love to have a rest for every shot I take... BUT deer hunting the way we do 98% of the deer I have shot have been off hand with 90% of them in the proccess of leaving the area ;)
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Same here...Most of the deer I have shot have been on the move in heavily treed bush where there is no time to look for a resting position. The few I have taken with a good rest was from a tree stand where there is plenty of time.
 
Off hand standing 75% for deer with rifle, and shotgun.
Bow hunting takes up the other 25%, still off hand though.. sitting in the tree stand.

I only shoot with gun rest at the rifle range, now that i think of it.:eek:
 
I think the vast majority of my shots at game have been off hand shots while still hunting. I try to use a rest whenever possible, but lets face it, sometimes the critters don't cooperate and stand still.
 
I always try to find some supported position if at all possible. Yes, I have taken several free hand animals over the years, most recent being 80 yards with rifles. Back in the day as teens we used to practice 200m free hand at milk jugs. I remember taking 3 of 5 regularily. Now, I am consistent at 100m. Practice is key.

Weekend warriors shooting a box a year may best try if at all possible off the knee or a pack. You will find yourself amazed or eyes opened when spending some trigger time in this lost art. It is amazing to see everyone out there sighting in their rifles from sand bags, shooting a nice or not group at 100m while taking 5 shots to save the 15 for season, and calling it good. I rarely ever see some one shooting free hand for practice. We owe it to the game to take the best shot possible. My two bits....
 
When I hunt with hounds all of my shots are off hand. When I hunt from a tree stand or ground blind all of my kills are supported. Note the difference. Last year took 2 deer -one with the rifle about 90 m from kneeling position and one with the crossbow at 20m stitting with elbows on knees. One shot only with the hounds on a running deer that I missed but it turned and the guy on the next watch dropped it with one shot. Between now and November I'd like to get to the range weekly to practice off hand shooting.
 
I actually keep records... 8 moose(6 offhand), 14 elk(2 offhand), 42 whitetail, 22 mule deer (and various other critters) almost always with a rest. The type of hunting dictates what kind of shot I am comfortable with. For example...when you rattle in a whitetail buck there often isn't time to take a rest but they are always close, so offhand isn't a problem.
 
Its about 50/50 for me between standing off hand and sitting.

I practice from bags primarily, but do my fair share of off hand shooting practice out to 100 yards. MOD (minute of deer (vitals)) is good enough for me off hand.
 
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