Question: Hunting Prone?

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CLydesdale1812

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For those who've spent more hours in the bush than anywhere else. What is it like hunting prone? The reason I ask is because I'm a new hunter and was wondering if I could save a couple bucks by only buying something like hang netting camouflage and making a low blind where I just have to crawl in and I can lay prone with my gun at the ready. I am thinking it might be okay for turkey, but deer on up might be a bit more challenging. Any thoughts or advice?

p.s. I have a 20 gauge pump if that makes a difference.
 
tiriaq said:
You may find that you may not be able to see a whole lot.
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Not to mention it gets awfully cold and wet laying on thr ground in the fall.

My go to is just a folding camp chair either tucked under a spruce tree so the branches obscure your profile a bit, or you could hang your camo up between two trees quick enough and just sit behind it.
 
dand883 said:
Not to mention it gets awfully cold and wet laying on thr ground in the fall.

My go to is just a folding camp chair either tucked under a spruce tree so the branches obscure your profile a bit, or you could hang your camo up between two trees quick enough and just sit behind it.
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^^^This^^^
 
Take it from someone who has laid on the ground in many a stubble field for goose hunting before the invention of the coffin blind, its not much fun!!!
 
My first successful duck hunt is still my favourite:

see lake full of ducks.

crawl down to the edge of the lake in prone.

lay head down on shotgun stock, fall asleep.

wake up an hour later.

stand up. ducks fly up.

shoot duck. eat duck!
 
A couple of options for you:

1) Get a stool of some sort. Either a folding hunting one or even a empty pail turned over works too.
2) Get a foam pad/seat to sit on.

The idea is to minimize contact with the ground. As already mentioned, laying prone will quickly lead to misery (cold and wet).
Set up under a heavy pine with your camo netting and you become invisible.
Good luck.
 
I kept all the cartridge cases for my deer kills. There were none fired prone; many fired kneeling or sitting; and some fired standing. As I think back, I needed the extra height to get clear of stubble, straw, underbrush and snow. Whatever you choose, get as stable as you can to make the best shot.
 
It depends a lot on the terrain and the overall type of hunting. The last 50-70 yards of stalking during my elk hunts in the southern Alberta foothills occurred in prone position. Same with my deer hunts during the later part of the season in stubble fields.
 
I've just gone and sat in the bush against a tree. Laying prone would probably be very uncomfortable for extended periods. If you're stalking and need to crawl xmany feet no prob.
 
dand883 said:
Not to mention it gets awfully cold and wet laying on thr ground in the fall.

My go to is just a folding camp chair either tucked under a spruce tree so the branches obscure your profile a bit, or you could hang your camo up between two trees quick enough and just sit behind it.
Click to expand...

This is what I do, when i'm out for deer. Worked well for me last fall. Didn't shoot one but only had a buck tag, i did have no less than a half dozen does and a couple fawns come into my shooting lane while i was out all four days though.
 
I've made a few shots from the prone position over the years but they're usually from a modified prone over a pack, log, snowmobile or some other such thing. I don't think I've ever made a pure, down on my chest and elbows, prone shot and that's over a variety of topography in both Canada and Africa.

Still, it's an important tool to have in the toolbox.
 
For prone bring a foam pad and a sleeping bag. I did this a few times and it was very comfortable. You do run the risk of falling asleep and missing the game. Try different positions. In the end it depends on your style of hunting.
 
I use the prone and a back pack for the majority of my hunting shots. when I'm in tree line I sit with my back against a tree and use shooting sticks. I find both of those positions stable.
 
I do prone when calling coyotes in the winter. I dress all in white and crawl out into a field or hide under low branches of the cedar line and call. Works great. I use a 13-24" bipod to keep t gun above the snow.
I even use a ghillie suit for early deer archery season. I've had no complaints and usually fill all my tags. I find if I sit my legs go numb so I lay down quite often
 
Sit against a tree and dress in dull colours or do your best to look like the tree if you're fond of buying camo.

You'll see more, be disguised and will be WAY more comfortable.
 
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