Prone in the snow, I extended the legs of my bipod. On several occasions, I’d called in coyotes from that very hilltop. Anticipating a quick response, I took every measure to ensure a flawless calling session and the prospect of a textbook shot opportunity. With a solid rest, I settled in; my 22-250 shouldered and ready. Fully camouflaged, I remained motionless. The bright afternoon sun was behind me helping to conceal my already low profile. Moments after initiating my prey-in-distress calls, I caught movement. An eager dog was seen weaving his way through the poplars. Without hesitation, he broke from cover and darted into the field; the promise of an easy meal apparently too enticing to resist. My left hand cupping the top of my scope, bracing the bipod tight against the ground and pulling back to add stability with my right hand, I settled the crosshairs. With the target acquired, I gently squeezed. As the shot rang out, the coyote collapsed. Thanks to a solid rest, this one was straightforward.
Coyotes have a small kill zone, making them a challenging target. Believe me, as a professional outfitter and guide, I host many coyote hunters and you would be amazed to learn how many have a tough time hitting them, even with a rest. Most seasoned varmint hunters would never dream of shooting without one. Consider the benefits and there is really no reason not to use a rest of some sort. In fact, over the past decade, I’ve only taken a handful of freehand shots at any game and those were out of necessity – usually as a follow-up in close quarters.
Romance vs. Ethics
Many years ago, I visited the gun range with a friend. He loved shooting a lever-action rifle. For one reason or another, he thought it was romantic to shoot freehand, both at the range and while hunting. Watching him handle his rifle, it was apparent that his shooting skills needed some work. Despite my encouragement, he just wouldn’t use a rest.
On another occasion, I guided a black bear hunter on a spot and stalk hunt. He had the same mentality. Despite making every effort, even insisting that he use a rest, he was equally belligerent, insisting on shooting freehand. I could see the writing on the wall and, even as we snuck in on a beautiful bear, I again attempted him to take a rest when taking the shot. He wouldn’t. The shot was under 100 yards, and while he did hit the bear, a two-hour rodeo ensued. Following a difficult tracking job, and an eventual dangerous encounter with his wounded bruin, it took a finishing shot in close-quarters to put his bear down.
With these examples in mind, it’s important to remember that we as hunters have an ethical responsibility to do everything we can to shoot accurately. Understanding shot placement is key, but equally important it minimizing variables that can throw a shot off. Using a shooting rest whenever possible, is the most important step any hunter can take in ensuring downrange accuracy.
Aside from hunting charging dangerous game, most hunting situations, should offer the shooter time to settle down, stabilize and gently squeeze the trigger to execute precise bullet placement. Indeed, even rimfire and crossbow shooters are recognizing the benefits, and using bipods or shooting sticks these days.
Shooting Rails
As a guide, one of the most common questions I get from clients has to do with whether or not our tree stands and blinds have shooting rails. Great question, and the answer is yes – always. Both our ladder stands and our lock-on stands always have a shooting rail. Even our blinds have a solid crossbar for resting their rifle or crossbow. Why? Because it eliminates, or at least minimizes, one of the main reasons for missed shots.
Many eastern deer hunters in particular are accustomed to shooting from railed stands or blinds where shot distances are short. In turn, many seem to be more familiar with reactive hunting – that is waiting for the deer to come to them. In comparison, a lot of western hunters, by virtue of the habitat that we hunt for a wide variety of game, learn to adapt from day one. Yes, stand hunting is growing in popularity, but many mid-west hunts either walk or push bush. These situations are highly variable and adaptation is the name of the game. Sometimes shot distances are short, but particularly in open farmland, on cut-lines, or in open prairie landscapes, shot distances are greater. Regardless of your shot distances, it’s always smart to use a shooting rest, but it becomes especially critical for distances over 100 yards. I can think of many animals that I’ve taken, where a bipod or shooting sticks played a critical role in executing an accurate shot.
Maximizing Accuracy
With this in mind, plan ahead and anticipating shot opportunities. Whether you’re just shooting at the range, out in the back forty, or in the field hunting, consider where you’ll b shooting and conditions you’ll be shooting in. Think about how you can stabilize your firearms or crossbow, to improve shot accuracy. Afterall, that’s what shooting is all about – hitting your target as perfectly as you can.
Plenty of manufacturers make different types of shooting rests. Carrying shooting sticks in hand, or mounting a bipod on your gun or crossbow, is easier than ever. Today there are many commercial options from which to choose.
Bipods & Shooting Sticks
I use a variety of shooting rests, but in my opinion, nothing beats a bipod. Some are lighter than others. Some are more durable, still others are more flexible, but in the end, it comes down to personal preference when deciding what will work best for you. I’m a believer in Harris bipods. Since 1975 Harris bipods have long been recognized as the industry leader in portable shooting rests. Used extensively by hunters, target shooters, law enforcement and the military, they come in a variety of configurations. Short and long models are available in fixed bench rest versions and there are also models available with a swivel. The shorter models are great for prone shooting, but if you’re in deep snow or tall grass, for instance from a seated position, it may be more practical to use one with fully extendible longer legs. I rarely hunt without a bipod mounted on my rifle or muzzleloader. I can honestly credit the vast majority of my rifle and muzzleloader kills to my bipod. It offers the stability I need to consistently deliver downrange accuracy.
Many different manufacturers make shooting sticks. Probably the most cost-effective and practical option is the Primos Trigger Stick, which is available in a monopod, bipod, or tripod format. I’ve found these are generally all decent shooting rests, but I have seen several break. In my opinion, Bog Pod is one of the better ones. The price tag is a bit higher, but the quality seems to justify the cost.
Comparatively, there are very few options for shooting sticks when it comes to tree stand hunting. An economical, lightweight and practical option I use is the Tree Stand Shooting Stick made by Hunter’s Specialties. It has quick-adjust trigger-style telescopic capabilities, the shaft is aluminum, and it can be fastened to your boot to facilitate shifting positions easily while on stand.
Shooting Rails
As a guide, one of the most common questions I get from clients has to do with whether or not our tree stands and blinds have shooting rails. Great question, and the answer is yes – always. Both our ladder stands and our lock-ons always have a shooting rail. Even our blinds have a solid crossbar for resting their rifle or crossbow. Why? Because it eliminates, or at least minimizes, one of the main reasons for missed shots.
Many eastern deer hunters in particular are accustomed to shooting from railed stands or blinds where shot distances are short. In turn, many seem to be more familiar with reactive hunting – that is waiting for the deer to come to them. In comparison, a lot of western hunters, by virtue of the habitat that we hunt for a wide variety of game, learn to adapt from day one. Yes, stand hunting is growing in popularity, but many mid-west hunts either walk or push bush. These situations are highly variable and adaptation is the name of the game. Sometimes shot distances are short, but particularly in open farmland, on cut-lines, or in open prairie landscapes, shot distances are greater. Regardless of your shot distances, it’s always smart to use a shooting rest, but it becomes especially critical for distances over 100 yards. I can think of many animals that I’ve taken, where a bipod or shooting sticks played a critical role in executing an accurate shot.
At the Range
Similarly, there are many shooting rests available for range-use. Cost-effective options like MTM’s adjustable Case-Guard products are great. If you’re willing to spend a little extra, or are looking for more versatility, look no further than Caldwell’s comprehensive line of shooting rests and accessories. From their robust fully adjustable lead sled to their sand bag rests that come in many different sizes, they specialize in a wide variety of different shooting rests. I use both the sled and bags myself, for different applications at the range and love them.
When we need to Improvise
Shooting at the range is great; it allows us to ensure that our equipment is working to its potential and gain familiarity with it, but we all know that unless you’re sitting in a fixed stand or blind, every hunting situation and shot opportunity presents unique challenges. Sometimes we’re faced with long-range shot opportunities, other times we’re limited by tall grass, rolling topography, and so on. In these situations, we have to adapt. On one of my last sheep hunts, with nothing else available, I used my backpack as a rest and it worked wonderfully allowing me to take a ram at 200 yards. On a caribou hunt, my wife made an impressive 460-yard shot to collapse a bull on the spot, in part because she is a good shot, but also because she improvised by resting her rifle on a large boulder. Her rest was literally “rock” solid leaving the balance of the shooting equation up to her.
Whether you prefer to use a centrefire rifle, a muzzleloader, or even a crossbow, a rest is almost always imperative. A commercial rest, a rock, backpack, tree, or other solid stationary object can serve you well in a pinch. Downrange accuracy is of course dependent upon your firearm or crossbow being sighted in, but a stable rest is more often than not, the key to closing the deal.
