My state boasts one of the longest rifle seasons in the country. While there are a few “primitive weapon” seasons scattered throughout on public lands, folks can gun hunt on private land from the weekend before Thanksgiving to the end of January. That’s two and a half months of gun season for you folks up North that complain about the orange armies flooding the woods for a whole week or two. With nearly a quarter of the year dedicated to gun season, you’d think most hunters could kill a deer from the hip, but that’s just not the case.
After working in a gun shop for nearly a decade, I saw hunter after hunter swap rifles, thinking it would cure their shooting woes. I’d bet 90% (or more) of gun hunters only shoot their rifle just before the season opens to make sure it’s “on.”
I’d also bet that “on” for most hunters constitutes hitting a paper plate at 100 yards. This type of marksmanship, or lack thereof, doesn’t account for the quick, offhand, or abnormal shooting positions that you encounter in the woods. You can buy the best deer hunting rifles, but they won’t make up for bad shooting. Whether you’re toting a hand-me-down or a brand new rifle, a little practice can turn any rifle into a reliable hunting rig.
The Best Rifle…
Is the one you already own. Mistakes and missed (or unrecovered) deer color the way we view certain rifles or cartridges. On the other side of that coin, we build pedestals from successful hunts or taxidermy bills to immortalize others. The truth is, shot placement plays a much larger role than you might think.
No, you don’t need sub-MOA capabilities from your rifle, but you do need to be able to consistently hit your mark in a variety of shooting positions. That type of marksmanship only comes from (drumroll) practice.
Shooting Drills
Everyone looks like a pro at the range, propped on bags or the best shooting rests. Throw in a spiked heart rate, running deer, or an offhand shot, and the most seasoned hunters can look silly. Unless you’re taking all your shots from a shooting house, you need to practice shooting drills to emulate the types of positions and scenarios that you might encounter in the woods.
Offhand
Most missed deer stories start with an offhand shot. They’re understandably difficult, especially if you don’t practice them. Still, you might find yourself in a situation where you have to make a quick shot with no rest. If you’re not practiced, I would advise against it. Otherwise, get some reps in at the range.
Offhand shots shouldn’t be more than 100 yards, and even that distance is difficult. If you’ve never practiced this at the range, you might be surprised at how your groups change from the bench to a standing offhand position. Start at 25 yards, regardless of your rifle or scope. You can then work your way to 100 yards, but start building confidence with closer shots. Focus on controlling your breathing, squeezing the trigger, and staying on target even after the shot. After logging some good reps, graduate to a moving target.
Running Shot
Before the rise of treestands, running shots were a given. Nowadays, they’re scoffed at or neglected altogether. Yet, they remain a dying art that every hunter should practice.
There are a few cheap ways to do this. I know some deer dog hunters who practiced on swinging jugs or pieces of plywood shoved into the middle of tires so they could roll their target. It’s about the cheapest and closest thing to simulate a running deer.
If you need a humbling day at the range, try shooting a swinging milk jug at fifty yards. Oh, and start with your rifle slung on your back or down at your side like you would if you were still-hunting through the woods. If you’ve never tried it before, make sure you have plenty of ammo and a good backstop.
Kneeling or Propped Positions
The majority of shots you’ll take in the field will probably be kneeling or propped against a tree. While these might come natural or feel the most stable, you still need to practice them at the range.
While you can’t simulate buck fever, you can do some jumping jacks to get your heart rate up. You don’t have to go crazy, just something to get you breathing harder. Then, shoot from a kneeling or propped position. Practice breath control and squeezing the trigger. Again, you won’t exactly replicate a hunting scenario, but it’s close enough.
Last Shot
You don’t have to graduate from sniper school to be a good shot in the deer woods. In fact, practicing with a .22 or even dry fire drills can help you perform better shots. Develop a loosely structured shooting routine, and you’ll notice a major difference come rifle season. Sure, it’ll cost you more in ammo, but you’ll (hopefully) cut down on your misses.
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