How many use rests while hunting?

[cptleo1]

It is very rare that I take a shot without a rest.

 

These responses are what I expected to read. Why, then, is shooting offhand at matches seemingly so paramount to many shooters and organizers? Haven't we all heard that "real men shoot from there own two feet!" and other similar rhetoric? Please don't think I am against such matches...I'm not. I just ponder such questions when left to my own devices for long!

Skychief,

Offhand tests the shooters ability; a bench tests the rifles ability. :v

 

[Bob J]

The only off-hand shot at a deer I have taken was at a deer that was about 6 feet from me. He had followed the Doe In Heat scent I had put on the arch of my boots to mask my scent as I walked into my stand on a deer trail.

So are you saying it was self-defense? :haha:

 

[paulvallandigham]

NO! :surrender: But is a bit disconcerting to be facing into the wind, expecting any deer to be coming out of the woods to the thick tall weedy field to bed down for the day, sense something is behind you, glance over your shoulder, and find a deer 6 feet from you, sniffing the air and trying to figure out why that tree I was standing next to looked differently than it had seen it in the past.

I was still bigger than he was. I saw NO buttons between the ears- and no hint of buttons( bumps, short hair seeming to be mussed up, etc.) between its ears. I really thought I was looking at a 1 1/2 year old doe, which is good eating! That is the only reason I ended my deer season so early, and shot Her!( HIM!).

Boy when we lifted the hind legs to gut "her", was I surprised! Every guy in camp checked that head for signed of buttons or horns. The deer weighted in, field dressed, at 86 lbs.( Live weight would have been about 120 lbs.)

I checked the books of the deer checkers, and found 3 does already brought in that field dressed out at 85-86 lbs., and they were all 1 1/2 years old.

The deer had a LONG body, stood as tall as you might expect from that old a deer. But, his teeth checked out at a Yearling( 6 mo. old)age, and there were, under the skin, just a HINT- I do mean Hint- of the spots where his antlers would have grown the next year.

Had I known it was a buck, I would have let him walk on by. It would have killed me :cursing: :shocked2: , but I would have let him go. :v

As it worked out, there were only two deer killed that entire weekend, in the area, and one of them was mine. So, at least I made meat, and we ate well. :thumbsup:

 

[Walks with fire]

If under 50 yards or so I don't mind shooting offhand; beyond that a rest is used for shots at game.

 

[Stumpkiller]

I like a rest (tree, knees, sticks) if available, but much of my shooting occurs when I'm moving or pausing and a deer is spotted. No rest is available and my shots are offhand 50% of the time I'd estimate. Another 20% are when I pause standing and have a tree to rest my left hand against and set the rifle on. When I'm sitting on a stump or tree-seat no rest is often possible (unless the deer approaches from behind - which is usually downwind), but it is a relatively steady position. When possible I wait until the deer is blocked by cover and I will swing down to use the tree/seat/stump as a rest.

But also consider that 90% of my shots are 40 yards or under and the deer may be in a suitable shooting window for only three to ten seconds. I hunt pretty dense cover.

 

[Blizzard of '93]

I do practice off-hand shooting at 50 yd targets, sitting and standing.
also practice leaned up against a post (standing rest) with left hand and cradling rifle out to 100 and off a sitting rest to.
I won't take a shot past 50 yds w/o some sort of rest.

 

[Greenmtnboy]

I wonder what percentage of our shots at deer, elk, squirrel, etc, are taken with a makeshift rest of some sort. Be it a tree trunk, log, rail from a stand, etc, etc, What percentage of your shots at game are taken using a "rest" instead of truly offhand?

I will go first and say that I use a rest of some sort while taking game shots 90%+ of the time.

What say you?

same here.
I practice off hand which makes my rested hunting shots that much more solid.
:hatsoff:

 

[laufer]

if i can not rest, i do not shoot past 50 yards, unless i am in a good moode and give it another yard or two. :wink:

 

[biliff]

My percentage is pretty low as I can only remember taking one shot at big game from a true off hand position. That was on a mule deer jumped out its bed at about 15 yards. And yeah, I killed it.

 

[Headhunter]

Offhand shooting is a skill that must be practiced. I am in firm believment that it is like a bicycle. Once you learn it, you won't forget it or HOW TO DO IT. The more you practice it the better you will get.

99.9999% of all of my shooting is done offhand. The bench only occupies a VERY small percentage of my shooting. The bench is for solid load development, the rest is offhand.

Before season, I will practice a little off of cross sticks and different positions.

I can't remember a time that I shot a critter offhand, other than a squirrel or something like that. I ALWAYS GO FOR A REST, ANY REST, ANYTHING OTHER THAN OFFHAND for shooting game.

You will find that the more you shoot offhand, the easier it is to hit when you can get a rest.

HH

 

[Vaino]

To each his own way of shooting, but off hand does take practice and perhaps "weekend" hunters" don't want to spend the time honing their off hand skills. Perhaps for hunters who don't take the time to practice off hand, resting the gun is probably better...fewer crippled animals "hobbling and bobbling" around the countryside. For many years ruffed grouse were my main pursuit in northern Minnesota and naturally you don't use rests for this type of hunting, so when rifle hunting came along, I didn't even think of resting a gun and mainly don't do so today. I "bench" a new rifle for sight-in and that's it for "resting",however whatever "brings home the bacon" is the "right" way for that individual and therefore we never had off hand shooting tests for our deer hunting gang.....Fred

 

[hanshi]

I NEVER shoot at deer standing (me) on two legs unless there is absolutely, positively no other choice. Even up close I'll drop to a kneeling position if I have a second or two. If there is support available I'll use it. Most of my practice is done sitting with a fair amount standing. I plink which is great practice.

 

[Headhunter]

hanshi,

You hit the nail on the head. PRACTICE in field shooing conditions is paramount. I can't stress it enough.

The bench is for load development.

WC

 

[larry wv]

I also use a rest as much as possible. And the older I get the more I need it. Larry Wv

 

[tg]

I will at least take a kneeling position if no rest is available, or sitting at times, often when in then thick the shot is a quick,close one, and offhand works well 10yds +/-. When I used to rifle hunt and the shots might be 75 yds or more I would try to get to a rest if possible, if the deer is only a few yards away in a small opening he will not likely give one a chance to better their position.I vote for a rest when at all possible, and then fumble around and make like you lost your knife so your hunting pard will gut your deer.

 

[rkmeyer]

I take the shot only if some sort of rest is available or no powder is burned! I hunt to enjoy myself and getting the game is a bonus. :v
Dusty :wink: