so far the best and surest method of making a fairly
long shot is to wrap the left arm around an smaller tree.
then hold the stock with the left hand to steady the rifle..
of course the dont work if the wind is blowing..
id like to hear the methods you guys use..
i should mention that at times i shake more than others
would,, due to a bout with lyme desease..ii can still hit my target tho ,,just need the best steadying methods,,for woods stalking ,,which is the only kind i enjoy..

I think that's a fine rest, but for me, only if I'm sitting. I could never hit much when standing doing that, or standing and using a fence post. I'm better off shooting offhand, or sitting and resting off my knees if I can't get a sitting rest that somewhat replicates a bench at the range. A bipod is great, but I can't recall ever putting one on when hunting big game - only varmints. Can't stand packing that barrel-heavy weight around the mountains.

I'll have to try that rest. Guess it wouldn't work if there were no small trees around. :D

I just got a set of Bi-pod shooting sticks and turned them into a tripod set with the addition of a monopod walking stick attachment. They set up fast and telescope to allow for a range of different positions from sitting, kneeling and of coarse standing. Planning on using them as a walking stick fully extended in tall grass so I'm not fumbling with them when its time to shoot.

I find that if I can kneel I usually make a better shot but the tripod offers a pretty steady standing rest as well.

I guess with anything though the best rest for you is the one you feel the most comfortable with and practice will always make you better (more steady).

Bought the shooting sticks to start practicing with for a trip to South Africa in the next two years.

i saw those advertised.. they were fairly cheap ,so probably cheaper to buy than make.. my best shot by far would be from a setting position,but the land here is such that
most times setting puts the target out of sight..
when i stop to still hunt a while ,i pick a place where i can see around me from a setting position,,if possible..
well i thought id ask what others were doing.. any one that
stalk hunts knows that by the time you see him ,,hes usually
already on semi alert ,so you might not have much time..
a steady breeze in your face helps a lot.. otherwise in this area you probably just going to hear him sound the alarm,and never see him..unless you get lucky and see him while you are setting ,,still hunting.

The terrain where I hunt is much like that which you encounter. I like a sturdy tree to brace my left hand against. Trees are plentiful around here :D

Depends on the terrian I'm hunting. I use what ever is around me and whatever position the shot at hand requires. I'm fairly accurate off hand with a sling I'm considerably better, best by far is a rest. I carry shooting sticks in my day pack and use 'em more often than I thought I would.

If the sight picture allows, I like to drop to a knee, and use it to steady, along with a hasty sling. If in a ground blind, I prefer to shoot seated indian style, with a military style sling.

Off hand is tough, and against a tree using the web of your hand is helpful too.

However you get the steadiest humane shot possible is all that matters, form comes secondary.

I try to use rest whenever I can improvised or other wise.If I can't or don't have a rest I'll go prone or sitt croosslegged with elbows on the knees anything to get a steady rest.Lastly I'll shoot it standing I like to weave my arm with my sling(works for me) a running animal I shoot like a shotgun on a bird,follow thru the critter.Stationary targets I try to remember to breathe and squeeze,also if you use a scope keep it on its minimal power.A scope turned up to 9 on a deer at 40yrds makes for a real shaky sight picture(done that,forgot to turn the scope down on a stalk.)If you have a long range shot you will have plenty of time to turn your scope up

If the rifle fits you right and you are not exhausted you can make a good "slinged up" offhand shot from good distances. Practice is essential.

A tree does work well to steady....if a tree is available. If you are in the middle of the field and a deer walks out you will need to find something else. For me, the sitting and slinged up works really good and I practice it regularly especially in the early fall months. But you will find the grass may be too tall for sitting and the (again) offhand will have to be utilized.

The hasty sling and the Ching sling are very useful afield. When I went through Gunsite's 270 class, they taught us the use of those and a number of shooting positions I had never seen, including rice-paddy prone and a sitting position with legs almost straight out front, ankles crossed, with the belly on the thighs and elbows resting on the knees (this requires some flexibility). It is similar to a crossed-ankle variation of the old fashioned spread-leg sitting position, but the backs of the knees are nearly on the ground, rather than elevated. The tree method they taught included simply placing your left fist against the trunk or on a small branch, then resting the rifle on the fist. That gives you more adjustment than you might expect.

I've never cared much for the shooting sticks I've tried. They help stabilize the gun's vertical position, but the shooter can still wobble plenty behind them. They have to be tall enough to allow you to stand with your legs locked and leaning slightly toward the balls of your feet, as the bullseye and international pistol shooters stand, or you will find yourself with bent knees and needing additional support for best stability. Maybe something could be done by way of a modified walker?


Slim60,

My sister is a Lyme sufferer, too, so I am familiar with the shakes you speak of. In that circumstance, I would see if I could pull off a variation of the method you already described: Wrap the left arm around a small, bare tree, and lay the rifles's trigger guard on the left upper arm just above the elbow. The left hand is then free to reach up under the right forearm and hook onto the right upper arm. That will lock you to the tree. I often use this same position shooting from the bench, but my arms are then flat on the bench instead of around a tree, of course.

I suspect the "steadest" will make be to "make use" of "whatever" is around you at the time that the shot presented? I take advantage of all that I can for every shot that I take. Game or target. My goal is to make a "hit" with one shot. If I miss, my goal becomes making a "hit" with my "second" one shot.

I like your method of "around the tree"! The tree needs to present itself at the correct time for the "one shot"?

Cheezywan

A friend of mine lost his left arm above the elbow in a helicopter crash . we put a swivel in the side of the forestock and hooked a loop to it that he could put around his neck going under his shoulder . this allowed him to shoot his rifle with one hand . he would pull the rifle in tight by rolling his shoulder back . If a one armed man can hit the bullseye at 200 yds . with a side strap I'm sure you could too.

thanks for all the input..i remember when i was young ,taking shots to see if i could make them.. this forum and others ,teach ethical hunting.. a good thing that i think needed to be done..yall have a good one,now.. :)

.My forearm on a fence post. Forearm of rifle on that. Makes for a purdy steady mono-pod.
I try to use existing posts for this when on the stalk ;) .

Is difficult to remember all the stuff that I have used. I do know that I look for "anything" that is handy though.
Good thread topic.

Cheezywan