How do you shoot prone on a big game hunt

[Purebred Redneck]

You know, I've been watching a lot of hunting shows on tv and have been sort of keeping track on how the results of the shooters' shots.

It seems about 1/2 of the shooters on tv use a forgein rest of some sort - backpack, sticks, pod, etc. It seems like their hit percentage is very good.

And about 1/2 the shooters just use their elbows. And it seems like they are missing more than hitting.

So I ask you, how do you shoot on a hunt laying prone.

[Purebred Redneck]

I've killed 4 deer and and 3 antalope laying down on the ground.

Now with the antalope, using a backpack was the plan.
That's how my dad, myself, and a couple of his buddies killed upwards of 15 or so over a few years.

For the deer, it was more of a accidental opportunity. I'd be walking back to the truck from the stand and all of a sudden see a deer staring at me 150-200 yards away. Without even thinking I'd unbuckle my pack (not a fanny but not a backpack --- a midsize thing that buckles at your waist) and throw it on the ground with the rifle on top.

[dakota]

It depends. When I am still hunting - off-hand. Antelope, depends on terain but often elbow but also off-hand. In the woods either off-hand or I use a tree for support. For prairie dogs bipod.
Over all I probably shoot standing up/off hand the most.

[klsm54]

I have only killed one deer from the prone position. It was one of those
"caught me in the open" deals as I was walking to the truck for lunch. When I saw the deer standing about 150 yards away, in a group of several trees making an off-hand shot pretty risky, I just dropped down on the ground and used my elbows. It was plenty steady to thread the bullet through about a 12" space between 2 trees and take the deer.

I carried a small aluminum tripod, that I use for varmint shooting, on Antelope hunts but the need to use it never arose.

I am always aware of any natural rests, and often move from one good rest to another when walking, or still hunting. Of course living and hunting in an area of fairly thick timber makes that a lot easier than when hunting on the open plains. I have always, even when hunting open farmland or strip mined areas, tried to skirt the edges of open areas. I think it helps to disguise your movements in addition to keeping you near natural rests.

I did take a deer one time in what you would call a modified "creedmore" position. I was laying on the ground, but sort of on my back, not your ordinary prone position. The deer was in some real thick cover and I had started by easing into a sitting position on a slight downslope. After I got my butt planted, I saw I needed to be lower to see under some low hanging hemlock boughs, so I just leaned back and shot one handed with the gun resting over my leg. I'm sure it would have given anyone watching a good laugh, but I got the deer.

[stumpjumper]

When I hunt outta stands, I us the rail that I have that wraps around that I us for a skirt or what not. If I'm sittin on the ground, either in a blind or just up against a tree I will use my knee or a branch, or maybe the tree it self. If I'm walkin' well I try to use a tree if available, drop & use my knee, or I will use my wiping stick if I'm carrying my muzzy. Were I live, & hunt, you usually wouldn't be able to lay out & take a shot like that.

[bounce]

I put shooting sticks, realy a mono pod by pole cat. laying on the ground is usualy not an opshion for me, but haveing a cane to help me travese rough ground is great and the fact that I can allso use it as a rest at any hight from standing to siting is just great by me.

[dakota]

Perhaps the question that is important, at least in my understanding is, "Do I practice shooting the rifle in the different positions I might be using in the field?"
When I go deer hunting, for instance it is rare that I even have the possibility of shooting prone (grass and brush). When I go antelope hunting, I won't have an opportunity to use a tree for a rest, normally. Examples could go on but I think my point is made. Does my shooting practice position match my hunting position.

[deputydon]

I use whatever is handy @ what ever postion is handy!!!!

[sebastian]

Lol.
I've killed more than one hundred pigs from 2000-2005. Tenths of small type deer. And hundreds of birds in my childhoodness ;D. I haven't hunt anymore recently. Most of the shots had taken by off hand, or by help's of tree branch etc. Perhaps just about 10-20 % from sitting position or prone. The fields i hunt didn't allow me to shoot from prone, or sitting (except from a "tree stand").
My best position is actually from sitting position. I've been able to shoot pig metals at 300meters in competitions easily with this position (almost 100%,which also lots of pressure situation, many spectators etc). For prone about 80%, for standing about 50%. The standard pig metal is about 22" long and 11" high, btw.
In real hunting situation, i can shoot a head shot easily up to 100meters with any of my rifles and almost for any condition (tired etc). Either for pig or the small type deer.

[jimh]

i've only shot one deer and one squirrel in the prone position. the deer came up on me from behind me while i was sitting on a hill side. i heard her (yea it was a doe and my very first deer at that) coming and i let myself fall to my back and i rolled over and onto my elbows. she walked right within about 15 yds and i drilled her with my 303. not much of a long range prone shot is it? didn't care i was pumped. the squirrel was almost the same exact thing except it was with my dan wesson .22 some years back. so i guess i'm saying i don't have any real experiance with it.

[twomoons]

As soon as I shoot the deer they go prone and stay that way until gutted. It's a knack.

[deputydon]

Say I think you've got it 2M's !!!!!

[calsibley]

I hunt woodchuck a good deal, and most of my shots are taken from a prone position, and with a bi-pod. I imagine it's quite different with a fairly powerful centerfire rifle in terms of recoil. Since your weight is downward instead of just rearward you're apt to feel it more as your elbows are likely to prevent your rolling with the punch so to speak. I try to keep my body at a 45 degre angle for that reason. I've never shot anything larger than a .308Win. from the prone position. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

[xphunter]

I appreciate Dakota's comments on practicing from field positions that you know or think you will use in the field. It gives a more realistic ability of what you can do compared to shooting at the bench and shooting a .5 or 1 inch group @ 100 yds.
All of my hunting is done with a handguns, primarily specialty handguns, but I do use revolvers some.
I get prone every opportunity I get, unless I have a ground blind that where I am seated and have a table-like blind.
In other words, the closer to the ground I can get the better ;D
I also carry shooting sticks with me and a Harris bi-pod (model # depends on the type of terrain I am in). I also shoot over a pack. I have only shot at and killed 2 deer off-hand with a handgun. One was a FA 454 Casuall and the other was my 7.82 Patriot XP-100. Ranges were 40 yards and 25-30 yards.
When using a bi-pod I have a small leather sandbag filled with crushed corn cob media (weight reduction) that I put under my pistol grip for fine reticle adjustment. When hunting in Colorado our style of hunting is spot-n-stalk and we will sometimes intentionally choose to NOT get as close as we can because there is a great natural rest to shoot from that is further back. If you can't get steady you don't have a prayer. For me, I would much rather shoot @ 350 yards with a good rest than I would @ 100 yards standing off-hand in field conditions while hunting.

[Purebred Redneck]

There we go, the last sentance said it all