Hunting Shooting Position

Crossbow Hunting

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nchunterkw
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Hunting Shooting Position

Post by nchunterkw »

What is your typical shooting position when hunting?
How much do you practice from this position?

I hunt from the ground and shoot from a sitting position with elbows on knees or I use a mono-pod. Leading up to deer season this is how I practice. But to evaluate different arrows etc. I shoot from a table.
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gerald strine
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Re: Hunting Shooting Position

Post by gerald strine »

I pretty much do the same as you but also shoot 3d shoots to keep yardage estimation fresh and just for the fun of it.
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Re: Hunting Shooting Position

Post by Shakibods »

I mainly practice freehand both from the ground and elevated (small platform off of the pole barn), however, during the season, I'm in a ladder stand with the bow resting on the shooting rail. I actually feel much more confident this way, since if I am doing really well freehand, I know it is dead nuts from a solid platform. PS. I zero in from a bench rest.
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Re: Hunting Shooting Position

Post by wayne »

nchunterkw wrote:What is your typical shooting position when hunting?
How much do you practice from this position?

I hunt from the ground and shoot from a sitting position with elbows on knees or I use a mono-pod. Leading up to deer season this is how I practice. But to evaluate different arrows etc. I shoot from a table.

About the same as you, seated or kneeling a elbow resting on one knee. Tried the shooting stick & the mono-pod thing be did not like the extra movement of setting it up while on the ground.
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Re: Hunting Shooting Position

Post by masboy »

about the same sitting with arm or elbo on knee only bench rest and bags for testing arrows . I found when I sited in from benchrest and bags my poi was different from my sitting or freehand shooting
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Re: Hunting Shooting Position

Post by Bullzeye »

Sounds like a win win situation for you Hanken, and I'd say you won the lotto.
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Re: Hunting Shooting Position

Post by strum »

masboy wrote:about the same sitting with arm or elbo on knee only bench rest and bags for testing arrows . I found when I sited in from benchrest and bags my poi was different from my sitting or freehand shooting
same here.
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onebigskittle
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Re: Hunting Shooting Position

Post by onebigskittle »

I like to practice from a tree stand some and i place my deer target just anywhere and then range it as if i was hunting.It helps me alot to understand shot placement from above.I pulled up all my 20 30 40 50 yard stakes and now i place my block and bag targets out so i can range them also.I shoot from a bench then freehanded standing and sitting. I have leaned up against a tree as if i were taking a #2 because i have killed a deer once while i had my pants down taking a #2.Note:I dont practice with my pants down :wink: I like to shoot out of my ground blind and that is a challange,I have to sit way back to have room to shoot.
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Re: Hunting Shooting Position

Post by j.krug »

I hunt from a seated position either in a treestand or sitting on a chair in a ground blind. If possible the shot is taken with my elbow resting on my knee but this doesn't always happen as often it is neccessary to lean forward or rotate left/right to make the shot. :)
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Ont_Excal
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Re: Hunting Shooting Position

Post by Ont_Excal »

masboy wrote:about the same sitting with arm or elbo on knee only bench rest and bags for testing arrows . I found when I sited in from benchrest and bags my poi was different from my sitting or freehand shooting
I do not practice from the bench.
I use it to sight in the bow and then shoot free hand.
POI does not change, however my ability to repeat the perfect shot does.
This is where body control comes in to play and I use practice time to get better consistency.
Temperature, humidity and wind affect accuracy as well but do not change POI.
If I keep making scope adjustments, then I will end up chasing POI for ever.
Learned that the hard way with my vertical bow many years ago.
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Dash
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Re: Hunting Shooting Position

Post by Dash »

I used to be seated, or rested with one arm supported. But then switched to freehand. When game appeared from different angles it was hard to have the excact same support position, resulting in inconsistant shots from time to time. After a small period getting used to it I find my shooting is a lot more consistant now freehand.
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Re: Hunting Shooting Position

Post by nchunterkw »

Put 75 shots on one of Boo's strings yesterday and decided to do it all from a seated position on the ground. Definately a little harder as I had to get up and down for every shot but I think this or truly offhand will be my practice sessions for awhile. My accuracy was not as good at the beginning, but got better as I went. Probably muscle memory kicking in. Shooting alot in these hunting positions will definately get the right muscles stronger and that will result in better stability long term.
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Ont_Excal
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Re: Hunting Shooting Position

Post by Ont_Excal »

Absolutely.
Then when you do use the ground, fence post or some other aid, the shot should be more accurate from a more stable position.
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Re: Hunting Shooting Position

Post by DuckHunt »

I sight in from a bench. After that, every shot I take is free handed. Since most of my shots are 30 yards or less I seldom have a need for a rest. I just feel more comfortable that way since I do the same with my vertical bow and rifle.

Keep'em close and a rest isn't necessary.

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Re: Hunting Shooting Position

Post by Onetimeonly x--> »

That's a tough question. I think all the practice is great
for getting to know our Excals. Although when it's time
for the moment of truth it's about yardage and especially
shot placement. Making sure the exit wound is in the vital
area! I'll admit I'm a hypocrite writing this right now! Everything
sometimes happens so fast. What I've learned in Vbow hunting
was if I've made it to the point that I came to full draw it was game
on! That was half the battle getting to full draw without getting
busted! It's been a short career for me with the Xbow and I tell
myself I have a little more time. So shot placement is huge knowing
your bow is just as important! They say "practice makes prefect" not
much more you can say!
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