By Ryan McSparran
Montana – -(Ammoland.com)- We hope you’re getting excited about the 2018 hunting season. This time of year most of us are planning our fall hunts. And while you can quickly get caught up thinking about your travel plans and what gear you’re bringing, don’t forget the most important part.
You need to be getting some rifle practice! Don’t wait to check your rifle until weeks before your trip.
Practice starts now so that you can truly prepare to hunt.
A blown shooting opportunity can put a serious damper on any hunting trip. We’ve all been there, and it’s not a good feeling. The upcoming hunting season will be here before you know it.
Here are three rifle practice tips to get you started:
1. Step Away From the Bench Rest: Assuming that your rifle is already sighted in accurately, your next step is getting some real practice. Step away from the shooting bench and begin practicing in more realistic shooting positions. Try shooting offhand, on one knee, in a sitting position, and in the prone position. Here in the widely varied terrain of northern British Columbia, you never know what a shot opportunity is going to present. Being ready and confident in a number of positions will be a tremendous advantage.
If you use any shooting accessories like a bipod or sticks, you never want to show up on a hunt without having given them plenty of practice. If possible, go take a walk out somewhere near your home and practice using these items on the side of a steep bank or in other realistic positions. Make sure that you’re comfortable and that you can deploy them quickly.
2. Practice In Your Hunting Gear: Next, it’s time to practice in your hunting gear, including your clothing, binocular harness, backpack and any other accessories that might get in the way. Practice in the same positions we’ve already mentioned, but now do it with the rest of your hunting gear. See how quickly you can get into position, steady your rifle, and make the shot.
On a B.C. hunting trip, you can expect to be wearing your rain gear at least part of the time. And with the unpredictable weather here, there are times you might be totally bundled up. That really changes things from practicing at the rifle range in a t-shirt. Save yourself the frustration in the field and iron out those issues now.
3. Elevate Your Heart Rate: When you find yourself comfortable shooting in multiple positions and while wearing your hunting gear, it’s time to make the situations even more realistic. When you’re leveling your crosshairs on that giant moose, mountain caribou or mountain goat, there’s a good chance your heart will be pounding. You might be out of breath from a climb up a steep ridge, or from trying to move quickly through spruce or willow thickets. No matter the situation, practicing with an elevated heart rate will allow you to be more steady and confident when that critical moment comes.
Do whatever you can to elevate your heart rate just before taking a shot. If you have a place where it’s possible, run sprints between shots. If you don’t have that much space, try burpees or jumping jacks for one minute and then settling in for a shot.
After investing so much time, resource and energy on an awesome hunting experience, make sure that you’re ready for that one critical moment of the hunt. Take time over the next several months and show up for your hunt this fall feeling confident in your ability to make a shot, even under tough circumstances.
By Ryan McSparran for Kawdy Outfitters www.kawdyoutfitters.com
About Montana Hunting & Fishing News:
The Montana Hunting & Fishing News magazine, a FREE digital magazine for those who love to hunt and fish. March 2018 marks our 15th year of bringing hunting and fishing news and tips to our valued readers.
The Montana Hunting & Fishing News is available FREE digitally monthly February through December. Whether your passion is big game hunting or big game fishing, you’ll find valuable information in each issue.
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