Time to Engagement Once on Target

[B_Reynolds_AK]

Time to Engagement Once on Target

Over the years I've had numerous discussions with @Formidilosus and others regarding tripod shooting vs trekking poles & other improvised shooting positions, reticles, chassis vs stock and other techniques & tactics.

What has become apparent, is that without knowing the individuals most common shot distances and Time to Engagement once on target, you cannot apply a 'one size fits all' approach in regard to equipment and the methods used. Context matters.

Also, while rapid engagement is sometimes the best course of action, and knowing how to do that effectively is important, it isn't always needed.

With Sheep being my primary focus, I made a list below of the yardages and time to engagement once on target of each of the rams I've personally killed.

This is not the time from when I first spot the ram. It is the elapsed time once the stalk is over, my final shooting position is built, and then the shot is taken. Wait time variables being animal position, verifying legality, wind, visibility etc.

2017- 200 yds, 60 minutes.

2019- 100 yds, 90 minutes.

2020- 518 yds, 90 minutes.

2021- 320 yds, 30 minutes.

2022- 70 yds, 15 seconds.

2023- 40 yds, 10 seconds.

2023- 194 yds, 5 min.

2025- 585 yds, 125 minutes.


I thought this was interesting to see listed & would make for an interesting discussion, based on how real life situations played out and not just theory or hypotheticals. It also adds some context to my gear choices, recommendations etc.

 

[svivian]

I appreciate you adding the distance, i have always found I have more time for setup the farther out they are(in situations I cant get closer).

 

[43.6N]

Thank you for sharing.
I’ll contribute.

3 years ago I transitioned from primary archery to primary rifle for mule deer:

Time on target:
2023: 529yds, 30 sec. Buck transiting area looking for does.

2024: 320yds, 7 min. Waiting for fog to clear in order to get accurate range. Shot in his bed.

2025: 420yds, 12 min. Waiting for bedded buck to stand and vitals to clear brush/rock.

 

[Macintosh]

You lead off with 8 sheep in 9 years, which is sort of like Jimi Hendrix lighting his guitar on fire right before you walk on stage. Imma just sit for a minute and contemplate that.

 

[Castle Rock]

Great info, impressive that you documented it.
I mostly cull hunt and spend a lot of time setting up for multiple shots from the same position for maximum efficiency, but then the goal is to get a lot of hits so I m sort of doing what you do first, then what he advocates.

 

[Bluumoon]

2025

Caribou 1st encounter 500 yards, rifle in case cruising down river, pullover get rifle out, caribou bail when we stop.

Caribou 2nd encounter, 500 yards crossing river opening at a walk, 2 down in <1 min, from spotting to 1st shot maybe 30 secs. sitting hugging vertical pack for 1st shot-move up 10 yards prone over pack for follow ups. Animals died in place

Mule deer (personally not the shooter), spotted 130 yards, 60-90 seconds to shot, standing off fence post. DRT

Cow elk, spooked the herd, 150 yard dash to shooting position to catch them on opposing hillside moving away at 500 yards, maybe 30-45 secs to set up once in position with view, maybe 20 sec shooting window, laying pack over downed log inclined prone. Animal traveled additional 50-100 yards from 1st shot

Bull elk popped over rise and had us pegged in the open, 10-20 secs, 220 yards. Sitting off vertical pack. Animal traveled 20 yards

2024

Black bear 50 yards running away, whistle stop/turn shoot < ten seconds, was chasing bear prior to encounter, off hand. DRT

Cow elk under 50 yards in blow down, spooked, maybe 10 sec of intermittent sight, no shot.

Slow moving cow elk - 450 yards , multiple repositions to get view, maybe 3-5 min to get view, shooting window was 10-20 secs. Crossed hiking sticks up front- pack in rear sitting on incline. Animal died within 20 yards

Pards spooked cow elk, 150 yards after 50 yard dash, maybe 10-20 sec shooting window, off hand. Animal travelled 100-150 yards from 1st shot

Bull elk far, spent all day trying to get closer (no dice), 30 minutes to build position (guessing where they'd reappear), 10-15 minutes from seeing bulls to end of legal shooting light. Tripod up front crossed hiking poles in rear. Animal died in place

Maybe I'm a bad hunter not getting much time to shoot, but not a lot of missed opportunities either.

 

[benconfused]

Time to Engagement Once on Target

Over the years I've had numerous discussions with @Formidilosus and others regarding tripod shooting vs trekking poles & other improvised shooting positions, reticles, chassis vs stock and other techniques & tactics.

What has become apparent, is that without knowing the individuals most common shot distances and Time to Engagement once on target, you cannot apply a 'one size fits all' approach in regard to equipment and the methods used. Context matters.

Also, while rapid engagement is sometimes the best course of action, and knowing how to do that effectively is important, it isn't always needed.

With Sheep being my primary focus, I made a list below of the yardages and time to engagement once on target of each of the rams I've personally killed.

This is not the time from when I first spot the ram. It is the elapsed time once the stalk is over, my final shooting position is built, and then the shot is taken. Wait time variables being animal position, verifying legality, wind, visibility etc.

2017- 200 yds, 60 minutes.

2019- 100 yds, 90 minutes.

2020- 518 yds, 90 minutes.

2021- 320 yds, 30 minutes.

2022- 70 yds, 15 seconds.

2023- 40 yds, 10 seconds.

2023- 194 yds, 5 min.

2025- 585 yds, 125 minutes.


I thought this was interesting to see listed & would make for an interesting discussion, based on how real life situations played out and not just theory or hypotheticals. It also adds some context to my gear choices, recommendations etc.

For each of your shot distances, can you highlight the chosen shooting position and platform? Ex: Prone - bipod, or Sitting - tripod, etc.

Might be an additional (neat) data-point to consume.

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

2025

Caribou 1st encounter 500 yards, rifle in case cruising down river, pullover get rifle out, caribou bail when we stop.

Caribou 2nd encounter, 500 yards crossing river opening at a walk, 2 down in <1 min, from spotting to 1st shot maybe 30 secs.

Mule deer (personally not the shooter), spotted 130 yards, 60-90 seconds to shot

Cow elk, spooked the herd, 150 yard dash to shooting position to catch them on opposing hillside moving away at 500 yards, maybe 30-45 secs to set up once in position with view, maybe 20 sec shooting window

Bull elk popped over rise and had us pegged in the open, 10-20 secs, 220 yards.

2024

Black bear 50 yards running away, whistle stop/turn shoot < ten seconds, was chasing bear prior to encounter

Cow elk under 50 yards in blow down, spooked, maybe 10 sec of intermittent sight, no shot.

Slow moving cow elk - 450 yards , multiple repositions to get view, maybe 3-5 min to get view, shooting window was 10-20 secs

Pards spooked cow elk, 150 yards after 50 yard dash, maybe 10-20 sec shooting window

Bull elk far, spent all day trying to get closer (no dice), 30 minutes to build position (guessing where they'd reappear), 10-15 minutes from seeing bulls to end of legal shooting light.

Maybe I'm a bad hunter not getting much time to shoot, but not a lot of missed opportunities either.

It really shows how different hunting elk & caribou are from sheep. Being ready to capitalize on a situation though, whether it’s taken 2 hrs or 20 seconds to get there, is extremely important.

 

[Randy11]

Also- can you also please list how many push-ups you did within that time?

FFS boys, it's just hunting. Settle down.

 

[Bluumoon]

Also- can you also please list how many push-ups you did within that time?

FFS boys, it's just hunting. Settle down.

I think the point is to identify how things generally unfold for other hunters and how we can best practice to be prepared. If we are lucky we get 2-3 opportunities a year, that's not much personal experience to draw on. A lot of people don't have mentors/family to talk hunting with.