Tips for getting a steady shot in the backcountry.

[Schoolhousegrizz]

Of course there are times when I can get prone in the backcountry in the mountainous terrain and I almost always make the shot. There have been a few times lately where I just can't seem to get as steady as I want. I've used trekking poles, bipods but If I can't get prone my shooting range diminishes by at least half.

Anyone got any tips or tricks or equipment out there that has worked for you? I would love to hear it. Thank you so much!

 

[Bowhuntone]

When using your trekking poles loop the straps together and cross the poles to make a hammock for the forearm and then use backpack to steady / rest the butt on to get rock steady

 

[Jason Snyder]

Practice sitting, standing and kneeling in the offseason.

I’m pretty comfortable shooting out to 400 yards from a seated position, over the top of my pack. If you can get a front rest and a pack at the rear it’s even better.

I find it’s pretty rare for me to be able to shoot from prone because of topography and/or vegetation.

 

[Schoolhousegrizz]

When using your trekking poles loop the straps together and cross the poles to make a hammock for the forearm and then use backpack to steady / rest the butt on to get rock steady

I was messing around with that very thing in my front yard the other day. Getting weird looks from the neighbors . I have looped the poles together on the trekking poles, but you are right the back still needs to be steady. I'm going to practice this, thank you. I've even done it before where I put my tripod at the butt and it has worked. Sometimes it feels like I don't have time but I guess that is when you don't take the shot if you don't feel ready.

 

[FOS373]

Practice sitting, standing and kneeling in the offseason.

I’m pretty comfortable shooting out to 400 yards from a seated position, over the top of my pack. If you can get a front rest and a pack at the rear it’s even better.

I find it’s pretty rare for me to be able to shoot from prone because of topography and/or vegetation.

^^this^^

The more comfortable you are being uncomfortable, the better everything will be.

I’ve always kind of joked that you should do a bunch of burpees or jumping jacks just before practice shooting to get the heart rate up.

 

[Wrench]

Carry a small saw to clear a shooting lane or make a rest. A long endless paracord sling can be looped around a tree, from a branch....etc. you simply have to make yourself shoot improvised position shots to make it happen. You then learn to limit your range based on your platform.....if prone and a rear rest give you 800, a bag on a stump gives you 600 a tree sling may be 300.

 

[waspocrew]

Like others above, practice in the offseason is going to pay a ton when it counts. I try to get prone if possible, but if I can't try building support with poles up front/tripod and using your pack for a rear support.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

I went arca rails on rifles to clip into tripod but that FHF V attachment that goes on a tripod legs works pretty well. Duct tape it on, sitting and using a pack for rear support, could consistently shoot 400 yards without issue. Got me a lot more stable than crossing trekking poles. The biggest thing is practice though.

 

[StuckoYota99]

Carbon fiber tripod with a 40mm head.
arca rail and I use my bone saw to cut shooting lanes.
Rock solid standing, sitting, and prone.
I'll also use a small lightweight shooting bag for a rear rest.

Check out modern day sniper tripod shooting videos on YouTube

 

[Silver Wings]

I don’t know what your access to an area to practice is, but that is the real key to getting better and having a solid feel for your capabilities in various positions. I bought a .223 this year to get in more practice cheaply. It’s made a huge difference in my capabilities and confidence. I have max distances based on position and wind locked in…if I can’t get inside that distance I don’t shoot. I hope to add distance for next season with more practice, but I’ll base that on my performance between now and then.

 

[Schoolhousegrizz]

Well thanks so much everyone just what I was hoping for. Keep them coming

 

[Pharmseller]

I use Primos Trigger Sticks tripod, the sitting height. Small, lightweight, quick to set up, surprisingly stable.




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[mxgsfmdpx]

Practice for thousands of rounds and shots like the below video become a reality. If I only ever shot prone or from a bench I would suck at seated shots too.

 

[Phaseolus]

I have two Tikka T 3’s. My game rifle is 30.06, the other is .223. I have the same scope on both and shoot the .223 a lot. Great practice and I use a mono pod in this practice because I carry it elk hunting.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

The beauty of the Spartan bipod system is how quick it is to deploy and take off. Or leave it on when stalking in, etc. It takes around 3 seconds or less to deploy or remove. I keep a short bipod in my bino harness or pocket and the long bipod down the back of my shirt or jacket, strapped to pack, left on gun, etc.

Timed seated shots with trekking poles are the only thing that’s almost as quick as a Spartan bipod. Still not as fast and guys fuss more with finding the right “height” instead of already having the bipod height set correctly and moving their body to build the position and get a shot off quickly. I also find it more stable to have my offhand in the same position as my standard prone position, versus trying to pinch the gun in the “V” of trekking poles with my off hand. Try both and shoot for 10-20 shot groups and see what works.

Adding a pack for rear support in this position is nearly as stable as prone for me. With no rear rest but having something to rest my back against, it is also very stable. Back to back with a hunting partner works great, a tree or rock or vehicles tire etc. is even better. I am repeatable seated with no rear rest as below, out to around 600 yards on a 10-12” target.




Tripods downfall is they are by far the slowest. Tripods are viable if you have ample time to setup or are ambushing an animal you’ve glassed up. Otherwise they are pretty much useless for shooting quickly.

Fixed bipods suck because they get in the way of off pack and prone shots and make offhand shots more off balanced. I also just hate carrying a gun with some clunky bipod hanging off the fore end.

 

[Koda_]

Of course there are times when I can get prone in the backcountry in the mountainous terrain and I almost always make the shot. There have been a few times lately where I just can't seem to get as steady as I want. I've used trekking poles, bipods but If I can't get prone my shooting range diminishes by at least half.

Anyone got any tips or tricks or equipment out there that has worked for you? I would love to hear it. Thank you so much!

Get yourself some Quickstix trekking pole adapters by Wiser Precision to turn your trekking poles into shooting sticks. Or just buy some dedicated shooting sticks. IMO I find shooting sticks the most valuable shooting solution, if using the adapters with 3pc trekking poles it makes for more height adjustments in the field.

 

[Hoodie]

I was also going to mention the Wiser Precision Quik-Stix. Great tool that adds very little weight.