Depends on how you hunt the timber IMO. Are you calling, tracking, or sitting in ambush? Each scenario presents different shot scenarios.
I hunt timber around 10,000’ during 2nd rifle OTC in CO, and there’s always snow on the ground. I sit in ambush at first and last shooting light and track in between.
Ambush: sitting on the ground in Crazy Creek backpacking chair for back support. Legs spread and knees at 90 degrees with heels dug into the snow. Elbows resting on knees with entire body rotated slightly toward shooting shoulder so support arm is further forward (see attached photo). This position allows you to scoot/swivel 180 degrees+ as needed depending on the elk’s approach.
Tracking: off hand standing. All three of my previous encounters have been jumping bulls out of their beds between 25-100 yards. They don’t give you much time but mine have always stopped broadside to look at me for a few seconds before running off. I switched to a red dot this year, which worked great since visibility is usually 100 yards max in the dark timber and shooting with both eyes open is much faster than a scope.
I dry practice in my basement with paper elk targets at two different heights, one for standing the other for sitting. And always with the gloves I use hunting (wool liners for tracking and 3-finger mittens for sitting).
Shot this year’s bull in the heart at 100 yards off hand while tracking, so I highly recommend it. There just isn’t time or need for a rest in the dark timber with enough practice IMO. Enjoy the simplicity! It’s a nice reprieve from all the messing around with rest/rangefinder/dialing/etc for long range hunting shots.
