Why so much emphasis on super fast prone shots?

[omicron1792]

I killed this buck when we were moving through some country, I didn’t see him until he and his does saw me. I got prone and made the 318 yd shot in less than a minute of him spooking. He and his does paused at that point to look back before going over the ridge. He slid/rolled down into the creek bottom. That is why sometimes you need to make a fast prone shot

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That’s a unique and cool looking buck.

 

[KurtR]

the last elk i shot in Idaho was prone. The last 15 plus deer i have killed have been prone. I have shot a few off sticks but im getting on the bi pods almost every time

 

[WCB]

I would and have done the same for that exact shot opportunity. But that's rare in the experience of my family and those I hunt with.

Our animals last year were killed in MT Regions 7 and 4. Plenty open. Not a single one could have been shot prone due to brush/grass height.

I would think, as a guide, (and I would do the same) you subconsciously or on purpose seek out shot locations that are more likely to have prone opportunities since that is the highest probability shot for clients, a lot of which, kind of suck with a rifle.

I would seek out locations with the best available rest in the situation. Plenty of times I found rocks or dead falls a hunter could sit or kneel behind. Or even trees the could stand and shoot from. I would say guiding elk in the Gravelly Range guys took more sitting or kneeling than prone. Mule Deer, Whitetail, and Antelope east of the Crazies...prone by a wide margin.

Myself between MT, WY, ND with a rifle I think 3 out of the 11 animals I can remember were all prone (including Mule Deer, Whitetail, Antelope and Bear)...including "quick" shots on spooked game. The 3 that weren't prone: 1 was off hand on a running deer and the other 2 were sitting off the top of my pack on a deer.

I personally think that not enough emphasis is made on properly setting up quickly. More times than not I wanted to bash my head against a rock waiting for a guy to get set up of take a shot.

 

[wind gypsy]

Read through 2 pages thus far but i'm still not sure i can recall any emphasis on shooting fast from the prone on here?

 

[7RemMag]

Read through 2 pages thus far but i'm still not sure i can recall any emphasis on shooting fast from the prone on here?

I think a lot of guys here, including myself after rereading my comment, answered the question without answering the question for the most part. Lots of anecdotes pointing out that, regardless of prone or not, it pays to be capable of setting up as quickly and efficiently as possible.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Read through 2 pages thus far but i'm still not sure i can recall any emphasis on shooting fast from the prone on here?

As far as I can tell, it started here: Don’t need no rear bag - S2H University

Don’t need no rear bag - S2H University

I thought I pass this along. It pains me to ponder the amount of time I’ve spent researching and money spent buying rear bags. And then figuring out how to carry and deploy them in the field. Last week at the Shoot2hunt University I was shown that was basically a complete waste of time! I’m...

r.tapatalk.com

____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

 

[greyghostnw]

I totally agree Ryan.
The quippy response was uncalled for however. I was asking a very genuine question about opportunities and nothing about training.



You see what you want to see. I can't control what you assume about my intentions...
I also can't control how long people continue to respond here.

It's interesting how many people are claiming to take the VAST majority of shots prone. That honestly shocks me.

And as I stated in the very first post, that was my actual inquiry. The attacks on my intent are eye opening and lead me to think I am not really interested in participating here much any more. I see that more and more from members here as time goes on. It's pretty discouraging and disappointing. Especially when it comes from the owner of the site.

If one specifically hunts high country above timber from a ridge and locates animals below or across from them as i do i feel comfortable saying nearly 100% of shots are prone. We all have our style and approach on this though…ive never not been able to be prone if desired…Not sure why it would be surprising. If one cant find a spot on the fly to be prone and set up quickly or not it would be shocking to me. Jus sayin….

 

[wind gypsy]

I totally agree Ryan.
The quippy response was uncalled for however. I was asking a very genuine question about opportunities and nothing about training.



You see what you want to see. I can't control what you assume about my intentions...
I also can't control how long people continue to respond here.

It's interesting how many people are claiming to take the VAST majority of shots prone. That honestly shocks me.

And as I stated in the very first post, that was my actual inquiry. The attacks on my intent are eye opening and lead me to think I am not really interested in participating here much any more. I see that more and more from members here as time goes on. It's pretty discouraging and disappointing. Especially when it comes from the owner of the site.

You can be frustrated by how others may have interpreted your post but also maybe take a step back to consider how it might have felt like there were some jabs being thrown their way. The bolded from your OP could pretty easily come off as a slight to one's hunting ability or ability to make ethical shot selections whether it was intended that way or not.

I just don't get it. I'm wracking my brain about the times when I needed to get off a prone shot fast and seconds mattered and I can't think of any. Not one. Any shot that might have needed urgency was while stalking and was offhand or supported from a tree or something nearby.

Are people not working on finding and getting within shot range of animals that are totally unaware of their presence? Are people just seeing moving animals at a range where a prone shot is necessary and hoping they have enough time to get a rushed shot off? At a moving animal? Because if that animal is not moving and unaware of your presence, you have time to not rush.

What am I missing here? I honestly don't see it.

In regards to the OP, i already mentioned that I don't recall reading into any emphasis on getting prone quickly. Going from standing to making a solid shot quickly, definitely, as has been covered plenty in this thread.

Until tested with the "equip vs practice" drill, mock stages with others, or in competitions on the clock, i probably thought my ability to get into position and make a shot was pretty solid. Fast forward to yard sale'ing, tipping over my tripod, re-ranging targets because i forgot the range/dope, or any other of the many shortcomings when tested in conditions out of my control and i can absolutely see some shortcomings.

I've shot animals that I hoped my friends would shoot but they were unable to get a good shot off timely and Ive definitely lost shot opportunities because of my inability to range and engage fast enough. None of that is prone specific though.

I think ive only shot a couple western animals truly prone. "Modified prone" with some kind of front and rear support more so or seated supported.

 

[ReaptheHeat]

I can't see a scenario where you would not want to move as quickly as possible to set-up a shot. Practice and this "rushed" feeling is just muscle memory and no longer rushed to the shooter, but maybe rushed to an observer not used to this type of proficiency and speed.

Sometimes stuff happens quick or slow. We can't usually determine how an animal will react. Tons of opportunities over the years passed by me or others because we weren't set up quick enough for an animal feeding through a small opening, broadside shot, spooked, etc.

 

[WeiserBucks]

The simple takeaway is this:

When it’s time to start killing, repetition and subconscious execution gets the killing done.

 

[cal30_sniper]

This whole thread seems to be passive aggressive nonsense crafted by the OP to stir the beans, but…

Prone shot from a backpack. 276yds across a flat rock canyon. He’d already spotted me, and I’d guess was seconds from busting out of there:


My last elk was about 325yds. It was a weird bag+bipod arched back prone shot. Only position I could get into and get a shot through several layers of piñon overlap. Loose rock canyon in between that Kit Carson probably wouldn’t have gotten through without spooking the herd out of the unit. I’d already slithered in from over 800yds trying to find the right ridge for a shot.

I hunt the desert Southwest mostly. The terrain is mostly broken and grass free, and often with scrub that you can see through better from your belly. That terrain has dictated a majority of prone shots for me. Whitetails back east was an offhand man’s game. Texas whitetails was all about the hood of the truck or use the window of the blind for a rest.

Surely you can see that terrain will dictate the shot, and no animal is going to just sit there and wait for you to shoot it given the opportunity to do something else (even if it doesn’t know you’re there)?

There is no possible downside to being faster, more accurate, and better prepared.

 

[Steve300xcw]

It's interesting how many people are claiming to take the VAST majority of shots prone. That honestly shocks me.

Agreed

The attacks on my intent are eye opening and lead me to think I am not really interested in participating here much any more. I see that more and more from members here as time goes on. It's pretty discouraging and disappointing. Especially when it comes from the owner of the site.

Agreed. Sadly it seems to be the norm these days. Oh well I 'spose. Was nice while it lasted

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Dropping to the ground to lay quickly when there's probably cactus, protruding rocks, sticks, whatever waiting for me just doesn't make any sense. Especially when my expensive binos are attached to my chest.

You say you are surprised most have taken prone shots (I am one of those people and well before joining rokslide). I don’t care if stuff pokes me if it means I can deliver the most stable shot I am capable of. My binos in a bino harness are in no danger.

If the option is available (it’s not always obviously) it doesn’t make any sense to me why someone wouldn’t choose prone even if they get poked or such for a moment.

 

[Steve300xcw]

It does amaze me, how with all the practicing and "training" yall do. How little, if any offhand shooting is done. Seems like that would be one of the more important ones to be freshed up on..?

 

[ianpadron]

I see you got the jump to conclusions game for Christmas.

This has zero to do with what you said.

Being proficient isn’t what I’m asking about all, though it seems most here made that assumption for some reason.

I simply don’t see all these rushed prone shot opportunities. I guess others hunt in ways that they do. But it seems lots here also don’t.

Proficient and efficient are not synonymous.

A shooter could very well be proficient (consistently hits what he's trying to hit) if he takes a full minute to set-up, range, dial, adjust, etc. An efficient shooter does all of that faster.

I'm honestly blown away that guys aren't experiencing this stuff first hand in the field. As I shared earlier...timing has very much made a difference on my hunts.

 

[Conrad101st]

I shoot offhand all the time too. Best way is to take your AK or AR pig hunting. Walk around and just blast them when you see them.

If I’m in dark timber I like to sit and shoot over my knee or ruck.

But if I’m shooting more than 150 yards I’m either shooting off a tree rest or trekking poles if seated, or if I’m prone I use a ruck or bipod.

Any way you shake it, I’m always in a hurry to get on target!

 

[KurtR]

It does amaze me, how with all the practicing and "training" yall do. How little, if any offhand shooting is done. Seems like that would be one of the more important ones to be freshed up on..?

In the 34 years I have hunted I shot one deer off hand. It was my first one at 12. From that point I learned how to use the terrain and deer movements out here on the prairie so I would be ready and not have to shoot off hand.

 

[Steve300xcw]

In the 34 years I have hunted I shot one deer off hand. It was my first one at 12. From that point I learned how to use the terrain and deer movements out here on the prairie so I would be ready and not have to shoot off hand.

I dont hunt the prairie. And i am for sure not a bow hunter......But I do wonder how many bow hunters shoot from the prone position?

Inside 200yrds, why offhand isnt a thought..I do not know

 

[The Guide]

I dont hunt the prairie. And i am for sure not a bow hunter......But I do wonder how many bow hunters shoot from the prone position?

Inside 200yrds, why offhand isnt a thought..I do not know

They only use prone for bow hunting past 200 yards.

Jay

 

[cal30_sniper]

It does amaze me, how with all the practicing and "training" yall do. How little, if any offhand shooting is done. Seems like that would be one of the more important ones to be freshed up on..?

Who’s this y’all you speak of? The straw men you keep throwing up?

The Hunter drill that seems to have you and Marshfly so lathered up has a 1:1 ratio of shots fired offhand vs shots fired prone if you’re cycling through it as designed.