Elk Hunting New Year's Resolutions: convention Your Shooting Skills

Over the past hunting season, we've heard many stories from guides who witnessed missed opportunities that were totally preventable. We'd like to offer some tips to help hunters get ready for a wilderness elk hunt and growth their chances of bringing home a trophy.

During the 2011 season, many of the missed opportunities were a succeed of shooting mistakes. It might come as a surprise, but over the past few years, we've seen more misses with rifles than with archery equipment. Bow hunters, who also missed shots during the archery season, aren't off the hook here either.

Rifle Scope

In an effort to help our hunters avoid these frustrations in the future, here are some of our recommendations on shooting.

First, it is leading to remember that nothing replaces consistent practice. With all the new technology in scopes, ammunition, rifles and bows, no shot is an self-acting kill. Hunters need to know their weapons, and that means constant practice. No estimate of technology can replace that.

Hunters heading west for a big game hunt should be shooting their rifles or bows year-round. Think about it this way. You're using your hard-earned vacation time on this trip. You're investing in the tour costs, outfitter fees, hunting licenses, clothing and gear. With all this invested into your hunt, authentically it's worth it to spend a few days a month at the range throughout the year.

Even if you use your rifle to hunt at home, big game hunting in Colorado could be a wholly different experience. We advise that our rifle hunters practice at distances out to 300 yards. Shots of this distance are very common where we hunt. Be sure you are ordinarily practicing shots between 200 and 300 yards for several months leading up to your hunt.

Bow hunters should be practicing consistently out to 60 yards. Even if your ethical limit is 40 yards (we'll discuss shot ethics in our next article), practicing at longer distances will make you much more unavoidable inside your comfortable hunting range.

Next, hunters must be ready to shoot under less-than-ideal conditions. This means out of breath, in bad weather and in awkward positions. When you feel you're unavoidable shooting at longer distances, add a new element to your practice. Sprint 50 yards, then pick up your rifle and shoot. Or practice shooting offhand and on one knee, knowing that when hunting on the ground, sitting and prone shots can be obstructed by vegetation.

Archers should use the same exercises. In an archery setup, a bull can always come in from a direction you didn't expect. Get in a position on the ground facing away from the target. Then practice turning your torso toward the target and hold steady at full draw for 30 seconds before releasing. This will help you get ready for the awkward shooting angles that can often unfold while elk hunting.

Next, practice with speed. Start with an unloaded rifle. Pretend you've just spotted a bull and have only a few seconds to shoot before he disappears into the timber. Room a round, level your sights and pull the trigger. Accomplish this practice over and over. Know confidently that if you're presented with a short window, you can make it count.

Finally, get rid of any unnecessary distractions. For example, forget the shooting sticks. If you practice consistently, you won't need them. And being unavoidable without them means you'll have those few high-priced seconds to level your crosshairs before that bull of your dreams walks out of your life forever.

Archers and rifle hunters, practice shooting in the clothing you will be wearing on your hunt. Make sure you can authentically get into shooting position without being obstructed by a piece of your clothing or equipment.

Just because your rifle shoots one-inch groups from a bench at 100 yards, doesn't mean you'll nail that 30-inch mule deer buck at 250 yards when you're sucking for oxygen at 10,000 feet. Or naturally because your bow can shoot tight groups consistently at the indoor range, doesn't mean you're ready. Put yourself to the test in realistic situations and come to be unavoidable in your ability to execute a clean, one-shot kill.

You've been dreaming of this hunt for months and you owe it to yourself to be ready for any opportunity. When that occasion finally comes along, do everything you can to make sure the trophy goes home with you. Good luck practicing this off-season!

Elk Hunting New Year's Resolutions: convention Your Shooting Skills

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