I'm kind of a newbee when it comes to handgun hunting. I took my first doe last season from a tree stand and after sending my first shot (one handed and around the back side of the tree) straight up the port backstrap, realized I need to practice more from actual field-shooting positions. Hundreds of shots later, I've found I'm most consistant sitting (on the ground) with my wrists resting on my knees and the muzzle supported by a set of shooting sticks. Positioned as such, I can consistantly place consecutive shots in a 4 inch target at 50 yards. I was just wondering what positions other handgunners employ in the field. By the way, the aforementioned doe ran about 25 yards after being hit and I was subsiquently able to put a good double lung shot on her for the kill.

I also use a sitting position, but with my forearms resting on the inside of my knees. If I can not get to that position due to time, I will kneel with my leg opposite my trigger hand under me and brace my trigger hand on the other bent knee. I shoot ambidextrously, so it works with either leg/hand combo.

I've used the sitting position when hunting deer though if they come up on my right side I shoot one handed.I used to do lots of metallic handgun shooting and found that shootoing up or down hill changes things .Up hill tends to shoot high, down hill tends to shoot low.Practice in the same conditions as you hunt.

I've shot deer and deer-sized game from textbook standing (Weaver) & kneeling positions, jackass versions of kneeling & sitting, improvised rest, and over shooting sticks, at ranges from 20 to 90 yards. They all work, but in the words of The Man "If you can get closer, get closer. If you can get steadier, get steadier."

I carry a backpack not only for some creature-comforts and necessary gear, but also to be used as a shooting platform. This works well with single-shots and not so well with revolvers. Otherwise, I have used about every conceivable means to rest my handgun to steady myself to take a shot at game. At one time, I had a deer stand with a small forked tree at it. Shot many a deer with my Contender propped in the fork of that tree.

If you hike with a pair of trecking poles, you can double up the hand straps to make very stable bipod that is just the right height for taking a solid standing shot.

when I rest the barrel on something, it tends to shoot differently than if the frame is rested on the something.
I like to sit with my back against a post, stump, tree with my forearms rested on inner knees(Elmer Keith style?). If I'm standing, I do better if I can lean against a tree with my left arm.
Sounds like you did fine with the one hand around the tree. This is a good argument for not having your loads so hot that you can't shoot one handed.
I know I'm terrible about finding out just how much can I get out of a gun. I am makeing some progress on being satified with moderate loads, especially if they are more accurate.
I'll be hunting with a cane this year, so I'll have to see if I can use it as a rest.