First off, get your mind out of the gutter. Now the question is, given a chance, what position do you prefer to shoot from when hunting? Mine is sitting because to me, it offers the best combination of accuracy, freedom of movement on moving targets, and usually adequate clearance over grass, etc. What's yours?

It seems to me that a hunter in the field only has the position that is dictated by the animal. Thus, while, I agree with your views on a sitting position (I shot woodchucks up to perhaps 500 yards from that position) I was a white tail deer hunter and therefore compelled most times to shoot from a standing position if I was walking them up. (Even while hunting from a stand, I really used to actually stand -leaning against a tree -and using the tree for a support for my shoulder for those rare occasions when I had spotted a deer before he spotted me. I hope you get a lot of responses from Westerners because I really would like to hear how bighorn sheep and mountain goats are usually shot at. (I never had the opportunity to hunt either one and always had wanted to. Now there's a long shot and I would think that a sitting position would be about right -but, of course, I don't know from any experience)

What Gerry said is pretty much what happens. If I am spot and stalk mode, then what ever position I can take the shot from. If off hand then I try to find a rest, if its under 100 yards then off hand is acceptable to me. If I am hunting Couse Deer I prefer prone if the landscape permits. Shots are usually at long distance. If not then my second choice is sitting.

Standing with a vertical rest - left arm resting on vertical rest (tree trunk or something). If shots are long, prone. A bipod is ideal, but since I hate carrying them, mostly a pack, rock or whatever will have to do.

- mike

One way that I never have cared to shoot is prone. I know it's the best rest etc, I have always prefered to sit and shoot off sticks.

I have sat in treestands most of my hunting life so that being said....sitting is my favorite but I dont mind standing and useing a tree for a rest either.

I prefer standing, followed by sitting, lying down, and then kneeling.

When standing I prefer leaning into something; sticks, tree, a rock, something. I pride myself on making killing shots, not wing-an-a-prayer or Hail Marys.

Lying down is for specific situations. Can't do it many times due to obstructions.

Kneeling I'm not very stable, and I did it once, quickly, and damaged my kneecap on a small pointed rock. That won't happen again.

I find that the majority of game animals I shoot are from a sitting position with my left arm using the sling. Just because you can't count on Deer and Elk to cooperate very well when you want to shoot them and sometimes really steep terrain or high brush and grass has made me use about every shooting position imagineable. Sometimes prone over a backpack or log, sometimes offhand while using a sling sometimes just offhand, sometimes leaning against a tree or sometimes (seldom) using a branch for a rest.
I'm convinced that the best shooter in the field is the rifleman that can find or make or make do with any available rest in any field situation and resort to an un aided shot only as a last resort.
This opinion may be different for someone who doesn't hunt in the mountainous west so take it for what it is, my opinion.

I have a camoed 5 gallon bucket with a pad on top and a carry strap. If I'm sitting on the bucket with my back against a tree I'm in my favorite position. My right elbow goes on my knee and I lean on the side of the tree with my back -- its almost a benchrest.

Almost all are variations of sitting or offhand positions. I practice offhand a lot, and kill a lot of game offhand as well, obviously I'll take a rest if time allows. Often it doesn't, especially on old whitetail bucks.

quote:

Originally posted by mho:
Standing with a vertical rest - left arm resting on vertical rest (tree trunk or something). If shots are long, prone. A bipod is ideal, but since I hate carrying them, mostly a pack, rock or whatever will have to do.

- mike

I agree. It is rare that you come across an (unaware) game animal that you can't find a tree, fence post, or other makeshift rest to steady your shot. The standing shot is frequently the only one available to you if there is tall grass or other cover.

Prone is great if the terrain allows and you can find a place to lie down that is not full of grassburrs, goatheads, red ants, or other unpleasant occupants.

Sitting is a viable compromise when you can't find a standing rest. Sitting with a vertical rest is the best of both worlds.

Offhand, while a laudable skill, should be reserved for quick or close shots or moving game.

Like you, sitting is my preference. Prone would be my second choice.

By the way, I'll leave my mind in the gutter thank you .

Ken....

Anything solid and quick. often times I don't have time or the terrain to get in my best position which is prone

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:

quote:

Originally posted by mho:
Standing with a vertical rest - left arm resting on vertical rest (tree trunk or something). If shots are long, prone. A bipod is ideal, but since I hate carrying them, mostly a pack, rock or whatever will have to do.

- mike

I agree. It is rare that you come across an (unaware) game animal that you can't find a tree, fence post, or other makeshift rest to steady your shot. The standing shot is frequently the only one available to you if there is tall grass or other cover.

Prone is great if the terrain allows and you can find a place to lie down that is not full of grassburrs, goatheads, red ants, or other unpleasant occupants.

Sitting is a viable compromise when you can't find a standing rest. Sitting with a vertical rest is the best of both worlds.

Offhand, while a laudable skill, should be reserved for quick or close shots or moving game.

I agree with this post by Stonecreek. Prone is great, but so many time it isn't possible. Standing with a rest is fine so long as the shot isn't too far or hurried. I carry the short Stony sticks in my day pack or sticking out my back pocket for sitting wih a vertical rest. They work well for glassing too. If I space and forget them a simple pair of lashed sticks work well too.

JPK

The situation dictates my shot. If I am sitting under my tree bear, deer, or turkey hunting, I like to shoot from sitting.

If walking, I prefer kneeling as long as I can drop down without spooking the game, if not, Offhand(slowly raising the gun).

Prone is first choice, followed by rested on stationary object(tree, rock, etc.)

Sitting

Sitting.

From the truck! ... just kidding.

I too prefer to shoot sitting, preferably with some shooting sticks or a branch/rock/stump to provide a solid rest.

Standing with a rest and sitting.

Standing off hand, shooting at an elephant at less than 10 yards.

Other than the above I try to shoot prone when ever I can, or off of a rock, fallen tree etc.

I try to get as steady as I can.

I have shot kneeling quite a bit when hunting.

Not as steady as sitting, but faster.

MyNameIsEarl:

I see that you are from Arizona. I had forgotten to add to my list of mountain sheep and goats another real game animal in your neck of the woods - the pronghorn antelope. (As you might guess I always admired two kinds of shots at big game - the quick snap shot in woods as I had at white tails -and the careful aimed shot at a critter like the pronghorn antelope at long range)

By far my favorite, time and terrain permitting is prone with my rifle on my pack. I've never failed to drop an animal when I can get into that solid a rest. My second would be sitting with stony point sticks, and third kneeling on one leg for a quick close ( <50 yard ) shot. If I ever go to Africa I'll need to spend some time standing on sticks as I have a hard time getting steady standing.

-Sean

Sitting over sticks #1
Sitting without Sticks #2
Indian Squat to get a bit more height and aquire position faster #3
Kneeling #4
whatever else it takes: fence post, tree, or buddy rest, standing. Last

I have learned to go down this decision tree very fast in the last 40 years

quote:

Originally posted by Blacktailer:
First off, get your mind out of the gutter. Now the question is, given a chance, what position do you prefer to shoot from when hunting? Mine is sitting because to me, it offers the best combination of accuracy, freedom of movement on moving targets, and usually adequate clearance over grass, etc. What's yours?

Way most of the time, I shoot from prone. Sage flat shooting, there's plenty of time to set up and it's best to stay low for concealment. Woods shooting is a little different, I'll still look for a steady rest. I vary rarely shoot from a standing position, just not that good at it.

Pass me the cross sticks. I carry a two stick set here in Idaho, they're as steady as I can shoot.

Rich

I've always found standing up leaning against a solid object (like a rock or fence post) to work best for me followed by sitting with shooting sticks.

I like to stand with my weight against a tree. If there is a limb available or a second tree to lean the rifle against that is even better.

Sitting is fine and is what I start out trying to do but I have found that most of my shots end up kneeling using one knee as a rest. It is the quickest way to set up solidly from a walk and allows for a lot more varied terrain than prone.

I have bipods and have had sticks and never got comfortable particularly with any shot at a moving animal at reasonable ranges.

Kneeling lets me get set up fast and track a deer or elk that isn't staying put.

Kneeling on my right knee, with my left elbow resting on my left knee.

Most of the animals I have harvested were shot from this position. Followed by prone, then standing using a tree as a rest.