2015 Long Range Hunting Shooting School with Non-Typical Outfitters
By Mike Trenholm
At a tent camp in the mountains of southwest Wyoming, way up in the Bridger-Teton National Forest, you can have a training experience that's a rare opportunity to improve your shooting and hunting skills.
First, let me say I've been involved in firearms training, instruction and competition since I was 15 years old. I'll leave it to say that was a LONG time ago. I also served 36 years in military and civilian law enforcement so I've attended more than the average shooter's amount of training for all types of firearms. Hunting has always been a passion, and since retirement has become an even larger passion in my life. One of my continuing priorities in the hunting fields has been to always avoid being "that guy," the one that too often comes into a hunt camp with minimal or nonexistent marksmanship skills, then misses or wounds game. We all know him and probably have hunted with him, and it's usually painful to observe.
So I seek out professional training, and shoot and hunt a lot. I've attended numerous rifle and hunting shooting schools over the years. Many are geared to basic and long range marksmanship. Very few are training the hunter to apply their shooting skills to the field in practical situations they are likely to encounter no matter where they hunt. This course offered by the cooperative effort of the Long Range Hunting Forum and Non Typical Outfitters scores big by putting the student into the field and training them to perform in challenging and difficult situations and conditions at various distances.
The class is based at a high mountain tent camp in a beautiful area. It's easily accessible in your truck or car (despite the logging truck traffic). It's a true mountain wall tent camp experience with large hard floored tents, comfortable cots with mattresses, a great mess hall, hot showers, electrical service and a truly professional staff. Robb Wiley of Non Typical Outfitters and his instructors for the course are all experienced guides, hunters and shooters themselves. The course offers shooters the chance to put both their gear and horse skills to the test under the watchful and experienced eyes of this crew.
One of the things a shooter/hunter can acquire from this training is a complete understanding of their capabilities AND limitations in real world situations. This is the kind of a class where the student should seriously consider using only their hunting rifles, ammunition and equipment. Also, make sure your gear is all working and up to speed so you can concentrate on the training experience, not gear, rifle or ammunition issues. I'm a big believer in training with what you carry. Bringing a 16 pound range rifle to the class won't give you a true idea of how your lighter mountain hunting rifle will perform for you when that trophy buck/bull/bear steps out. I brought my hunting rig in 6.5x55 topped with a S&B 3-12 power scope. I shot my hunting/long range loads of a Berger 130 grain VLD hunting bullet that has served me well for several years at both long range shooting schools and in the field on pronghorn and deer. This rifle and ammo combination was completely capable of handling every phase of the course.
You'll be exposed to a lot of great gear, optics and other options that'll likely give you cause to spend some of your cash after the class. Don't ask me how I know this!
By Mike Trenholm
At a tent camp in the mountains of southwest Wyoming, way up in the Bridger-Teton National Forest, you can have a training experience that's a rare opportunity to improve your shooting and hunting skills.
First, let me say I've been involved in firearms training, instruction and competition since I was 15 years old. I'll leave it to say that was a LONG time ago. I also served 36 years in military and civilian law enforcement so I've attended more than the average shooter's amount of training for all types of firearms. Hunting has always been a passion, and since retirement has become an even larger passion in my life. One of my continuing priorities in the hunting fields has been to always avoid being "that guy," the one that too often comes into a hunt camp with minimal or nonexistent marksmanship skills, then misses or wounds game. We all know him and probably have hunted with him, and it's usually painful to observe.
So I seek out professional training, and shoot and hunt a lot. I've attended numerous rifle and hunting shooting schools over the years. Many are geared to basic and long range marksmanship. Very few are training the hunter to apply their shooting skills to the field in practical situations they are likely to encounter no matter where they hunt. This course offered by the cooperative effort of the Long Range Hunting Forum and Non Typical Outfitters scores big by putting the student into the field and training them to perform in challenging and difficult situations and conditions at various distances.
The class is based at a high mountain tent camp in a beautiful area. It's easily accessible in your truck or car (despite the logging truck traffic). It's a true mountain wall tent camp experience with large hard floored tents, comfortable cots with mattresses, a great mess hall, hot showers, electrical service and a truly professional staff. Robb Wiley of Non Typical Outfitters and his instructors for the course are all experienced guides, hunters and shooters themselves. The course offers shooters the chance to put both their gear and horse skills to the test under the watchful and experienced eyes of this crew.
One of the things a shooter/hunter can acquire from this training is a complete understanding of their capabilities AND limitations in real world situations. This is the kind of a class where the student should seriously consider using only their hunting rifles, ammunition and equipment. Also, make sure your gear is all working and up to speed so you can concentrate on the training experience, not gear, rifle or ammunition issues. I'm a big believer in training with what you carry. Bringing a 16 pound range rifle to the class won't give you a true idea of how your lighter mountain hunting rifle will perform for you when that trophy buck/bull/bear steps out. I brought my hunting rig in 6.5x55 topped with a S&B 3-12 power scope. I shot my hunting/long range loads of a Berger 130 grain VLD hunting bullet that has served me well for several years at both long range shooting schools and in the field on pronghorn and deer. This rifle and ammo combination was completely capable of handling every phase of the course.
You'll be exposed to a lot of great gear, optics and other options that'll likely give you cause to spend some of your cash after the class. Don't ask me how I know this!
2015 Long Range Hunting Shooting School with Non-Typical Outfitters
Day 1 started with everyone getting together to introduce themselves and have a chance to talk about their prior experience and expectations for the class. We had a wide range of shooting and hunting experience sitting around the fire that first morning. The one common thread I observed was everyone present was very interested in real world shooting opportunities at various and long ranges.
We then moved to the range and verified or obtained a good zero on our rifles from a prone position. This warmup showed those not previously exposed to the higher altitude its effects on their previously set rifle zero. Most shot with rifle bipods, but some actually started the real world experience by shooting from their backpacks.
Next was a trip to a location set up with targets at various ranges on the mountainside, intended for shooters to get set up and test their dope out to 800 yards. This offers a new perspective, looking over the beautiful scenery and trying to locate and concentrate on the targets. Plus, banging steel the first day at these distances in the field instead of a flat range was a whole lot of fun. This was evident on the faces of all the shooters.
Day 2 started with a challenging 1285 yard target. The mechanics of shooting this target in the altitude, wind and elevation became evident. Everyone was put to the test and all fared very well, even if it took a few shots to get onto the target. Robb had some of his guys working with the group, spotting our hits and calling corrections. It was evident these guys were experienced and their assistance was a valuable shooting aid. Here's where your average hunting rifle is stretched and shows you what it is and isn't capable of.
The rest of the day the class was split up so smaller groups could work on other skill building exercises. Robb showed students how to build comfortable and rock solid shooting positions on very difficult and interesting terrain. Uphill, downhill, side hill and other positions were built, tried, improved and tried again using items carried by the shooters. We used our puffy coats in dry bags, tripods, backpacks and fellow shooters in new and interesting ways to make some difficult shots very possible. The key to building good field and unusual attitude positions (that's the pilot in me talking) is supporting yourself in a very natural and unstressed position. Oftentimes when your best position was set up, it was so comfortable it would have been easy to sit for long periods waiting for your game to offer a shot. I even got comfortable enough that it was difficult to stay awake in the afternoon sun following the great lunch we had. Shooters were even faced with a quick standing shot using only a small tree for support on an uphill target at 500 yards. The ideas presented have already proven themselves useful for me in the field on pronghorn, elk, varmint and deer hunts this fall.
Another guide and instructor had an excellent ability to teach from his background as a USMC instructor, presenting some great ideas and techniques for shooting off hand and unsupported from various positions. Students were challenged to use these positions from close up to longer ranges, always an interesting exercise in rifle control. We were introduced to the Hathcock position, a seated position that I had never been exposed to. Most found it very comfortable and stable, enabling excellent rifle control and shots at longer ranges. You can teach an old dog new tricks.
We moved through several locations and shooting positions. Each placed the shooters in situations that were uncomfortable and afforded plenty of opportunities to practice what we had been taught. It was also emphasized that shorter distances and times may present themselves to hunters in the mountains. We were pressed to set up quickly and make the shots. The added stress in these exercises really makes the hunter think about their techniques. Then add the altitude for us flatlanders, and breathing control always makes it interesting.
We then moved to the range and verified or obtained a good zero on our rifles from a prone position. This warmup showed those not previously exposed to the higher altitude its effects on their previously set rifle zero. Most shot with rifle bipods, but some actually started the real world experience by shooting from their backpacks.
Next was a trip to a location set up with targets at various ranges on the mountainside, intended for shooters to get set up and test their dope out to 800 yards. This offers a new perspective, looking over the beautiful scenery and trying to locate and concentrate on the targets. Plus, banging steel the first day at these distances in the field instead of a flat range was a whole lot of fun. This was evident on the faces of all the shooters.
Day 2 started with a challenging 1285 yard target. The mechanics of shooting this target in the altitude, wind and elevation became evident. Everyone was put to the test and all fared very well, even if it took a few shots to get onto the target. Robb had some of his guys working with the group, spotting our hits and calling corrections. It was evident these guys were experienced and their assistance was a valuable shooting aid. Here's where your average hunting rifle is stretched and shows you what it is and isn't capable of.
The rest of the day the class was split up so smaller groups could work on other skill building exercises. Robb showed students how to build comfortable and rock solid shooting positions on very difficult and interesting terrain. Uphill, downhill, side hill and other positions were built, tried, improved and tried again using items carried by the shooters. We used our puffy coats in dry bags, tripods, backpacks and fellow shooters in new and interesting ways to make some difficult shots very possible. The key to building good field and unusual attitude positions (that's the pilot in me talking) is supporting yourself in a very natural and unstressed position. Oftentimes when your best position was set up, it was so comfortable it would have been easy to sit for long periods waiting for your game to offer a shot. I even got comfortable enough that it was difficult to stay awake in the afternoon sun following the great lunch we had. Shooters were even faced with a quick standing shot using only a small tree for support on an uphill target at 500 yards. The ideas presented have already proven themselves useful for me in the field on pronghorn, elk, varmint and deer hunts this fall.
Another guide and instructor had an excellent ability to teach from his background as a USMC instructor, presenting some great ideas and techniques for shooting off hand and unsupported from various positions. Students were challenged to use these positions from close up to longer ranges, always an interesting exercise in rifle control. We were introduced to the Hathcock position, a seated position that I had never been exposed to. Most found it very comfortable and stable, enabling excellent rifle control and shots at longer ranges. You can teach an old dog new tricks.
We moved through several locations and shooting positions. Each placed the shooters in situations that were uncomfortable and afforded plenty of opportunities to practice what we had been taught. It was also emphasized that shorter distances and times may present themselves to hunters in the mountains. We were pressed to set up quickly and make the shots. The added stress in these exercises really makes the hunter think about their techniques. Then add the altitude for us flatlanders, and breathing control always makes it interesting.
2015 Long Range Hunting Shooting School with Non-Typical Outfitters
Another situation was set up to demonstrate the actual effects of high angle shooting at various ranges when encountering game sized targets. It was interesting to see the practical effects and issues with high angle shooting. Shooters left this course with a much better understanding of what is really needed for these shots at various distances.
At the end of each day we were treated to a great meal that made it difficult to stay awake very late into the evening. Hot showers are available for shooters and that usually made for an early evening for the students.
The third and last day presented the shooters with a chance to try their skills and gear out on horseback. Now I'm not a big fan of horses and had mentioned this to Robb and his crew. They did manage to find a ride for me that made it comfortable to ride up and down the mountains. I actually enjoyed the horse ride for the first time in my life! We were having such a great time we spent too much time afield to get back to camp and participate in the other exercise. It was a timed event planned for all the students that involved putting all the skills learned to use on targets at unknown distances and extreme angles. I'm sorry I missed that one.
At the end of this course, I can say it is absolutely some of the best training offered for the hunter/shooter I've ever encountered. Knowing what your capabilities AND limitations are will make that longer shot you may be presented with a real possibility, and you'll have the confidence to make the decision to shoot or not shoot. It's one thing to hit steel at longer ranges with several shots, walking into the steel target. It's totally something else to be trained, practiced and confident to do the same with your first shot on an animal that likely won't allow you additional tries to get on target.
I think this training would be of particular benefit for many shooters and hunters, especially someone with a big and expensive hunt on their calendar. If you are spending a lot of money on a great and promising hunt, not to mention travel expenses, licenses and gear, investing in training that improves your skill set will make that one first shot your best shot possible.
This course would also be ideal for a shooter who wants to not only improve their long range capabilities, but also their fieldcraft. The fieldcraft learned here will give the shooter the best chance of making longer shots ethically. Long range hunting is many things to many people. I think long range hunting is really where the hunter is assured of placing an ethical shot with 100% certainty. This course allows the hunter/shooter to find out what that range is for them.
The class was enjoyed by all. Everyone was challenged to limits that tested both shooters and gear. The accommodations, food, staff and location made for a truly enjoyable and educational experience that can benefit any hunter.
I want to emphasize that your best opportunity to take away the most that you can from this class is to bring and shoot your hunting rifle, ammo and gear. This course is geared to teaching practical applications for your next hunt. Come prepared to work out your rifle, scope, gear and yourself to their maximum capabilities and you won't be disappointed.
Mike Trenholm is an avid hunter, shooter and pilot. He is a retired law enforcement officer pilot with near 40 years of military and police experience including over 30 years as a police firearms and marksmanship instructor. Currently semi retired, Mike enjoys hunting all over the world with his wife and German Shorthair pointers. He also still spends a lot of time both conducting and receiving firearms training on both long guns and pistols. He works part-time as Pro Staff for a German rifle maker and Swedish ammunition manufacturer. Spending as much time as possible flying his Super Cub and enjoying the view from above in a much more leisurely manner is another way he enjoys spending his time
At the end of each day we were treated to a great meal that made it difficult to stay awake very late into the evening. Hot showers are available for shooters and that usually made for an early evening for the students.
The third and last day presented the shooters with a chance to try their skills and gear out on horseback. Now I'm not a big fan of horses and had mentioned this to Robb and his crew. They did manage to find a ride for me that made it comfortable to ride up and down the mountains. I actually enjoyed the horse ride for the first time in my life! We were having such a great time we spent too much time afield to get back to camp and participate in the other exercise. It was a timed event planned for all the students that involved putting all the skills learned to use on targets at unknown distances and extreme angles. I'm sorry I missed that one.
At the end of this course, I can say it is absolutely some of the best training offered for the hunter/shooter I've ever encountered. Knowing what your capabilities AND limitations are will make that longer shot you may be presented with a real possibility, and you'll have the confidence to make the decision to shoot or not shoot. It's one thing to hit steel at longer ranges with several shots, walking into the steel target. It's totally something else to be trained, practiced and confident to do the same with your first shot on an animal that likely won't allow you additional tries to get on target.
I think this training would be of particular benefit for many shooters and hunters, especially someone with a big and expensive hunt on their calendar. If you are spending a lot of money on a great and promising hunt, not to mention travel expenses, licenses and gear, investing in training that improves your skill set will make that one first shot your best shot possible.
This course would also be ideal for a shooter who wants to not only improve their long range capabilities, but also their fieldcraft. The fieldcraft learned here will give the shooter the best chance of making longer shots ethically. Long range hunting is many things to many people. I think long range hunting is really where the hunter is assured of placing an ethical shot with 100% certainty. This course allows the hunter/shooter to find out what that range is for them.
The class was enjoyed by all. Everyone was challenged to limits that tested both shooters and gear. The accommodations, food, staff and location made for a truly enjoyable and educational experience that can benefit any hunter.
I want to emphasize that your best opportunity to take away the most that you can from this class is to bring and shoot your hunting rifle, ammo and gear. This course is geared to teaching practical applications for your next hunt. Come prepared to work out your rifle, scope, gear and yourself to their maximum capabilities and you won't be disappointed.
Mike Trenholm is an avid hunter, shooter and pilot. He is a retired law enforcement officer pilot with near 40 years of military and police experience including over 30 years as a police firearms and marksmanship instructor. Currently semi retired, Mike enjoys hunting all over the world with his wife and German Shorthair pointers. He also still spends a lot of time both conducting and receiving firearms training on both long guns and pistols. He works part-time as Pro Staff for a German rifle maker and Swedish ammunition manufacturer. Spending as much time as possible flying his Super Cub and enjoying the view from above in a much more leisurely manner is another way he enjoys spending his time
