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.
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