Deer Hunting: Offhand or Rested?

[ChristopherG]

I'm interested in starting deer hunting this year, and am practicing with the two guns I would consider using (a 357 carbine and a 6" 41 mag revolver). My hunting would be in wooded areas, and I would not anticipate having--or taking--shots over 75 or so yards with the carbine, somewhat less w/pistol. I understand the importance of accuracy, and the need to know my own limitations--but I have this question about training:

How many shots in the field do you take offhand vs. from a rest of some sort?

My shooting experience with both rifle and revolver has been largely in action-shooting (IDPA & 3-gun--though also a bit of silhouette, standing offhand). In those disciplines, I have found that using a rest is rarely beneficial, because it so slows the rate of recovery. Obviously, hunting is a different 'game', and I can imagine plenty of situations where a convenient brace on a trunk or even rest on a branch would be beneficial. But I'm wondering how you experienced hunters have actually found it to be in the field, and how you practice as a result. And--how do you deal with the difference in POI when shooing braced vs. offhand?

How many of your actual hunting shots have been offhand, and how many from some kind of rest? When you practice for a hunt, how do you practice? From what positions, and using what kind of rests, or not? Thanks as always for sharing your experience.

 

[Harve Curry]

Hello Christopher G,
The POI should not be that different from what you get shooting off a rest. With practice that is. I notice big guys shoot my guns lower then I do . But I shoot them close to the same POI from a bench and offhand.

 

[one-shot-one]

%?

i'd say that on big game deer and up i'm 90% from some kind of a rest even if it is just a tree or log 10% offhand simply because nothing was availble with out chancing spooking the game.
small game rabbits, squirle etc. would probably be 60% offhand and 40% rest.
if you have an availble rest i think it is best to utilize it.

 

[10ptr]

If I'm in any of my tree stands, they all have rests. When set up on the ground, I pick a spot where I wil have something to steady my shot. I have killed a good amount of deer in my day, and have only taked one off had shot (at a running 6 pointer at 90 yards with a .30-.30. I hit him square in the base of the skull. I think there was a little luck involved on that one.)

 

[Mossy Bloke]

I couldn't even tell you.

I've killed dozens of deer in my life and I would say that it's been something like 70% from a rest.

But I've got to tell you, you need to be proficient either way. There are plenty of times that I've killed a deer walking back to my truck on an old road or whatever with nothing to rest my gun on. Practice a bit both ways so you're ready.

Chances of wounding them are far greater offhand, but you do what you need to do. A responsible hunter knows his limitations.

 

[ChristopherG]

be proficient either way...Practice a bit both ways so you're ready...A responsible hunter knows his limitations.

Sounds like solid advice, and I'll take it.

Thanks to everyone for the replies.

 

[Ktulu]

How many shots in the field do you take offhand vs. from a rest of some sort?

If support is available, it should always be taken advantage of. Taking life is a serious matter and the hunter should make every effort to do it as cleanly as possible. Almost all of my shots have been from some kind of rest.

Shooting your first deer can be very exciting. There is really no way to practice for that. Become competent shooting from all positions. It shouldn't take much time to figure out how to shoot from a rest so spend more time at the offhand and sitting positions.

I would suggest using the rifle until you get some experience.

 

[444]

I guess I am in the minority here, but I don't recall ever taking a big game animal while using a rest. The vast majority of my shots have been off-hand. I remember shooting an elk from a classic kneeling position. I have shot a couple deer from a sitting postion: sometimes with my back against a tree, other times in a formal target shooting sitting position.
Some of this, of course, depends on where you hunt. Here in my home state of Nevada, there arn't a lot of trees and you usually don't just sit in one spot and wait for the deer to come by. I am usually walking when I see deer and am usually totally in the open. If the animal is some distance away I take the time to assume a more solid postion. If the animal is closer and I think it will spook before I can take a postion, I shoot off-hand. I have taken two elk. One was off-hand encountered while walking. The other one occured when I was sitting still: I heard some shots and expected the elk to run by, but I couldn't see the area from where I was sitting, so I walked forward a little to where I could see and assumed a kneeling position because that was a low as I could get and still see.
While eastern whitetail hunting I have always been sitting, usually leaning against a tree.
I suppose if I was living in the east, I might have a tree stand and shoot from a rest.
As far as training, I practice off-hand exclusively. I figure, if I can make the shot off-hand, then I should be able to make it if I have a steadier position. I have a set of small bore silhouettes and I shoot them with a .22 rifle. With my big game rifles, I usually load up some very light loads and do a little off-hand shooting but not a whole lot.

 

[TallPine]

My deer hunting MO is to sit with my back against a tree with a field of view of a well travelled deer trail, or an opening where they will come out to feed, etc. Of course, this is scouted out in advance.

Then I can rest an elbow on each thigh and have a secure shot.

Except for last year, when I rested my rifle on the railing of my front deck ....

 

[H&Hhunter]

I tend to hunt dark timber and thick brush so most of my shots tend to be offhand and quick for both deer and elk. But if I've got time to take a rest there is no doubt that I do it...

Like the man said be proficient both ways and you can't go wrong.

And have fun, you'll love it!!!

 

[Slingster]

I'd say around 90% of my shots on game have been from a supported position as opposed to off-hand. Usually it's an improvised rest on trees, branches, etc., sometimes with and sometimes without sling support as well. I firmly believe in the old adage: "If you can get closer, get closer; if you can get steadier, get steadier." Taking an animal's life is too serious a business not to take every measure you can to assure a quick, clean kill.

On the other hand, I must admit that some of my most satisfying shots on game have been close-range off-hand snap shots...

 

[mete]

Practice offhand. When you've mastered that you'll have it easier when using a rest and rest your hand or forearm on a log not the gun. The problem is that you never know where the deer is coming from -left side , right side , rear, front - so you have to be able to get them under any situation. And practice with one hand too! If they come up on you're right side using one hand involves less movement on your part. My biggest deer ever I got when my left hand was in a cast !!

 

[Matt G]

Well, lemme think, here:

First one, a rest, from about 140 yds.

Then another'n, from a rest.

Another, I stalked into an open field for about 100 yds before taking a shot from prone over my backpack at 300+ yds. I suppose that was a rest.

Then a decent follow-up shot while standing unsupported at ~130 yards on a running deer that I had plum missed at about 100 yds. Shrug.
Crummy + Satisfactory / 2 = Mediocre at Best ?

Another unsupported shot (with rifle) connected after (ahem) some offhand pistol shots that didn't connect.

Two more, deer just happened in front of me at ~40 yards. One I dropped to a knee to shoot, the other I just snap-shot. Both fell just as dead.

Couple of does from a rest.

Coupla javelina popped with pistol from offhand standing at 20 yds and 15 yds. Another popped with pistol from sitting with knees as support from ~50 yards. (Does that count as a rest or not?!?)

A couple of nice bucks fell while I hunted from "stands" (tractor tire, and windmill), both shot from supported positions.

 

[OH25shooter]

My experience shooting deer with a scoped rifle or shotgun has all been off hand. Like many hunters, I've used a tree stand or propped myself against a tree or large log. Waiting and waiting...nothing. Then when I get up to move/stalk, along comes a deer. So, it has been mostly off hand quick shots. If your quite and move very slowly, more than likely you'll need that sudden off hand shot.

 

[mohican]

an observation from slug gun country

A lot of people won't sight in from the bench, in large part because of the pounding from a 12 guage shooting slugs. Many people (and wrongly so) will shoot off hand at pop cans and so forth. I tell them that's fine if they keep that as their max range....

I've sighted in a fair amount of slug shooting shotguns for people, but I always insist on them shooting of the bench and off hand and making adjustments if needed

Most of the shots taken in my neck of the woods during gun season are off hand

Ironically, the shortest shot I've taken on deer with a shotgun was from a sitting, rested position (about 7-10 feet, even with the scope at 1.5x all was hair) and the longest was taken free standing, off hand (about 125 yards). Both resulted in deer piled up at my feet.

Mossy gave the words to live and hunt by "I've killed dozens of deer in my life and I would say that it's been something like 70% from a rest.

But I've got to tell you, you need to be proficient either way. There are plenty of times that I've killed a deer walking back to my truck on an old road or whatever with nothing to rest my gun on. Practice a bit both ways so you're ready.

Chances of wounding them are far greater offhand, but you do what you need to do. A responsible hunter knows his limitations."

 

[ReadyontheRight]

I've typically used a rest of some sort. I will often find a blowdown tree to climb up on or lean against to break up my pattern. Sometimes I sit down with my back against a big tree like turkey hunting. If sitting, I have my knee as a rest. If in a deerstand, I either have shooting rails if standing or my knee if sitting.

I'm pretty comfortable shooting offhand out to about 100 yards, I'm just not slow and quiet enough to get close to a deer while walking, and I refuse to shoot at a scampering tail.

 

[Johnny Guest]

Mostly "rested" in some manner - -

My deer have almost all been taken with some sort of rest, or else sitting with a sling. Probably less than ten per cent have been Offhand, or standing unsupported.

I consider shooting offhand only when the animal is so close that to take a steadier position risks spooking it. At such a range, the loss of precision without a rest is mostly insignificance. If there's time and such, I ALWAYS take the steadiest position available, just out of respect for the game.

Best,
Johnny

 

[JShirley]

I'm close to 50-50, I think.

Take a rest if you reasonably can, esp. with a pistol. OTOH, I seem to shoot better at moving deer offhand- all the years of shotgun shooting, I suppose.

John

 

[Diggler]

Ironically, the shortest shot I've taken on deer with a shotgun was from a sitting, rested position (about 7-10 feet, even with the scope at 1.5x all was hair) and the longest was taken free standing, off hand (about 125 yards). Both resulted in deer piled up at my feet.

Did the deer at 125 yards charge you??