Leaning Forward; 2021-2022 Season

[v8stang289]

Went out today to check a stand and place a trail cam on the property I hunt. Looks like we got really lucky. The main field the stand is in has peanuts planted, and the adjacent field is corn. A small creek runs inside the wood line on 2 sides of the peanut field. There are tracks and sign everywhere, and there was a doe grazing ~70 yards from the stand when I got there. Last year it was sweet potatoes and soy beans, and we saw several deer and killed a couple decent 8's. Hopefully this year will be good as well.
I do need to go back and clear a couple wasps nests in the near future though.



View from the base of my stand

 

[Chuck R.]

Another aspect of "leaning forward" = practice!

Three of us drew in for WY antelope this fall and will be hunting on a private ranch. Realizing we won't be in KS anymore, we've started practicing for the conditions we'll most likely encounter with our longer shooters; .243, .270, 300WSM. Actually the area in WY is similar to what we encounter in western KS (tall grass, prickly things that inhibit going prone, IV lines between shooter & TGT), but this gives us an excuse to practice. So Sunday we set up for 200-300yd practice in varying field positions:

Prone with bipod resting on back-pack (fairly stable 8" plate at 300 no issues)
Kneeling: Viable at 200, wouldn't risk on game greater distance.
Tripod and tripod with elbows rested on backpack in lap. Both easy to 300 on 8" plate. The elbows resting on backpack is positively my most steady. to me this is nearly "prone-ish" stable.

200&300, erect backpack with bipod:



We also sort of half-azzed timed how long it take to get into position to take a solid shot. That was another eye opener as to the viability of some positions. Also I've re-thought how I carry my Bog-Pod to carry it extended to sitting height. Next we're going to stretch the distances a little and actually use a mock-up "T" post fence.