Recently, I had the opportunity to hunt black bear in Idaho with part of our Outdoor Solutions team. Before the hunt, we met with our outfitter and explained our hunting style preference – spot and stalk with shooting opportunities ranging from 300 to 600 yards.
Part of our job at Outdoor Solutions is teaching clients how to shoot long range and prepare them for hunting out west where the shooting distances can be quite a bit further than what they might be used to. In addition to teaching hands- on classes, we also produce videos with shooting tips geared specifically towards hunters. In fact, just before this hunt, I personally filmed a video on how to prep for a hunt on the range to increase your odds of success in the field.
Below, I’m going to share the tips from the video. However, the problem with sharing advice with others is remembering that advice also applies to the person offering it. More on that later.
Preparing for a hunting trip involves more than just packing your gear and heading to the wilderness. One of the critical aspects of a successful hunt is not only properly setting up your rifle but also understanding your personal limitations as well as the limitations of your gear. Whether you’re chasing bears in Idaho or elk in New Mexico, knowing how to zero your rifle and practice from various shooting positions at different distances can significantly increase your chances of success.
SELECTING YOUR RIFLE, AMMO, AND OPTICS
Choosing the right rifle caliber, ammo, and optics is the first step in preparing for a hunt, but just as important is knowing what to expect when it comes to your average shot distance for your upcoming hunt. Since I knew my maximum shot range would be 600 yards (self-imposed), I chose a setup that I am very familiar with and have used on many hunts.
· Rifle: Benelli Lupo
· Caliber: .300 Win Mag
· Ammunition: Federal Premium Cartridge with a Barnes TSX 180 grain
· Optics: Zeiss Conquest V4 4-16x50
I’ve used this exact setup on many hunts, including my brown bear in Alaska (with a Zeiss V6 1-6 optic), numerous elk and deer hunts, and several other black bears. I know my ballistics, my drops, and my limitations with this setup. My limitations being the distance of 600 yards, which still allows plenty of velocity and maximum expansion of the bullet to ensure a quick kill.
ZEROING YOUR RIFLE
Zeroing your rifle is crucial. Start by setting up at a range and firing a series of shots from a steady bench to ensure your optics are aligned with your barrel. Here’s one of the first mistakes hunters make at the range – only practicing from a bench. Instead, replicate the conditions you’ll face in the field. Zeroing from a bench and then transitioning to real-life shooting positions helps in understanding how your rifle behaves under different conditions.
SHOOTING POSITIONS
In the field, you won’t have the luxury of a bench rest. Therefore, practicing various shooting positions is essential. Here are some common ones:
1. Seated Tripod Position
· I have shot more animals from this position than any other. Using a tripod can provide a stable shooting platform. Practice sitting and resting your fore stock on the tripod, just forward enough to have it balanced in the tripod. I also like to place one of our shooting bags or my backpack on my right thigh (left for left-handed shooters) and dig my elbow in for another point of contact to give me even more stability.
2. Prone Position
· Hands down the most stable position in the field. Lying flat on your stomach while resting your rifle on your backpack, deadfall, or a bipod with your body in line with your rifle can offer significant stability. (Pro Tip: If you have something you can put under the butt of your stock, such as the bags we use in our long-range classes, your bino harness, or a rolled-up jacket, this will give you a tremendous amount of stability in the field.) This position is ideal for long-range shots but might not always be possible in dense foliage or uneven terrain.
3. Natural Deadfall and Improvised Rests
· Probably the second most used option on my hunts. I’ve utilized natural features like logs, rocks, trees, fence posts, or even my backpack to steady my shot. Practicing with these improvised rests will make you more adaptable in real hunting scenarios.
MEASURING ACCURACY AND CONSISTENCY AT LONGER DISTANCES
Using tools like a digital caliper to measure your groupings at 100 yards can help you understand your accuracy. Most of us are looking for minute of angle (MOA) grouping or better. But what’s even more important is what those groups look like at the far end of your shooting limits. This is why it’s important to practice at these extended distances and not just assume that because you are sub- MOA at 100 yards, you are good at 600 yards.
BACK TO THE HUNT
As I mentioned, Hunting Manager Lindsey Maas, Lead Instructor Ryan Pettis, and I were hunting Idaho black bear with one of our approved outfitters. Ryan and I were hunting, and Lindsey, when not sleeping by the campfire, was filming our hunt. Ryan’s ideal hunt was a blonde bear at long distance, 600+ yards. On day three, our outfitter, Jessie, dialed up exactly what Ryan asked for. Jessie, Lindsey, and I were putting our packs on to go to my spot when one of the guys whispered, “Bear!” Sure enough, 724 yards out was a very nice blonde bear cruising the drainage across from us. In no time, Ryan was prone behind his rifle, waiting for instructions to “send it.” Jessie determined it was indeed a “very nice” blonde bear. Ryan wasted no time in sending 195 grains of bad intentions from his .28 Nosler towards the bear. Not only did the bear drop in its tracks, but it didn’t even move a little bit after it dropped. This is where knowing your gear, a lot of practice, and many other factors come into play.
Fast forward to day five of our hunt, the exact same drainage, exact same vantage point, 704 yards away, we spotted another massive blonde bear within minutes of arriving. Remember my self-imposed 600-yard limit? I chose that limit because, at that distance, I still have a velocity of 2,000 fps and energy of 1,500 ft-lb, allowing the Barnes 180 TSX to achieve maximum expansion.
As a side note, we had not planned on hunting this particular spot but were just using it as our staging area. Lindsey, our outfitter, and I were going back another mile or so to a spot that would allow for about a 400-yard shot.
My 600-yard limit went out the window when I heard our outfitter state that this was “the biggest blonde bear he had ever seen.” Like Ryan, I got into a prone position, had plenty of time to make the necessary adjustments, check my wind, and wait for the bear to present a good shot. I should also mention, in addition to having Lindsey behind the camera, I had Ryan and one of the guides as spotters and Ryan giving me wind calls, so we had plenty of eyeballs on the situation.
After a good six or seven minutes, the bear finally gave me the opportunity I needed. I sent a well-executed shot, was able to stay in my scope, and saw nothing. I saw no impact, saw the bear step back, look around, and walk off into the timber. There was a bit of confusion as to what actually happened, with everything from “I think you got him” to “You went right over his back.” Having two cameras on the bear, we had the luxury of rewinding, zooming in, and watching the footage. After reviewing multiple times, we determined I had missed right, which was behind the bear. I had a left-to-right wind and only held about 1 MOA when I needed to hold about 3 MOA.
MORAL OF THE STORY
It doesn’t matter how much you practice or even how perfectly you practice; if you don’t follow through on the limitations you set for yourself and/or your equipment, you will more than likely end in disappointment. We all get excited when something we’ve been hunting for days finally gives us an opportunity, but don’t let the “trophy” outweigh common sense. I was extremely lucky that I did not wound the bear. I walked away from this hunt humbled and grateful, and the bear walked off to see another day. I will take this lesson into elk season with me this October.
For more information about Outdoor Solutions, go to www.outdoorsloutionscorp.com.
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