October 2021 - 25

estimate the wind and shoot. It sounds simple.
For those with hours of practice and experience
it is - or can be. The equipment is built for such
situations. The shooter must have the skill to
make it happen. I have five rifles, all chambered
in hot-shooting cartridges that are equipped
with adjustable turret scopes. Annually I shoot
500 to 750 rounds of ammunition, much of it
at long-range targets. It's fun. It's educational.
It grows skill and confidence. All that is good
until I'm hunting game. I won't shoot at a big
game animal that's more than 300 yards away.
Afraid of missing? No. I'm cautious that something
might go awry, like that great bull elk at
500 yards taking one step as I shoot. At that
distance it's not a miss, but a mistake I can't
take back. A paunch shot, not a clean miss.
Will it kill the bull? Absolutely. Will I be able
to find it? Hopefully. What if I don't? Years ago,
I resolved that unless I'm confident that I can
make a certain, lethal shot I won't take it.
Avoiding the miss
Enough about why we miss. What can hunters
do to make the shot count? For me, one of my
must-do imperatives is to use a rest whenever
I have the chance. Rocky outcroppings, trees,
stumps and other elements of landscapes steady
the rifle for a shot. When hunting in Wyoming's
endless prairie panoramas, I hunt with shooting
sticks, tripod or bipod. Each offers a rock-solid
shooting platform. The bipod attaches to the
forearm of a rifle and, depending on model, allows
hunters to shoot prone or sitting. Collapsible
shooting sticks store out of the way on my backpack
and can be quickly deployed when needed.
What's going on in a hunter's head has the
biggest impact on making the shot. My elk experience
is a classic example of " buck fever. " Having
reflected on that moment I've researched what
happened. When hunters first sight their prey the
body receives a burst of adrenaline. Blood pressure
spikes. Often hands become sweaty. The urge to
shoot now before it's too late cascades through
the mind. The antlers or horns become the focus,
not what needs to be done. I understand it all.
When I took that first shot at the bull elk, I was
looking at antlers, not his neck. The miss only
increased my anxiety.
Some hunting scenarios require an immediate
shot, but most allow time to collect our thoughts.
Snap-shots aren't needed. Controlled, well-placed
shots are presented. Breathing is critical. Stop,
concentrate on taking a deep breath and another
one. Focus on where you want to place the bullet.
One very successful hunter advises to look at only
where you are aiming. Ignore everything else. If
Being able to judge the distance between you and your target, along with the basics in ballistics, can increase your chances
of harvesting an animal. (Photo by Patrick Owen/WGFD)
there is a huge plus in off-season shooting, it is
that you practice trigger control. Instead of jerking
the shot, muscle memory kicks in and you
subconsciously squeeze the trigger.
Over the years, I've found growing success in
filling the family freezer with elk. My last bull
followed a cow out of a stand of timber 200 yards
away. She walked slowly broadside. He ran to stop
her and presented a straight-on target. Removing
my backpack, I tucked it under my left elbow
and rested the rifle on the stand I carried. I set
the crosshairs of the scope on his chest, took several
deep breaths and waited for a better angle
for the shot. Seconds ticked by. The bull turned
slightly which gave me a clear view of his shoulder.
I inhaled a deep breath, let part of it out and
squeezed the trigger. The rifle recoil took my eye
off him. It didn't matter. He was down.
Like any life journey experience teaches -
sometimes in excruciating ways - success in
the hunt often comes in a litany of almosts. Each
offers a lesson, but only if we understand the
why. Sometimes it takes missing to make the
next one count.
- Tim Christie is an outdoors writer based in Coeur d'Alene,
Idaho, and is a regular contributor to Wyoming Wildlife.
Understanding basic
ballistics tells us
as soon as a bullet
leaves the barrel
gravity begins to
take effect.
Wyoming Wildlife | 25

October 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of October 2021