Just wandering what other folks do and/or believe is necessary to be well prepared regarding marksmanship for elk season.

-How many practice shots leading up to the season?
-Types of shooting positions to practice?
-Practice ranges?
-Practice targets?
-etc.

This topic can certainly vary based on the type country an individual is hunting but this seems like a good subject.

Thanks
lutheran

I shot a Long Range Rifle Silhouette match this morning. Normally shoot 2-3 matches per month (long range and rimfire) plus additional range time for working up loads, practice etc. The number of shooting matches drops off quite a bit during hunting season but I typically shoot about 1500 rds of .308 and another 800-1200 of 223 and other centerfires per year. about 3K in rimfire. Shot my elk at 439 (lasered) yds last season and it didn't seem dificult at all. I know others here shoot at much longer distances, but I'm trying to stretch out my range. You'll be amazed how much you will improve by shooting from a standing position rather than just hunkering down on a sand bag...
John

I prefer to take my 22-250 out in the desert and shoot at stuff. Any stuff where I can tell if I've hit it or not. Shoot from different positions. I've never shot an elk from a bench but I've shot lots of them from sitting or prone positions...with my head downhill and my feet tangled up in brush. For rests, I've used limbs, trunks, my pack numerous times, rocks, etc. I've never had a Lead Sled in the field. I like to practice like I'm likely to shoot one.

Pretty much the same here...I practice at the range...leaning on poles, sitting, kneeling...anything but the bench...no benches or rests where I hunt either.....
In answer to the OP...for elk I will ( used to...) practice out to a measured 500 yds.....mostly I'd shoot at 200 and 300 yds. And Hundreds of rounds will be fired before each season from shooting positions...

I have an advantage in that I'm only 7 miles from BLM land that extends from so. Idaho south clear through NV. About 15 miles from me is a deep canyon with vertical walls. Pigeons love the place. It's good practice to use a 22 cal of some kind to try to pop them on the rocks. They make a tiny target at 150 yds when hanging over a rock for a rest.

The main thing is you go out and pull the trigger atleast every weekend to keep from getting rusty. Practice all the fundamentals. I'm not going to list them becasue we all know what they are. As long as your practicing you'll be golden. Practice at different yardages too in different positions. The only time you need your bench is when you are working up that awesome load. I shoot off the bench quite a bit, but still take time out for shooting offhand, sitting, etc. I recently made up some shooting sticks to try since the "hunting" rifle shoot I'm going to next saturday will require me to use them in conjunction with 3 other shooting (field) positions. That's another thing, if you belong to a gun club maybe you can get them interested in having different shoots to keep you from getting rusty. The club I belong to has bowling pin, golf ball, milk jug, rimfire, centerfire, hunting rifle, pistol, and trap shooting events. Great way to keep yourself up on your marksmanship. Most importantly, make damn sure your rifle is shooting great (I prefer my rifles to all shoot less than 1 moa consistantly and check them periodically off the bench to make sure they still are). I use a 338 win mag for elk hunting and don't shoot it very often. I've got other rifles that emulate this heavy kicker and they are the ones I practice with (from 223 to 30-06). I'll take the 338 out a week before season and make sure it is still dialed in and it usually doesn't need any adjustment. It's a damn good shooter and I am totally confident that it will get the job done. Here's how this one in particullar shoots:







Ruger M77 MKII 338 win mag W/ 2.5-10x40 elite 4200 W/firefly reticle.

One thing I have to add is everyone's skill set and ability varies. Your question may be a little ambigious and may depend on your level of ability. I grew up shooting jackrabbits in Nevada and all my shots were offhand and many were from the back of a moving pickup truck . One thing I've thought about recently is offhand shooting usually seperates the men from the boys. I've got a friend that had to get down on one knee and shoot a deer a couple of years ago at 60 yards and I always thought that was kind of funny (but to each his own I guess).

I practice at my gun club using a 6.5/06 in various shooting positions 2 months prior to the hunt. The rifle is the same as my .338 model 70 Win mag & .338/06....same trigger pull, same stock except the .338/06 is a featherweight stock. No big deal.
I always end with shooting the .338 Win mag several times.

A month before the season or trip, I practice more in the field at 250, 350 & 450 yards. I also practice quick shots at 50, 100 yards. Once again various shooting positions and prone especially over my pack. I do this twice a week, plus shoot coyotes etc. too with my 6.5/06 model 70 Winny.

The best thing you can do is take your hunting rifle and attend Gunsite 270 or Randy Cain's Practical Rifle class. If you have a rifle you can't shoot 80-90 rounds/day you probably have way too much rifle.

If you shoot 80-90 rounds/day your rifle barrel will probably be worn out by hunting season . If you need to shoot 80-90 rounds per day you better take up golf. To each his own.

I run a shoot out here in phoenix several times a year.



we shoot at life sized animal targets at realistic distances of 100 to 400 yds, from field positions. I keep it to 5 shot strings to avoiding heating up barrels. We shoot maybe 25 to 35 rounds in a morning's shoot and I often use a different rifle for each stage.

http://arizona-rifleshooting.com/hunting-rifle-shoot-PRGC.html

I just built a full sized elk target for this weekend's shoot, I'll post pics when I can.

Poole

A good practice technique is to dry fire a few minutes every day. Start from the carry position, practice mounting the rifle smoothly, getting on target and squeezing off the shot, WITH GOOD FOLLOW THROUGH! Cycle the action with the rifle at your shoulder while watching the target and fire two follow up shots. Also, practice dropping into a sitting or kneeling position.
Dry firing doesn't replace real shooting but is a good supplement to it.
I'd also do a fair amount of offhand shooting both because sometimes you have to shoot offhand, and offhand shooting shows up all your weak points.

I didn't mean 80rds/day x 365, 80rds/day for the 3-5 day course.

John Burns can do things most of us can't do with a rifle, he burns up a barrel (or more) every year, you think there might be a connection there?

I believe you need variety and a combination of shooting to prepare for elk hunting.I even think it is important to shoot some trap and sporting clays to prepare. Shooting pistols helps your rifle shooting as well.

Round Count? For me I would guess 7-10,000 rounds a year. The bulk of it is 22LR probably 5,000 rounds minimum.

The rest is mostly .22 Magnum, .223,.30-06 and .338 Win Mag.
If I get an antlerless tag I use one of my "collection" to fill the tag. This year it will be a .308 Norma or 7x61 Sharpe & Hart.

I shoot targets [targets show how you really did] with centerfire and rimfire most of the year, I plink away from the range about once a month and hunt a variety of varmints with sage rats and gray diggers being the most numerous. I try to find time to coyote hunt as well.

Practice Positions? A lot of my practice is indoor at night. There I shoot at the paper silhouette targets off hand, kneeling, sitting and prone I allow myself only two rounds per silhouette, the second fired without lowering the rifle from the shoulder if necessary. I practice the same positions outdoors but vary the target.. If I am shoting from a bench I try to approximate field positionsas much as possible. I sling up, use my pack, shoot off shooting sticks, lean against a tree or post, etc.

Practice Ranges?; I have easily available ranges out to 300 yards. Longer is available but it must be planned. Since I zero my rifles at 3-3.5" high at 100 yards and then shoot at known distances to confirm zero this is not too inconvenient.
Where I go to field shoot centerfires I have up to 700 yards. I use a laser range finder to verify the range as I am shooting across a canyon.

-Practice Targets?; Paper, clay birds, silhouettes, metal gongs, spinner targets, varmints.

Etc. A couple of things to vary your practice.

1.The more hunting I do prior to elk season the better I seem to do.If it is Starlings with an air rifle it is more beneficial to me than strict practice.

2.Drill A; My favorite drill is to shoot one shot each from offhand, kneeling, sitting, prone and one more offhand from 100 yards using my '06 rifle. I try to do it in one breathing cycle per shot. By the end of summer I can usually keep all the rounds in the 6 in center of a pie plate. With my .338 and other rifles with three round magazines this requires a reload.

3.Drill B;Double Taps- This is best done in a gravel pit with tincans, empty propane bottles and clay targets. If possible shoot with a partner. Shoot at the chosen target two times in rapid succession, take the weapon down from your shoulder and if you hit both times shoot again. With a partner, if you miss, it is your partner's turn.

Hardest part about elk hunting is finding them, and the physical demands of the country. Making the shot should be a moot point...

Dogcatcher, it should be if he's got hundreds of thousands of rounds under his belt like many here, but what if he doesn't?? For a lot of us it seems so natural because we've done it so many times, the crosshairs find their mark and blam before we know it the real work begins . I'll agree though, "finding them" is the hardest part. We owe it to the animal to be practiced up so we can make that humane kill shot.

I honestly don't practice that much, but I've been shooting the same rifle for 30 years, with some modifications. I'm used to it, and it's used to me. 2 lb trigger pull, which helps. But...practice from offhand, using an aspen tree to steady the rifle, using your pack on a bush, etc. What Col. Cooper calls "jackass" positions in the field. Elk don't stand in front of bench rests that often. I even used a backpack folding chair for a rest once, at a pretty long distance.

Good advice offered by all. For me it comes down to doing three things:

1) Spend some time at the range learning the mechanics of the rifle I'm going to use - making sure it's dialed in, and I'm dialed into it.

2) Spend some time in the field - targets from field positions, small game, and varmints.

3) This one is a bit different - shoot a shotgun a lot. Birds and clays. It really helped me with identifying and focusing on the target, mounting the gun, picking a spot, and getting the shot off at the right time (either quickly, or knowing I needed to wait a moment). I've seen so many guys that shoot rifles a lot just not be able to get it done on a target that isn't a motionless piece of paper with a bullseye printed on it...

When you don't have access to shoot as much as you'd like, practice by dry firing. You can practice many positions and get a rhythm/habit pattern down. With a couple of snap caps you can even get used to taking two quick shots. Doing this will make the opportunities to shoot for real much more productive.

I do shoot handgun about once a month now and may take a lever gun in.357,44mag, 38-40 or such out also. Sometimes muzzle loader.However I really don't practice much anymore.

I could not tell anyone with 100% accuracy how long it has been since I did not shoot an elk every year, but it has been a long time.

My .06 elk rifle has been with me many years and I know how to shoot it.Most of my elk kills are within 100 yards with this rifle, many 50 yards or so. The close ones I shoot off hand. The ones a little further out,I usually find a rest or my pack.I have carried shooting sticks for several years,but have never found an instance where I could use them. Either I don't have time or I can find a more stable rest.

When I do have time for a rest,I usually can find one just as stable as any bench.I won't handicap myself firing off hand, kneeling,sitting or even prone ,if I can find and use a better rest.I can shoot with those methods, but there if a better way is better way, I won't.

Ive found that the vast majority of the guys in my ELK camp can shoot decent groups of a bench rest but it takes a great deal of experience and skill gained over time to shoot a consistent 3" or smaller group shooting from a sitting or standing position at 100 yards in the field.
when you can do that consistently youll be fine.
we generally practice using a 1.5" orange dot on a 10" paper plate backer , at the range and shoot off hand with a sling and sitting with a sling. a bench rest is great for getting the RIFLE and SCOPE sighted in, but its practice from field positions thats most useful, Id also suggest sighting in so the bullets 3" high at 100 yards
and if you learn to shoot both fairly fast and accurately thats a huge advantage, and get to understand game anatomy, and trajectorys
http://www.targetz.com/targets01.htm

http://www.targetz.com/targetzlib/10110.pdf

The big thing for me is to (re)learn how to shoot quickly, alot faster than I tend to shoot from the bench.
Shooting practice also means getting into and out of your field positions rapidly. It means working the action and getting off those following shots. It means recognizing any bad habits and correcting them.
It is also a great way to test and retest the rifle and the load for performance. One thing I don't do much of is long range practice. Too much chance to wound and have to chase an elk at much over 300 yds. That and I've found that making that first shot go right where it needs to be requires too much work to be consistant at the longer ranges.
Like many here, I shoot alot of different guns. But in the months before the hunt, I shoot my hunting rifles until I'm completely confident in using them. BTW, that doesn't take 80 plus rds. a day. E

Well, there's just rifle practice in general. Most elk rifles and loads are capable far beyond what their operators are capable of, so, some intermediate-range practice (and gear)- say out to 450, 500 yards- would seem to me to be in order. I mean you've got a rifle that will deliver a bullet that far with enough speed to expand the bullet, why not try to NOT be the weak link preventing such?

So that's one thing.

However in reality the shot that is most likely, at least in my limited experience, is that you are 50-150 yards away, the animals are in a group, and they are moving in timber. You see flashes of animals, occassionally whole critters, and it's happening fast. You need to ID your shooter, get on an opening, and be ready to slap that trigger when it crosses the opening. I don't know how to practice for that, but even just some simulated work in the woods, couldn't hurt.

Jackrabbits on the move with the good ol 30-06 is how I learned Jeff .

I know others here shoot at much longer distances, but I'm trying to stretch out my range. You'll be amazed how much you will improve by shooting from a standing position rather than just hunkering down on a sand bag.

Exactly why I suggested throwing in some practice with a shotgun. Grouse hunting in the trees and/or throwing clay pigeons in a treed area really helps me. It trains your eyes/brain to quickly assess and sort out a situation, pick a target, pick an opening, get on a target, and take the shot.

I took a guy out to elk hunt that had been practicing off the bench and field positions for 6 months before the hunt. First day out we bump a really nice bull at about 20 yards in an area that had been selectively thinned. The bull jumped up, but trotted away instead of running. He went about 45 degrees away and going down hill. As soon as I saw the movement I called nice bull, and began telling the guy to shoot (shoot, Shoot!, SHOOT!!!). When the bull was out of sight I asked why he hadn't shot. He said he wasn't sure if it was a bull (it was a heavy 6x6), and he didn't know how far to lead it to shoot it on the move. It was his personal decision to not shoot, so I was okay with it. Later that week he asked if I could have made the shot and what the lead should have been... Since then I've seen more of the same, and heard similar stories.

My experience has been you need an accurate enough rifle to be able to "thread the needle" on openings, and a good enough shot to do so; let's face it, elk are a big target - the kill zone is roughly 16 inches. Maybe even more important is to be able to react quickly and appropriately to a dynamic situation. Static targets at the range don't help with this, so figure out how to get some practice with moving or pop up targets or small game.

It's intense, isn't it?

First time I had a herd of the beasts moving quickly towards me in the woods it was downright scary. They sound like a freight train comin' at you! HUGE branches snapping, etc. Like nothing I'd ever heard.

My ratio of being amongst elk vs. actually shooting has got to be a world record <grin>. That's cause I hunted a spike tag about half my seasons. Talk about stressful... you've got cows and even bulls all over that you could pop in a heartbeat... but you are trying to find the one (maybe!) spike in the bunch...

Yep, I've had a couple spike tags too, but my best close encounters have been archery hunting. Like the time the 5x5 cut my scent and bird dogged it right to me; I thought he was going to come in and lick the sweat off my neck or something. When he got to about 3 feet I decided that I probably didn't need the sweat lick off, and waved at him; man, their eyes can get big and they can swap directions fast...

I've done my 2 elk hunts the same way I've done dozens of moose hunts over the last 40 years. Take a tried and trusted rifle out of storage. Run a couple patches thru the bore. Fire one shot - if it goes 2-3 inches above POA at 100, take it hunting and shoot the critter. Shoot the critter again if need be - or for insurance from a few yards out (I've had the crap scared out of me on occaision). Clean rifle and put away 'til the next time you need it...

I'm not really a good shot per 'se - but I am a careful shot, or try to be....

Once I have my loads developed, I do relatively little shooting at paper targets. Most of my trips to the range involve clay pigeons at 400-600 yards and steel gongs at 500 and 600.

Nor do I worry that I should be shooting the rifle I will use for elk in the coming season � I tend to mix things up and shoot a variety depending on whatever whim strikes me and what I have loaded on the shelf.

As hunting season approaches I�ll spend more time with the candidate rifles for that season and eventually pick two, a primary and a backup. They usually get one more trip to the range but the shots fired are usually very few � last year it was a couple shots each at 400 and 500 and then a combined total of 5 at 600, with which I broke one pigeon with each rifle.

No doubt I should spend more time shooting from �field� positions, but somehow I just don�t get around to it as much as some would think necessary. When it comes to actual field shooting, I tend to use rocks or logs or stumps as a rest or build the best I can with my pack, sticks or bipod. (Shooting from a free standing position is so rare I can�t recall the last time I did so.)

That, Jeff, is why I don't do much long range practice. Not hard to do, at all, as long as you have good range information and can call the wind.
Frankly, since I've noticed that big animals can go a long way into some really nasty country if hit badly, I'm not interested in even trying a shot much over 300 yds. at an elk. BTW, it is possible to approach them over open ground.
What I like to practice is getting the shot off faster as I may not have much time to make that shot. That and working the action to give him another if he is still on his feet after the first one.
For that kind of practice, I start at 50yds. on a fairly large target. Then, if it looks and feels pretty good, I move back to 100 yds. At that range, I'm practicing by getting into a sitting position with a sling as well.
Ray Atkinson said several times that the best game shot he ever saw in action was Jack O'Connor. Old Jack made a habit of hunting running jack rabbits and coyotes during the off season. E

I thought everyone knew that

+1

Simply shooting a lot doesn't always help, if you don't know where you are hitting. I almost always shoot with a spotter, especially at long range in the field. I will have my spotter range a small rock, stick, or blemish on the canyon wall. I will then dial the dope and send a round. He will call the shot and I will adjust. This is great entertainment, EXCELLENT practice and builds MUCH more confidence in one's shooting. We also get competitive for who buys drinks or lunch. Flinch

John I must disagree with you on the shooting of a medium bore rifle at 80 or 90 times and NOT being able to do so, means you have to much rifle.

I never shot my 338 win mag 80 or 90 times a session, it is not a target rifle, it is for killing big game animals. I do practice with a 270 Winchester a lot but not a .338 Win mag or 375-Weatherby either for more than 20 rounds for either of them.

I guess I best pack up my big bores and sell them to the highest bidder! I sure as blazes don't shoot them even 20 or 30 rounds. Not when you have a .416 Rem mag, 458 Win mag, 458-Lott, .475 mag and a 505-Gibbs. No sir I would like to see someone touch off 90 rounds in a row out of any of those calibers!

I agree with you Tonk. The most I ever shot my 338 win mag was 40 times in one range session. I did, however, throw in some 308 and 30-06 for fun and practice though that day. Probably fired off a total of 140 rounds of big game ammo that day. The guys that go to those shooting seminars don't take their 338's and 375's I guarantee you that

I never practiced for elk hunts any differently than I practiced for anything else...but all shooting is beneficial,and years of varmint hunting will make you pretty good to the distances you do it.

Obviously if you can snuff a woodchuck or PD to distance,an elk will not present any problem.

Mixing that with a lot of range time and dry firing helps further.I always mixed a bunch of field position shooting at various distances,and made sure I got enough off hand,sitting,kneeling practice etc.

Lots of game shooting is muscle memory and mind set reinforced by positive practice or past experience to build confidence,particularly in faster breaking situations,and I notice some folks are really not prepared to actually encounter an animal.

We sometimes develop preconceived notions about how,and where an animal will appear and present a shot;when the animal does not follow the script,we are caught off guard,woolgather (as our brains register.."That ain't what I expected!")and miss an opportunity,like the fellow who was not prepared to shoot the elk at 20 yards on the move....he had no confidence in his ability to do so because,to him, "practice" meant shooting off bags.....that ain't "practice";it's testing rifles and loads and verifying zero.

A lot of this comes from the present day obsession with tiny groups and LR shooting, both of which are fine but really have little do with killing BG animals...once you know what the rifle is capable of,and get past the part about the rifle reliably holding zero,a guy needs to work on himself, even if it means you get bigger groups unworthy of Campfire Posting Status.

So to me, the focus should be on becoming adept with the rifle from tougher field positions;varmints also,and shotgun shooting at moving targets to build reaction time and avoiding dawdling.This is easier to do with 22's and 223's than 300 magnums,although practice with the hunting rifle should be mixed in.Dry fire also at birds (empty rifle)on the fly,shouldering the rifle quickly,pushing safety off as second nature, etc etc.This is why I feel the perfect BG rifle is really two or three of them,the other two being a 22 and a 223....they provide low recoil, cheap volume shooting.

Instead of using your usual targets,build an "elk" profile (full size) out of cardboard with no dots on it,and practice your long range shooting on it.Elk are monolithic in color, have no dots,and you are forced to pick a spot,and hold precisely.When you are drilling the vitals of the target consistently, day to day,first shot cold barrel, you will know what your maximum distance limits are.

Elk are really very big, visible targets and should never give an experienced rifleman any cause for concern, if we have done a little prep and have gotten past the excitement and hype,and devloped confidence in our rifle and ourselves.

JMHO

Great post bob (like usual ). I know what you are talking about with the, "even if it means you get bigger groups unworthy of Campfire Posting Status" coment you made . I was practicing the other day for a "hunting rifle" shoot which requires 4 different field postions (one of them being shooting off shooting sticks). I've never shot off of sticks before and pulled the shot like crazy until I got used to them (only took one shot ). I chose to use my winchester model 100 for the 50 yd open sight class since i have horrible eyesight in my left eye and they give us 15 seconds to fire 3 shots downrange. We do this 4 times and add up our aggregate score out of 12 shots. We do the same thing with our scoped rifles at 100 yards. I believe this is a good way to train for the shot at live game also since you are under time constraints (much like when that bull steps out of the thicket and knows you are there ) and your great groups turn into chit when you are rushed. I know it is best to take your time, but sometimes you just don't have the time like your friend with the bull on the move at 20 yards.

bsa:Shooting sticks seem to be all the rage;they are finding acceptance here now too. I admit I have not used them much,at least not the big stand-up one's.

I can't get used to bipods....seems they are never the right height Much less flexible than a sling IMHO

I really like getting wrapped up in a tight sling but with this "hunting rifle" shoot it won't allow me enough time since I'm shooting left handed with a right handed bolt. You know how I prefer the pre 64 action and the damn guys (winchester) never made a left hander . One of these days I'm going to try a short action (probably the 300 wsm) NH left hand rifle. Gunnut308 had the perfect one for sale the other day and was tempting me to trade some 308's I've got . I just can't bear to give up any of my rifles because they are all shooters. I think I actually have an advantage though with a right handed bolt when shooting off of sticks or the bench because I support the rifle with my left hand and shoulder and operate the bolt with my right hand which makes it a pretty quick set-up. Once again to the op I feel practice is the key and like Bob said dry firing is great for keeping somewhat tuned up too. I do this in my garage sometimes since I've got my target stand in there usually with a target on it ready for its next outing. Shoot in all types of weather and make sure you know if you have a point of impact change with your load you are using and make sure you take the rifle out the week prior to the hunt opening so you know it is still dialed in and there are no problems. I did this last year and found out my 338 wasn't its tack driving self (it was shooting 3-4" groups!!!!). I took it home and checked everything. Found out the stock was cracked right behind the recoil lug and it desperately need a bedding job:

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth...xing_cracked_stock_recoil_lu#Post4549872

I was cutting it close because after I got it all dialed back in like it used to be I had 3 days before my elk season started

bsa, when no one is home, I shoot at the animals on TV....

This is tough on TV warranties, though...

That's funny bob, but I'm sure its good practice and fun to boot. Just don't shoot the tv anymore

While I haven't read all of the post I see a lot of great advice. I agree that any shooting is helpful, but certainly practice with your elk rifle from field positions at unknown ranges is important. This is assuming a good shooting load and a zeroed rifle. I might add that I wouldn't rely too much on shooting sticks and such because it's not always possible to use them. This past fall I couldn't use my shooting sticks because when I had a shot at a bull elk the sage brush was too high. I also recommend practice shooting in the wind. Seems like it's often a factor. Good luck.

The original poster is from Kansas so probably not a stranger to wide open places, but I think range estimation is probably the hardest thing out west. Mostly greater than 300 yards can all look the same, and I hunt here all the time...

To sum up the behavior of other hunters I see around our valley, practice shooting after a 6 pack of beer, off the front of your 4 wheeler, run 3 miles (equivalent to 100 yards here in the Rockies) and then try to shoot, anything over 500 yards without practice, I am sure I will come up with a few others, etc...

Good shooting will come from good hydration and nutrition and legwork.

I practice to 700 from my back yard on a life size elk target made mostly from AR500. I've played around at farther distances but consistancy drops off considerably for me from a prone position. While this practice is certainly beneficial it does not prepare you for the tremendous uphill/downhill angles which greatly affect trajectories on the creeck I've hunted many years. Supercrewd may be familiar with the headwaters of Soap Creeck in the West Elk.

try finding a big empty field and call yotes then shoot them.

Think about the terrain you will be hunting first. Then apply your shooting practice to match. If you don't know then I would Zero my rifle for 200yds or at least 150yds. After zeroed I get off the bench. If you are going to use shooting sticks, shoot from them. Shoot kneeling without sticks, prone from your pack. Standing even but only at short range of course. Which brings up another point. Practice close shots like 25-50 yds. By practice I mean jog around and get winded and then grab your rifle and shoot. This is realistic shooting. You never know when you may jump an elk from its bed. Don't worry so much about groups when your practicing at first. The groups will get better as you get better. Also practice the little things like clicking your safety off quietly and loading your rifle quietly and without looking. You never know when you have to do this. It's best to know how to do it right when it counts. Any trigger time is good but by incorporating these things into your practice to make the best of your time.

As others have mentioned get into the best shape you can. Arrive early to check your zero and get acclimated to the high altitude. Lastly, have fun. It's beautiful in elk country

I like to shoot prairie dogs near and far for practice and coyotes for near and far but actual up and down just like in elk country. If you can consistently hit dogs and yotes at ranges out to 500 yards, an Elk becomes a piece of cake. You need a good rifle and practice to do this. Then all you worry about is finding the elk.

You're right that it really depends on the country. My state has two species of elk and they live in very different areas. The Roosevelt Elk live in fairly thick timber on the west slope of the cascades. It doesn't snow much so the elk don't seem to migrate as much. They will head down into river bottoms and very thick forest when pushed.

Picking up fresh track and stalking through the timber can be very effective while everyone else is up on a ridge glassing clearcuts. For this kind of hunting, I like to practice 100 yards and closer with off-hand shots, kneeling shots and shots using improvised rests (like a tree trunk). A lot of this practice is on a set of steel plates and a 22. Hunting rabbits and grouse with a 22 is great practice. Sometimes things unfold quickly and sometimes you have to put on the sneak. Just like elk hunting but smaller.

The Rocky Mountain Elk live east of the cascades and can be found in pine forests with more openings. The forests aren't as thick at the floor as on the west side. It is sometimes possible to shoot over 100 yards through the trees. For this, I like to practice the same positions I mentioned above and then stretch the improvised rest out to 200 yards and then add the prone and ranges out to 400 yards into the whole thing. A 6 or 8 inch steel plate and a bolt-action 223 gets the call for most practice sessions.

Where I hunt, the most important part of marksmanship is quick target identification, and then quick off-hand shooting at a walking target.

Elk are 3-point minimum here. When you stumble upon a herd of 6-8 animals in the timber, you have about 2 seconds (literally) to scan all of them and determine which one, if any, is a legal bull. By then, they are all already up on their feet and starting to walk, getting ready to bust. You have about 1 more second to aim and fire.

Not trying to be dramatic here either--it's just how it happens. Ask heavywalker, mallardaddict, Fred III, SU35, Okanagan, Safariman or any of the other members here that hunt elk in Western Washington. My off-hand shooting is average at best. So, I practice shooting at 100 yds and in--down to abut 30 yards. Chamber a round, bring the rifle up as I am positioning my feet, and squeeze. Even at 75-100 yards, the whole process needs to go quick.

Anyway, that's my two cents...

Great advice and very true Wade. I hunt in north central oregon so it is the same way here except we have spike only hunts and then our over the counter bull tag has a very low (3 percent) success rate so running into them also becomes part of the problem. I grew up in Nevada hunting jackrabbits and deer in the sage so I am very familiar with offhand shooting and it's attributes to hunting big game. It's almost a forgotten art though as most people I know will not shoot that way.