What shooting position were you in for your last shot at an elk?

What shooting position was your last shot from

  • Prone

    Votes: 85 31.4%
  • Sitting with bipod/tripod/fixed support

    Votes: 69 25.5%
  • Sitting without support

    Votes: 33 12.2%
  • Standing with support

    Votes: 25 9.2%
  • Off hand

    Votes: 63 23.2%

  • Total voters
    271

Blinddog

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Feb 18, 2018
Messages
157
Location
MN
Sitting, left hand on a tree, holding riffle between my thumb and index finger. have shot 3 Elk this way. One at 370+, two under 150.
 

GSPHUNTER

WKR
Joined
Jun 30, 2020
Messages
3,905
standing leaning on boulder, at 460 yards. 300 Winmag 180 gr. barnes TSX. dead in her tracks.
 

Elk97

WKR
Joined
Feb 14, 2019
Messages
767
Location
NW WA & SW MT
Kneeling in snow, pack on, off balance, elk moving on steep hillside. Missed completely at 50? yards. Never should have pulled the trigger. The bull came charging up the hill right at me, my son shot him at full run from about 15 yards thinking he was wounded. More to the story but a really bad decision on my part.
 

Solby

FNG
Joined
Nov 24, 2021
Messages
20
Sitting on the side of a mountain with my rifle clamped into the tripod. Shot an elk there is no way I could have ethically without the tripod.
 
Joined
Nov 20, 2021
Messages
1,414
There are some sniper quality shots without anything more than a natural rest at 1/4 mile or close to it... I have to ask if there was any way to close the distance? Sometimes you got to do what you are presented with, but I think the question is a valid one.

As well appreciate the honesty and humility of some stories owning up that the shot should've been passed on despite success.
 
OP
B

bluumoon

WKR
Joined
May 4, 2020
Messages
717
Off hand at about 50 yds. It happened fast and I was still wearing my backpack. I've shot variations of @Formidilosus drill some over the last year some (not as much as I probably should have) and I'm kind of glad I did.....
Same. Will def be more even more creative w shooting positions for the drill this year.
 

ORJoe

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Nov 8, 2021
Messages
142
Location
Southern Oregon
Kneeling/rifle. Between spotting the first cow elk and taking the shot on my spike I had to rotate to my right about 90 degrees, so I didn't have my elbows supported. I've spent a lot of time practicing though, so I was able to make the 30 foot shot.
 
Joined
Sep 7, 2018
Messages
1,104
Location
Pennsylvania
All of my rifle elk over 25 year span were all off hand (max about 225 yards), and all of my bow shots have been standing. And actually, a couple of those rifle shots were from off a horse.
Pretty good shooting! My first elk was about 185 yards offhand. Further than I like but got it done.
 

NickyD

FNG
Joined
Sep 24, 2020
Messages
99
Location
Denver, CO
I was on my knees and using a tripod. Prone was not an option due to the sagebrush and I didn’t want to expose myself. In my few years of hunting I’ve quickly learned that being able to quickly shoot from awkward positions is critical and you’ll never have enough practice for what the shot will actually be. I’ve had 9 different shot opportunities and none have been the same. And only one was from the prone position that dominates my target practice.

I use Quick Stix when hiking in deep where I have more time for a proper setup. It’s great to combine shooting sticks and trekking poles into a single item.

But when I’m closer to the car and/or in more pressured areas where a quick shot is critical (hunting in Colorado I’ve had seconds of opportunity before having someone else shoot) I prefer Primos Trigger stick. You feel stupid carrying it around, but it definitely gives me opportunities I wouldn’t feel comfortable shooting without it.
 

Pocoloco

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Oct 17, 2021
Messages
161
Wife holding over her bull she dropped with her 7mm-08 at 293 yards. He made it ten feet, laid down and died. Quick-sticks and quick clip adapter on rifle to use black Diamond trekking poles as bipod. System works great for real world shooting
 

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Pocoloco

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Oct 17, 2021
Messages
161
The last 3 or 4 elk were shot over crossed hiking poles. Loop the wrist straps over the top of each pole and make a sling. That or over a pack from prone or low sitting.
We did that until we discovered quickstix and quick clip. Because attached allows off hand to hold but into shoulder and aim shot as if we are prone
 

Anschutz

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Mar 19, 2017
Messages
227
Location
Fairbanks, AK
Sitting on my couch clicking my mouse on The Hunter: Call of the Wild. Laptop rested across an ottoman. Pretty tough shooting.

Yeah... I'm a bad elk hunter.
 
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