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Author
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Topic: Improving Stand Shooting Position
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Western Rifleman
Knows what it's all about
Member # 393
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posted December 21, 2004 09:13 PM
Howdy all . . .
A few observations I'd like to share (Important ones as you will see, anyway at least for me,) about positioning on stand that I am correcting for My circumstances -- Food for Discussion! :-)
A couple months ago after a short trial, I gave up on using shooting sticks on coyote stand because of slowness and lack of speed to traverse. I was set up w/ my rifle on sticks and here comes this coyote at about 150 yds. from my right, but about 80 or 90 degrees to my right (rather than in front of me where I had wanted to vector him in)...The wind had shifted and as I felt the breeze hit the back of my neck the coyote did a quick right and away from me to head over the bank. The quick Hail Mary shot I called to be probably just over the top of his head running straight away between his ears; upon close examination there was no sign of a hit. Problem was that traversing my sticks to the right was too slow and awkward.
Previous to this I had used my light folding Coleman camp stool -- however it sat too high and the only way I could be slung up braced on my left knee for a rest w/ my rifle sling was to have my left foot up on a rock; otherwise I'd be shooting offhand while sitting. Stool was too high.
Sooo... one fella recommended a portable Campmor folding chair which sits Very low to the ground, and Yes, its Easy to be rifle-slung up braced. Felt Good.
However . . . the other evening I had time to go out and call ... set up my stand w/ the speaker about 60 yds. out in front of me; calm (if any) breeze. After 15 minutes and various sounds, I hear "clomp clomp" and 2 large brown colored critters hopping toward me from my right, 40 yds. and closing fast and Hot (coming through high sagebrush). Previous to this, all the Wyoming coyotes I've been seeing since I left Alaska this past summer were gray or silver colored. So for an instant I'm thinking: "Crimney, I just called in 2 Pronghorn antelope!"
Then upon them clearing brush I see 2 Large brown coyotes (had to be about 40 lbs. each) not 25 yds. from me, but the breeze had started in various intermittant directions -- the coyotes wouldn't approach the speaker that was out in front of me, as they were suddenly suspicious. They ran Behind me and stopped -- I could turn my head Hard to the right looking behind my right shoulder, look through the sagebrush bush that I was backed up against and see the one staring at me (not knowing what I was) through that sagebrush that I was backed up against; the other one was Directly behind me and I couldn't see him at all.
Stalemate. Not good. Murphy lives.
The Campmor chair sat so low to the ground that I could not jump up and snapshoot, nor could I traverse; cover was too close-by anyway and those coyotes would be gone in 1 second.
Hmmm.....
Well, "sitiation calls for cogitation", as my wise dad used to say.
I went back to my light folding Coleman camp stool, bought a tube cutter (pipe cutter) and cut off 3" of each of the 4 legs to have it sit low enough to the ground so that I can rest my rifle on my knee while slung (for any long shot) and at the same time traverse 180 degrees (or more) very quickly and/or snap shoot if need be. They say "necessity is the mother of invention"?? ... well, I guess yes it is.
Although such a "MINOR" premise at first, after having 3 coyotes off to my right that I couldn't hit or shoot at because of me being "stuck straight ahead" so to speak, necessitated a "minor" yet "Major" Fix, in my opinion. It feels so much better being set up on stand now.
I'd be interested in any thoughts or similar experiences from you guys.
All best and Good Hunting!
Cas in Wyoming
Posts: 26 | From: Wyoming | Registered: Sep 2004
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Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
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posted December 21, 2004 10:26 PM
I can relate. I also bought the Camp mor stool. It's hard to get out of, that's for sure. Especially if there is sharp stuff on the ground where you place a hand. I modified it, cut an inch and a half off the front legs which tilted the backrest into a better shooting position, for me.
I think you might be on the right track, if you discount the success of your stand setup, reading where they should be coming from. It's nice to be able to swivel on your seat, and get on an animal that gets behind you.
The problem with that is added weight, besides a swivel stool is clumsy to carry.
But, my camp mor sure is better on my back after all day. It will do, until I find something better.
Good hunting. LB
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EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 31462 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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R.Shaw
Peanut Butter Man, da da da da DAH!
Member # 73
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posted December 22, 2004 04:11 AM
I am right handed and I position my seat to where I am actually facing 90 degrees to the right of the area where a coyote might come from.This allows comfortable shooting in almost the entire 180 degree arc.
Slump forward in the seat and shoot using knees for support and the left side of the back rest can be used on far left shots.
Randy
Posts: 545 | From: Nebraska | Registered: Jan 2003
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Cal Taylor
Knows what it's all about
Member # 199
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posted December 22, 2004 07:45 AM
Chairs? You guys take chairs coyote hunting?
Sorry, I couldn't resist. I sit my butt on the cold ground and you couldn't make me go with out shooting sticks of some sort. I used the snipe pods for a long time and like the fact that they were attached to my rifle and if I picked up the gun they went along, but they kept wearing out and breaking, so now I'm back to regular old shooting sticks. I hate Harris bi-pods with a passion though. They are to big and noisy. But I'm not a chair person. I like being able to move or go prone if I need to.
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Democracy is two wolves and a lamb deciding what to have for lunch.
Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
FoxPro Field Staff Member
Posts: 1069 | From: Wyoming | Registered: May 2003
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DAA
Utah/Promoted WESTERN REGIONAL Hunt Director
Member # 11
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posted December 22, 2004 07:56 AM
Cal, have you tried Verne Howey's sticks? I switched over the them this year, and I like them better than any others I've used. I like the swiveling cradle, more than I thought I would. And the way he puts them together, they aren't "crossed" like most other sticks, and I've found them to be noticeably more stable as a result.
- DAA
P.S. I carry a butt pad, when it's wet.
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"Oh yeah, they're gonna talk to you, and talk to you, and talk to you about individual freedom, but they see a free individual, it's gonna scare 'em." -- George Hanson, Easy Rider, 1969.
Rocky Mountain Varmint Hunter
Posts: 2676 | From: Salt Lake City, UT | Registered: Jan 2003
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Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
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posted December 22, 2004 09:34 AM
quote:
P.S. I carry a butt pad, when it's wet.
Yeah, I have done that, for years, something to keep my ass from getting all soggy.
Also, I agree with what Cal said; up until a few years ago. Now, my back starts aching, after all day without, at least some minor backrest. Also, I find that getting my butt an extra three or four inches off the ground really helps me get steadily braced against my knees, since I don't use sissy sticks... ![[Smile]](smile.gif) Just kidding, whatever it takes, friends.
I kind of like sitting on a rock on a hillside, if I have nothing else, which is frequently.
Also. Boy, Howdy! I personally hate Harris bipods, never wanted one on any gun I own. Again; whatever it takes; to each his own.
Good hunting. LB
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EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 31462 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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sparkyibewlocal440
Knows what it's all about
Member # 397
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posted December 22, 2004 05:55 PM
You guys that just sit on the ground are real men.Been using a "Therm A Rest" camp chair for years.It has a slim closed cell foam sewn into the chair that frozen ground cannot penetrate,is very light,folds up between stands,makes a nice pad to lay your rifle on when using rocks for a rest.Any decent sporting goods store will have 'em in the camping dept. or at <campmor.com>item #49003 and <rei.com>... Works well on elevated stands,hillsides etc.sits too low for set ups in flat country in sage brush.Oh,and comes in different widths for wide and narrow asses.
Posts: 170 | From: So. Cal | Registered: Sep 2004
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INDIANADOGCALLER
PAKMAN
Member # 472
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posted December 22, 2004 06:24 PM
I started using my turkey vest last year. You know, the one with the built in frame so you don't even have to have a tree or fencepost to lean against. It has the seat so your ass doesn't get wet and the back rest so you can still walk after a long day, or night, of calling. Problem is, no one makes one in snow camo. I covered mine with an old white sheet and strategically placed, black majic marker drawn "limbs". I've found that I can carry my calls, decoy, and just about everything else in it like I was turkey hunting.... Takes a lot off your neck in the process. Leaving it unzipped while calling makes it a lot easier to swivel from side to side if need be.
Posts: 8 | From: Indiana | Registered: Dec 2004
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Cal Taylor
Knows what it's all about
Member # 199
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posted December 22, 2004 06:48 PM
I like Verns set up too DAA, but I don't have one right now. Right now I am using the Predator Sniper stix and they are ok. I like that they also have a short leg for shooting prone. I tried the buttpad deal, and they are great, but I have left them scattered all over several states. Good thing they are cheap. I finally invested in some Gore Tex pants and the soggy butt is a thing of the past. But to the Turkey vest deal. I hadn't even thought about it till about two weeks ago and while browsing a local sporting goods store I saw one that I thought might be the ticket. Plenty of pockets, an attached butt pad etc. etc. and I thought to myself at the time "I wonder why nobody uses these for calling coyotes?" Might be my new fashion trend.
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Democracy is two wolves and a lamb deciding what to have for lunch.
Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.
FoxPro Field Staff Member
Posts: 1069 | From: Wyoming | Registered: May 2003
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DAA
Utah/Promoted WESTERN REGIONAL Hunt Director
Member # 11
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posted December 22, 2004 07:14 PM
"..., but I have left them scattered all over several states. Good thing they are cheap..."
Amen to that. Butt pads and Crit'r calls. I've left so many scattered around, I expect to start running into them again one of these days.
- DAA
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"Oh yeah, they're gonna talk to you, and talk to you, and talk to you about individual freedom, but they see a free individual, it's gonna scare 'em." -- George Hanson, Easy Rider, 1969.
Rocky Mountain Varmint Hunter
Posts: 2676 | From: Salt Lake City, UT | Registered: Jan 2003
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