Stretch out your comfortable shooting range

Increase your shooting range with these tips

Matt Willis said hunters don’t need an extremely long shooting range to successfully rifle hunt agricultural fields. But it sure can help.

“Setting up at long range from where you expect to see deer, you eliminate negatives such as wind and slight body movements,” he said. “At longer distances, hunters are less visible to deer. And that’s often the edge a hunter needs.”

Willis said increasing your shooting range can be improved through practice.

“Get a stable platform for the gun and practice to determine your effective range — not marginal range, but where you will expect to deliver a killing shot,” he said. “If you get beyond that, you may hesitate or overthink a shot, especially on a big buck. Practice until you are confident and know how your rifle will perform at various distances.”

Willis said shooting in low-light condition, when big bucks may enter fields, is enhanced by quality optics.

“Financial limits on scopes are a reality check. But get the best you can afford. And if you gain two minutes or more of shooting time, you’ll be glad you did,” he said. “I have been down to a minute or less several times in terms of having enough light available when a big buck stepped out. The last few minutes of a hunt on a big field, I keep my head down and scanning through the scope, looking for that last-second opportunity. Hunt hard, don’t just hope.