Whether you are a rifle hunter or you like to bring down your quarry with a bow, every hunter knows that accuracy is the number one factor when it comes to a successful hunting season. As is true with any difficult skill, the number one way to improve your accuracy is to practice as much as possible. Whether you are a lifelong hunter or a total newbie to the game, there is always room for improvement. The best hunters never stop practicing and trying to sharpen their skills and it has to become an obsession. As well as improving your skills, you will also need the right equipment to give yourself the best chance of an accurate shot.
To help all the hunters hit their target every time, here are seven crucial tips for increasing your shooting accuracy for hunting season.
1. Pay Attention to Safety
When handling any weapon, whether you are hunting or just working on your accuracy, safety needs to be your number one priority. Making sure that you take all the correct safety steps will prevent any accidents from occurring. Both guns and bows are extremely dangerous if not used correctly so you should always handle your weapons as if they were loaded. Only ever unholster your weapons when you are already on the firing lines at the shooting range. Pay extra special attention to where you are pointing the muzzle at all times. Make sure that the safety is on and keep your finger off the trigger until you take your shot.
2. Buy a Top Quality Range Sight
Shooting accurately from long range is one of the most difficult skills in hunting. Rounds will naturally drop a little so you need to adjust for that when you are aiming at your target if it is a long way away. From greater distances, even a slight misaim will result in you missing the shot significantly. In addition to these considerations, you also need to take the wind speed and distance into account. A top of the range sight will help you to spot your target and will also maximize your chance of an accurate shot, especially at long distances. There are many options of sights available, and some even come with night vision technology so you can go hunting after dark when the animals are more active.
3. Use a Rangefinder to Judge Distance
Another useful gadget for improving accuracy at distance is a rangefinder. The folks at Target Tamers explain that this useful device takes the guesswork out of judging distances. Rangefinders tell you exactly how far away your target is so that you can then make the necessary adjustments for all of the factors which will affect your accuracy. With a rangefinder, you can perfectly calculate the dip of your round and also make better judgments to compensate for the wind. You can buy a rangefinder device or download an app to your phone. The device will cost you a little money but they are more accurate than the app version.
4. Look After Your Weapon
Not looking after your rifle or bow can stop the weapon from working as it should which can seriously affect your accuracy. It is crucial that you keep every part of the weapon clean, well-oiled, and free from dust, rust, and other grime. Make cleaning your weapon part of your daily routine and if you notice anything which feels not quite right, inspect every part to find what the issue is before hunting season starts. Always remove the stock and clean it properly to make sure there are no rifle jams, and if you are a bowhunter, check the string tautness regularly.
5. Put the Hours in on the Shooting Range
With all the right gear and weapon knowledge, improving your shooting accuracy will mostly come down to how much you practice. One of the best places to practice is at the shooting range because there will be targets of different sizes placed at various distances so you can replicate hunting. You can practice at both indoor ranges and outdoor ranges so that you can hone your skills for all conditions. Remember to follow all the safety procedures at the shooting range to prevent accidents. Alternatively, you can use a Strikeman Dry-Fire Laser Training Cartridge to practice your aim, without the severity of strict safety procedures, but still following general good gun handling practice.
6. Practice Dry Firing for Trigger Comfort
Dry firing is a very useful technique for improving your accuracy and all-around shooting skills. Dry firing is when you pull the trigger without any round in the chamber. It helps you to go through all the stages of firing and to feel comfortable handling your weapon. The trigger is one of the most important parts of the gun because it is the point where your decision to fire is put into effect so it is crucial that you are comfortable on the trigger. You should treat your dry firing practice as if the weapon is loaded so that you never take any stage of the shooting process for granted. This will help to tighten up all of your skills which will ultimately lead to more successful hunting trips.
7. Get the Basics Right First
Whatever your hobby or recreational pastime, it is always so tempting to rush through your training and try to get to the advanced techniques straight away. Hunting is no different, and there are so many new hunters who want to run before they have learned to walk. It is very important that you get all the basics right before you even think about moving on if you want to become super accurate. Practicing the basics time and time again will ingrain them in your muscle memory until they become a habit and then instinct. If you are a total beginner, start off by just familiarizing yourself with the weapon. Let its weight become comfortable in your hands and practice each stage of shooting one by one until you have mastered it.
Hunting is a fantastic hobby, but to enjoy it to the fullest, you need to maximize your chances of success during hunting season. Accuracy is everything when it comes to shooting, and accuracy requires the right gear, technique, and a whole lot of practice. Follow these 7 crucial tips and your shooting accuracy will go to another level.