Speed and accuracy are the key weapons

 

An accomplished rifleman will study his prey before hand to determine their body language, thus enabling them to read the movements and, as a consequence, ascertain whether there is a chance or even a need for deliberation. In addition, they will know exactly where the vital organs are, rather than just having a vague idea, thus enabling them to identify the right shot to the correct part of the animal’s body. So often hunters will wound their target simply because they aim non-specifically in the general direction of head and torso.

 

A panicked shot invariably is a missed shot. Adrenalin, which can so often help us, can also have the opposite effect, causing irrational shooting, and therefore this is the first thing that has to be overcome. Learn to channel that emotion to your advantage and use it as a positive. There is no substitute for experience and it is said by many that it can take several hundred of hunting expeditions before that nervous tension is replaced by a cool head in the sudden rush of a confrontation.

 

Practice in this instance most definitely does make perfect. The intention should be to get to a situation where a rifle can be mounted, aimed and off-loaded in a matter of seconds, but crucially hitting the centre of a mark each time. The use of a simulated target is an ideal way to refine things, with the bull's-eye acting as a barometer to the level of improvements. A 100% success rate will deliver the required confidence to take into the field.

 

A great tip to take on board and utilise in the sessions is to always use exactly the same type of safety in the practice rifle as that of the actual hunting rifle that will be used for real. Hours of exercises involving flicking off the safety catch quietly until reaching a point where it almost becomes automatic can pay dividends. This will be extremely advantageous when faced with the genuine article and could earn you that split second that makes all the difference.