Standing or sitting at night??

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Mxracer532

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? If your hunting wide open areas with only say a little safe brush or tumbleweed for cover do you stand or sit? I see most guys stand but they are also hunting along tree lines. But what if you have none???
 
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If you are hunting (wife) open areas, then perhaps you should watch for irate husbands as there won't be any (safe) brush. Sorry, couldn't resist!

In all seriousness, part of that depends on how much moonlight you have. On dark nights, they will be practically on top of you before seeing you. Moonlight you'll need something to break your outline behind you, obviously being the shade cast by the moon is even better. When down low, and perfectly still, they will not be as wary as if you were standing. Personally we do both depending on whether we can get a decent shot sitting. I prefer to sit as I can get a steadier rest, but have made some pretty long shots standing, close to 400 yds.
 
I sit but am probably in the minority. A few of the biggest benefits of standing are it is easier to adjust to coyotes movement and with a taller profile you can see better.

A few of the benefits of sitting are a more stable shooting platform, less fatigue on your back/legs, and it is warmer. I know the warmer sounds silly, but hunt in ND with our cold and wind, and you will get what I mean.

The darker the night, the more you can get away with, but they still can see. A coyote's eyesight is triggered by movement. Stay still and you can get by with a lot both day and night.
 
I’ve been doing kind of a hybrid deal depending on the landscape and vegetation. I have the gun down low for a sitting shot on the tripod. I scan standing up. That way it’s easier to scan 360. But I’m a better shot sitting. So once I spot something I get on the rifle.

Some places I have to stand to shoot also since the grass is still tall. We haven’t had enough snow to knock it down yet.

If I’m hunting a spot that they can just appear within range then I sit if i can see sitting. I don’t want the movement of me sitting to get on the rifle scaring them.

Mostly it’s the stand to scan/sit to shoot for me.
 
Originally Posted By: Mxracer532? If your hunting wide open areas with only say a little safe brush or tumbleweed for cover do you stand or sit? I see most guys stand but they are also hunting along tree lines. But what if you have none???

We usually go prone. It's the most discreet, and the most stable shooting position you can take.

We are running the Revic CF Tripods with the Arca set up, the legs spider out and allow an easy rock solid prone position, they are also allow for comfortable maneuverable position as well.
 
I sit. Have a ground chair that sits a few inches off the ground I can "cinch" up in it very well for stable shots and can move/pivot in it quickly. I've had to turn 180 degrees in my chair to get some coming in behind me and have been able to do this and the chair actually hides some of my movement doing this. I don't use any kind of bipod/tripod as this allows me to get on something very quickly as well as makes running shots if needed a lot quicker and more doable. Very comfortable and warmer like Kirsch said on cold nights. Some stands I have stayed at for an hour and standing this whole time would be more fatiguing. Being less visible factors into it also I think although plenty of guys have success standing. Enough of my stands require me to sit in an open field and the less visible I am the better and I have had good success this way. I usually try to put the call out 60 to 70 yards also.
 
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Originally Posted By: case-nh I don't use any kind of bipod/tripod as this allows me to get on something very quickly as well as makes running shots if needed a lot quicker and more doable. You are "free-handing" all your shots? You are a much better shot than I am.
 
In a way I guess. I can bring my knee or knees up and brace against them for the shot. A tripod to carry or a bipod on the gun is just more weight or more things to carry and am trying to keep it as light as I can. All my years shooting free hand on the farm growing up and decades shooting USPSA (Open class master) have honed some skills I guess. I don't know how guys can take shots at runners with an attached bipod. I guess with a tripod you can lift it off and shoot. I bought a tripod to try but just haven't brought myself to use it. Told my son next time he comes we may take it with us as I think it would help him with a longer shot. Haven't missed many over the years. I'm kind of like Bradd Pitt on "Money Ball" when he says "I hate to lose, I hate to lose more than I like to win". That's how I feel if I miss. LOL. Thanks for the compliment though. Much appreciated. PS I would say your pretty handy with your rifle as I'm impressed that as soon as the dot hits the target you trip the shot. No messing around.
 
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Originally Posted By: case-nhIn a way I guess. I can bring my knee or knees up and brace against them for the shot. A tripod to carry or a bipod on the gun is just more weight or more things to carry and am trying to keep it as light as I can. All my years shooting free hand on the farm growing up and decades shooting USPSA (Open class master) have honed some skills I guess. I don't know how guys can take shots at runners with an attached bipod. I guess with a tripod you can lift it off and shoot. I bought a tripod to try but just haven't brought myself to use it. Told my son next time he comes we may take it with us as I think it would help him with a longer shot. Haven't missed many over the years. I'm kind of like Bradd Pitt on "Money Ball" when he says "I hate to lose, I hate to lose more than I like to win". That's how I feel if I miss. LOL. Thanks for the compliment though. Much appreciated. PS I would say your pretty handy with your rifle as I'm impressed that as soon as the dot hits the target you trip the shot. No messing around.

I'll say AMEN to that!!!
 
Gotta say I hunt with some guys that take forever to shoot and I think that means you haven’t spent a lot of time behind a scope. I have no problem shooting real quick when I need too.
 
Originally Posted By: case-nhPS I would say your pretty handy with your rifle as I'm impressed that as soon as the dot hits the target you trip the shot. No messing around. Appreciate the kind words. Some would say I rush too much. However, coyotes don't often stand still very long. It works for me.
 
No arguing with success. I take a little more time for the longer shots when I can as I have to settle a little and watch my breathing a little more as I can notice my heartbeat in the reticle at times and have to time my shot. But I'm so used to pulling the trigger fast when the dot was on the target from my USPSA years when the shot is there it's kind of automatic. A nice crisp light trigger is mandatory.
 
im a sitter/kneeler. i use a bipod and dont like standing with a rifle much. kneeling is probably my favorite unless the stand gets long and my legs fall asleep... then i stumble around in thr snow like a drunk when i try to stand up
 
Why not do both. I usually stand until I spot a coyote and then sit down as I wait for it to come in. But every location is different.
 
I stand exclusively. Pretty thick here so having some height helps. Also i don’t have to carry in a chair, and I can constantly scan 360 degrees around me. Hard to do that sitting down. Also I can move around a lot easier if something start coming in.
 
I kneel, I bought a pair of sitka pants with the built in knee pads and rest my gun on a swiveling monopod. It makes it easy to move when something is spotted and a more stable shot when the time comes.
 
I now stand as much as possible due to an injury. Sitting is ok for periods less than 1 hour but then its tough getting up. I have found I like standing much better regardless and look for trees and tall brush to stand next to or in front of. With my guille suit on they don't seem to be spooked at night.
 
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