Make sure the first bullet count .....

[DGearyFTE]

I do have slight disagreement that is has no bearing though. In my mind the average hunter doesnt get the amount of trigger time that he/she should. ANY shooting is helping the hunter learn his/her gun better. Things like trigger control and breathing etc. For this same reason I think that bore sighters shouldnt be used by the average hunter. They are better off using a box of shells to sight in as opposed to firing a handful and putting the gun away until the hunt.

I have never had the expectation that I would ever get more than one shot. I have watched too many animals run knowing full well that the situation and geometry conspired to make it a "No Shot" scenario. For this reason I have this mnemonic that I run thru routinely while hunting... "Slow is smooth, smooth is fast".
To make this happen, as blasted_sabre described one needs to "Train the way you hunt". In the military they say "Train the way you fight" and it is the basis for all performanced based training. Get your tool of choice sighted in properly. Then practise, practise and then do it again.
This does not mean you have to be shooting real bullets. This activity can be done dry fire. There is no harm to dry firing centre-fire rifles so go to it. If you still doubt me simply load in a spent case and let the firing pin strike the spent primer. This will allow you to go slowly through the mechanics of shooting (even in your garage) without scaring the neighbours.
Bring the rifle up to your cheek, sight target, breath out and stop breathing... squeeze completely on the trigger and hold it in the most rearward position for a half second.

There is a great series of videos on YourTube taught and narrated by Ryan Cleckner of the NSSA (He is a former Captain in the US Army Rangers, sniper team lead and good narrator).
You can read about his creds in this link

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Cleckner

[M_P]

This does not mean you have to be shooting real bullets. This activity can be done dry fire. There is no harm to dry firing centre-fire rifles so go to it. If you still doubt me simply load in a spent case and let the firing pin strike the spent primer. This will allow you to go slowly through the mechanics of shooting (even in your garage) without scaring the neighbours.
Bring the rifle up to your cheek, sight target, breath out and stop breathing... squeeze completely on the trigger and hold it in the most rearward position for a half second.

Snap Caps are cheap enough. I have 4 of them and use them regularly to practice shooting my bolt action.

I feel that you should also practice bringing the rifle up to shooting position from your carry while wearing your cold weather gear to form habits that will allow smooth and quick shouldering with out snagging the stock on your clothing.

[oaknut]

I generally take a few guys out through the summer here and there for some target practice and a stump shoot. One thing I like to do is show the average shooter is how they and many others are afraid of their gun. I will load their clip with two live rounds and a dummy round then when the dummy round is chambered watch the flinch. It is a good way to prove there is a problem that needs work. Its amazing to me how probably 75% of people flinch at the butt of even a small bore firearm.

[Young Buck]

Whatever you use confidence is key, but outside the range emotions come into play and one shot won't cut it in every scenario, difference between shooting and hunting .

[canadaman30]

I rather hunt beside a guy with a 243-270 that shoots often and has confidence than hunt beside someone with a 338mag that shoots a handful of shots once a year. I don't understand the reason behind having a big canon that intimidates it's owner to the point they don't want to shoot it but once a year a week before hunting season. From what I've witnessed at my old gun range is the guys with the big canons have a hard enough time shooting well from a bench and the guys with 243/260/270/308 make fools of them. This is not every single guy, but damn near all of them. Some people have the ability to shoot big guns like myself, but I have since gone back to a 270 for long shots because of how easy and enjoyable it is to shoot and nail the 10 ring way out there.

[sickofitall]

I wish more guys would have the mentality to make the first shot count instead of dumping the whole mag in a panic.
I've seen what happens with "hunters" like this. Completely banned from our group, in fact we have some serious explaining to do if there's more than one round in there and if we hit a shoulder.

[lazyman]

Hunters have to realize that the first bullet may be the only one they will have a chance to fire at the big game before it disappear .....

the way you say "Hunters" it just seems to me you aren't one. and though I agree with what the posters have to say. what I want to know is just what is your point?

[drakemallard12]

Absolutely your first shot should count, after all thats the whole idea right........ Especially when hunting deer i expect to only ever get one shot at the animal, more importantly one ethical shot. Ive seen all to often hunters shoot and miss a standing deer to then empty their firearm at the now running deers ! If you are able through some miracle to hit the running animal seeing as you couldn't hit it standing still you've likely only wounded the animal which you will likely never recover. I understand getting excited when you see a deer or "buck fever" but guys who shake and breathe uncontrollably while taking a shot is unacceptable. Get excited, take some deep breaths, relax, take another breath, hold and squeeze! Now get really excited you humanely harvested your deer. Im not perfect by any means but if your going to hunt do it right, practise practise and practise more. Become an expert shooting the gun you will hunt with, mistakes happen so do your part to limit any variables. I have only harvested 7 deer so far but all have been clean one shot kills, 2 with rifle and 5 with archery equipment.

[400bigbear]

I prefer lots of holes.. Find it twnderizes the meat. More.

LMAO Topher . Your a very bad man . I think your just being a cheapskate by using less wrapping paper . LOL

TD

[Pat32rf]

General camp attitude can have a lot to do with it. If your camp puts out a dozen guys in a line and then some guy runs the dogs to them the hunters are often expected to shoot at anything that comes thru at any speed. They rationalize this by saying that they have a lot of time and effort involved in the drive and you should at least try to make a kill. A newby can get a lot of flack for passing up running shots and feels like an auto is the only choice of rifle.