Jon Pynch (@jonpynch) is one of the top precision rifle competitors in the country, and a very accomplished mountain hunter. He joins us on the podcast to discuss how we all, as hunters, can become more proficient rifle shooters in a mountain environment. This is a wide-ranging conversation that will cover everything from techniques and practice drills, to the reason hunters should be extremely cautious about “long range hunting”.
Listen Now — Hit play in the header above, access the podcast on Spotify, or download the episode from SoundCloud.
Topics Discussed
- What competitive shooting skills apply to mountain hunting
- How “mental mistakes” are the most common cause of shooting problems
- The importance of creating “pressure” in your shooting practice
- Why the first shot is all that matters, even in practice sessions
- Why you should develop a “shot sequence” or mantra that is intentional and habitual
- What proper trigger control and follow-through looks like, and how to practice it
- The importance of watching your bullet impact, and how to do it
- The value of training with low-recoiling rifles, including rimfire and airguns
- Jon’s favorite shooting drill, and other advice for effective shooting practice
- Why Jon questions long-range hunting, and says “the more I shoot, the more I think I suck”
- The exponential difficulty of shots beyond 500-600 yards
- How wind affects bullet drift, and the unfortunate advice for shooting in the wind
- Understanding “sight picture” for precision rifle shooting
- What shooting support and accessories Jon carries on his rifle hunts
- How to take care of your rifle on backcountry hunts
- Rifle setup and verification when traveling for hunts in different locations, elevations, and conditions
- How to make wind calls in the field, and how to learn to judge wind day-to-day
Header Photo: Mark’s shooting setup from a backcountry elk hunt.
