Story by Shane Jahn

It’s late June this is written and much needed rain is falling across parts of the Lone Star State. Many consider this the off-season, even though numerous species of exotics are being hunted this time of year. In fact, I’ll be hunting axis in the Texas Hill Country next month if all goes as planned.

A drive through that lush country recently energized me for the upcoming adventure and the tall grass reminded me to carry plenty of insect repellent. Those pesky chiggers and ticks are sure to be out in droves from all the moisture!

If you’re not inclined to hunt in the summer heat, this void between our state’s traditional game hunting seasons is the perfect time to practice for the upcoming fall. It’s common among hunters to sight in hunting arms with the ammunition we intend to take to the field.

For those new to the sport, it’s important to mention our rifles and handguns must be zeroed with the exact brand, bullet, and bullet weight we will be using on game animals. It’s rare that variations in this makeup will shoot to the same point of impact. Sometimes other loads will be close. At other times they will vary considerably.

Once we get everything fine-tuned to satisfaction, it’s time to get off the shooting bench and practice from real-world shooting positions. A sturdy rest at the range will tell us how accurate the gun and ammunition are. Shooting groups from field positions show us how well we employ their precision.

When doing this it’s important to be realistic. A three-quarter inch group off the bench might widen a bit from field positions. This should be expected and that’s okay. We should strive for consistency of placing shots from a given shooting position in an area the size of the vitals of the animal being hunted.

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