Will Hunt for Food: Target Practice

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For new or rusty hunters, target practice is key. I grew up shooting at empty beer cans and cactus in the Arizona desert with my family. Besides great memories and being comfortable around firearms, shooting my Grandfather’s .30-30 back then wasn’t much practice for hunting big game. I remember him having an assortment of resources such as his rifle, his range finder, and bow and arrows for deer hunting season, he was the master of the sport in my eyes. So, with the goal in mind to have a successful deer and elk hunting season this year, I had to go back to the basics. When it all comes down to that one moment out in the woods, everything I’ve learned in target practice is what’s going to help me get the kill. Also, considering I have aged a little and I definitely know a lot more now, I think it might be time to change my sights for something that could be a little more useful in different situations, such as a thermal scope for my new hunting rifle so I’m able to detect heat signatures. Looking around on websites similar to Dailycaller can offer a lot of information on different thermal scopes and how they work, so it will be ideal to start researching into which thermal scope could be the best for me. Especially if I’m wanting to improve my shot with my new thermal!

Aiming for targets with friends and my hunting mentor has been one way to practice my shot, there is a wide selection of shooting targets online for you to get your own. However, I was starting to feel like I had a lot of learning to do. Lacking confidence and starting to worry, I knew it was time to pull out the big guns (no pun intended). This past week, I was fortunate enough to get a private rifle instruction with the Jackson Hole Shooting Experience. An experience it was. Before I arrived to my lesson, I answered many questions about my shooting skills and what I’d like to work on. When I got there, everything was planned and ready to go. My lesson was geared towards hunting.

Shepard Humphries, the lead instructor and company principal, taught me all I wanted to know. He gave me drills meant to mimic hunting situations, helped me with my positioning and accuracy. That lesson was the most informative thing I could have done to better myself as a hunter and the most fun I’ve ever had shooting. They are now offering 90 minutes of hunting rifle training. One of their instructors will teach you how to sight in your scope, lessen your buck fever, and anything else you might need. I highly recommend it for new hunters like me. You can visit their website for scheduling. And if you’re a seasoned hunter, the Jackson Hole Shooting Sports Foundation puts on a lot target practice events, which helps fund shooting sports and education in Jackson Hole.

Not only did I leave my private instruction a better hunter, I left there hungry. A two or four hour target practice and thoughts of wild game is serious cause for hunger. I usually plan ahead for things like this. Whether you have tenderloins marinating or beans on the stove, it’s nice to come home to a hot meal after a long day of hunting or practicing. This time, I had a rustic bolognese simmering in a dutch oven waiting for me. It’s one of my favorite recipes of mine because there are no rules. Sometimes I use wine, sometimes I use beer. I substitute the vegetables for anything I may have in my fridge. Also, it works well with any wild game. I’m still using buffalo until I get my (fingers crossed) deer.

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Malorie Harris

Originally from Southern California, Malorie was called to Jackson Hole by the mountains and wildlife. With a passion for local sustainability and all things outdoors, she fit right in. She’s a pastry chef by day and creamery salesperson by night. She was classically trained at a Culinary Institute and cooked her way around the country. Since then, she's taken an interest in hunting and gathering. She believes in growing all you can, hunting for what you can’t, and creating everything else from scratch. Her love for history and nostalgia plays a big role in her lifestyle and cooking. Malorie also enjoys raising chickens, black and white movies, and whiskey.

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