Practicing for the unexpected shot

[moleman]

As hunters, how many practice for the unexpected shot buy shooting from awkward positions, such as off your knees bent at the waist, facing away from the target, as if a sneaky ole Doe slid in behind you instead of in front of you as you expected, one knee, 2 knees....ETC. ?
I try to incorporate all of these in my practice sessions, not only does it keep things interesting but it lets me know that I can make the awkward shots if need be, and be confident when making them.  

[PowDuck]

   Yep. I do but not as much as I should. It's kinda cool when non trad guys see you shoot from such odd positions and wonder, "What the heck?"    

[DamselflyFarm]

I do, too. I like to take awkward shots while stumping—seems more legit than doing it infront of my target.

[Wannabe1]

I just bought one of those Tree Seat thingies and will be practicing different shooting stances once it arrives. Want to be ready, as you say, for that unexpected moment!  

[Anointed Archer]

Yes I do all the time. Actually when we go stumping ever who gets closest to the target gets to make up the next shot and some times it gets pretty challenging.

[Dimondback]

My brother-in-law and I regularly play "HORSE" in his back yard doing exactly that. Shots get more and more creative the more we do it...Straddling upright trees, shooting while doing a 1-legged squat, "galloping" and shooting to simulate shooting while on a horse, shooting on the move with 3 arrows staged 10 yds apart, sprinting 50yds to a prestaged bow and forcing a snap shot, different releases, "Ishi" style shots (Reference "Yahi Archery by Saxton Pope)...list goes on and on. We probably look ridiculous doing it but we have a blast and it really exposes limitations and pushes your ablilities. If you do not normally wear an armguard (I do not) you may need to when trying some of this...the weird angles might get ya. Have fun!

[Mike Vines]

When ever we practice, we do "Hunting" scenarios.  This last weekend, we shot thru the tree trunk "Y", off of our bellies, sitting, thru brush and the alltime favorite...there is an old bench that is broken off at one of the targets and the 4x4 post is still there about 16" off of the ground, so the shot requires you to stand on top of the post, ballance on the 4"x4" square and make not 1 but 2 shots at different targets.  Now, how is that for working on focus?

The thing about the unexpected shot is that quite often in hunting that shot needs a pretty good tempo to go along with it. The older and stiffer, or colder and stiffer, one gets, the less fluid these shot become.  The ability to sweep, scoop, poke or jam a bow into shooting position from any body position has many variables.  You can practice them all and then find that the deer that snuck in behind you gave you the challenge of getting your bow up and around the branches into a position that you could never anticipate. I shot a deer laying on my back once, it was a close up hill shot and oddly enough one I had practiced in the same place the day before. That does not happen often. Rabbit hunting is great practice for this, if you try for every rabbit you jump.

[RecurveRookie]

Yeah, some, but thanks for bringing it up, I will do more of that from now on.  Cheers Moleman!