Basics of Rifle Hunting in Alaska

This hunting course will help those who are new to rifle hunting, or looking to brush up, learn a number of skills that will help them improve their chances of success. 

Topics of instruction will include: 

  • Proven safety practices to keep you and your fellow hunters safe. 
  • Familiarity with the rifle, what distance to zero and how to zero your rifle. 
  • A basic understanding of ballistics and proper bullet selection. 
  • How wind affects both ballistics and animal behavior. 
  • Equipment recommendations. 
  • How to shoot from numerous and varied shooting positions.

During this course, we will meet at the designated location and then hike to where we will be shooting. This will give you the opportunity to bring the equipment you would normally take on a hunt and allow you to test its efficacy.

We will then zero, or confirm zeros, followed by getting the muzzle velocity through the use of a chronograph, so that you can build your own ballistic chart.

Next we will cover equipment necessities and recommendations and provide you with a packing list you can customize for your own hunts. 

Lastly, we will teach numerous shooting positions that rely on both equipment and common features found in the wilderness. We will practice these positions by shooting at steel targets at distances of up to 300 yards.

Our goal is to ensure that at the end of this course, the hunter is familiar with his rifle, equipment, and techniques for ethically harvesting an animal within 300 yards. Whether you are a seasoned hunter or looking to take your first animal, this is a great course that will review the basics and fundamentals to ensure the best chances of success. Join us for this fun and exciting class in the field. 

Date:

Location: TBD

Cost: $200

Recommended equipment:

  • Hunting rifle, preferably with an optic instead of iron sites.
  • A minimum of 60 rounds of hunting ammunition. (We recognize that hunting ammunition can be very expensive. If you wish to bring the actual round you will hunt with so that you can get a solid zero and ballistic data, and then practice shooting from various positions with a cheaper, full metal jacket round, that would be fine. If you do so, ensure that the weight of the bullets is as close as possible. Ie 180grain and 175 grain.)
  • Laser rangefinder.
  • Binoculars.
  • Pack for all of your gear. 
  • Ultralight chair, shooting pad, or some other method of staying off the ground.
  • Trekking poles.  
  • Food and water. 
  • Sunscreen. 
  • Bug repellent.
  • Cold weather and/or rain gear.
  • Eye and ear protection.
  • Pen and paper for taking notes.