Marksmen and women have always had a special place in our culture. Annie Oakley, Sgt. York, Buffalo Bill, Kit Carson, and so many more, have gained recognition throughout history.
What makes a great shot? A big part of being a marksman is eyesight. It is also about observing, processing, and controlling the shooting situation. Great shooters also shoot a lot. There is a window of time when the marksman’s body is at its best. Great shooters need to control breathing, trigger pull, site picture, rest, all while monitoring the wind, distance, and distractions.
Some shooters seem to be born with the skills. As they age, they adjust and adapt to their changing bodies, eyes, and gear. Modern scopes, adjustable triggers, ammunition, rests, and other shooting gear certainly help, but some shooters just have a gift.
I have known several outstanding marksmen. My friend Keith has proven his skills many times. Whether with a vintage black powder weapon or a modern rifle, Keith always hits the bullseye. He credits his skill with thousands of trigger pulls. During a western Maryland deer hunt, Keith was sitting along a mountainside powerline. This area allowed for long shots. A group of whitetails began running across the open area at around 200 yards. The last deer was a nice buck. I was across the valley watching the show. Keith slowly stood up, raised his 308 rifle, and shot from a standing position. He shot 3 times, until the buck finally tumbled. When we got to the deer, there were 3 holes within a tight 3-inch group!
The landowner of this western Maryland farm was named Harlon. He was a sniper during the Korean war. His instinctive shooting style was awesome. One day we were walking along the same powerline, which overlooked Harlon’s Pond. In the middle of his trout pond, a huge snapping turtle rose to the surface. We were well over 150 yards away. Harlon cursed the trout eating snapper and pulled his 357-magnum pistol. Using a cup and saucer standing hold, he pulled the trigger. The turtle became airborne and became separated from its shell. When the shell fell back into the pond, it floated like a boat!
My favorite Montana marksman is named Kirk Stovall. His nickname is Shrapnel. We hunted together to fill his moose tag a few years back. Shrapnel has probably fired off more rounds than 99% of shooters. He reloads and shoots often. His arsenal of weapons goes from vintage to modern. It doesn’t matter how old or new, the bullseyes are the same.
After a day of looking for his trophy moose, we saw tines turning in a large willow wetland. We adjusted our position, and the bull began to move. Things happen fast when the critter begins running. I carried a tripod shooting stand, that was already set up. Kirk carried his rifle as we got as close as we could. At 200 plus yards, we stopped and set the rifle. The moose was moving and there was only a brief window for a shot. As I spotted the moose, Kirk was at the ready. “SHOOT”. Shrapnel pulled the trigger, and his bull moose tag was filled. This moose was one of the top moose ever shot in Montana.
None of these shooting stories were luck. I have witnessed many great shooting moments from these marksmen over the years. Many of their legendary shots are still talked about around camps and campfires. Some people just have the touch!
Shoot more, shoot more often!
Montana Grant
