As you prepare for the 2016 hunting season, it’s easy to get caught up thinking about what gear you’re going to pack, making sure your boots are comfortable and finalizing travel arrangements. But as you get ready for your hunt, don’t forget the most important part – rifle practice! And we don’t mean just sighting in your rifle. You must prepare to hunt.

In many cases, hunters’ worst moments in the field are the result of botched shooting opportunities. We’ve all been there. It’s a terrible feeling. The 2016 season is creeping up on us quickly, so make sure you’re prepared for the one thing that really counts. Here are a few tips on practicing with your rifle:

1. Get off the bench.

First, we’re going to assume that your rifle is sighted in accurately. With that job done, it’s time for some real practice. Start by moving away from the shooting bench. Start practicing in positions that you’re likely to use in the field. Practice shooting from prone, sitting and kneeling positions. This is especially important on our British Columbia hunts where the terrain and the shooting situations are extremely variable.

If you plan on using a bipod or shooting sticks, spend a lot of time practicing with those items. Go out into the field somewhere near your home and make sure you can use them in realistic situations, not just on a concrete surface. Make sure you can deploy them, adjust them and rest on them smoothly and in seconds. We’ve seen lost opportunities over the years as hunters messed around with shooting sticks.

2. Put on your hunting clothes.

If you haven’t practiced shooting in your hunting clothes before you begin your hunt, you could be setting yourself up for major frustration. Take what we said in the first point above, and now do it again wearing everything you’ll wear on your hunt. Make sure you can get into position, make adjustments and shoot with a steady rest while wearing your hunting clothes.

This is an important step for both our Alberta whitetail hunters and British Columbia hunters. On an Alberta deer hunt, you’ll be bundled up and wearing much more than you normally would. And on a British Columbia Hunt, you will be wearing a binocular harness and a backpack in addition to your hunting clothes. All of these things can drastically change the way to get into position and find a steady rest.

3. Run sprints between shots.

Finally, spend some time practicing your shots with an elevated heart rate. Because let’s face it, your heart is going to be pounding. You maybe be climbing up a steep ridge for a shot at a British Columbia mountain goat. Or you may just have a case of buck fever when that 170” whitetail steps out of the woods. Either way, the more you practice with an elevated heart rate, the more steady and confident you will be in that moment of truth.

If you have a place near home where you can practice, combine the first two elements we’ve already discussed above and then add short sprints between each shot. Try running up a steep hill, picking up your rifle and then steadying yourself for the shot. As many times as you can do this leading up to your hunt, the better off you will be.

We cannot stress enough the importance of rifle practice before your hunting trip. You’re investing hard earned money and vacation time on this hunt. Make sure you’re ready. Get out there and practice!