You should also practice shooting offhand (standing), which is often the way shots occur in the real world. Also try shooting from as many awkward positions as you can dream up.

In more rural areas, gravel pits often become de facto shooting ranges, and they allow hunters an opportunity to shoot from a variety of angles. However, shooters need to exercise extreme care at informal ranges, and always, always pick up your empties.

Finally, the only shot you may have all season may very well occur after a fairly strenuous hike or when you are tired at the end of the day, and that's not taking into consideration the shakiness of an adrenaline surge. So it is always a good idea to exercise enough to raise your pulse considerably, then see how well you shoot.

GETTING YOUR BODY IN SHAPE
We all know that we are supposed to maintain a regular exercise regime, but most of us let our workouts languish sometime in January -- after our New Year's resolutions go up in smoke. Fortunately, summer is the best time of year to revive a workout schedule. If you haven't exercised strenuously for a long time, consult your doctor before pushing yourself. There are dozens of ways to work out -- from gym memberships to bicycling to weight rooms -- but a hunter who wants to enter the field with all engines humming needs to include work in each of the three critical areas: cardiovascular, strength and flexibility.

A healthy cardiovascular system, which includes your heart and lungs, lets you climb into the mountains or move quickly through blowdowns or heavy cover. It will also let your heart rate settle down quickly after strenuous exertion, which will greatly improve your shooting accuracy.

Running is the most well-known way to improve your wind and heart rate, but it does have its drawbacks, specifically the pounding that your knees and joints take on hard surfaces. In recent years, walking has become increasingly popular, especially among older hunters. Two of the oldest hunters I know begin walking around town in spring, add backpacks gradually, then add increasing amounts of weight to their packs as the summer continues.

Swimming and bicycling will also get your pulse up and are less stressful on bones and joints.

Strength is necessary to carry a weapon and pack, and if things go well, to pack an animal out of the woods over rough terrain. Most successful hunters lift weights to increase strength, and a growing number have found the convenience and relative bargain of a gym membership the easiest way to improve muscle mass and responsiveness.

The various stations at weight rooms let you work on all major muscle groups. While bulging biceps and flat pecs look good in the mirror, it is important that everything from calves to triceps to your neck muscles be in shape for working hard during the hunting season.

Flexibility is the most neglected component of a healthy body, especially among men. Although many masculine outdoor types resist it, yoga is one of the best ways to loosen your joints and tendons. You can also do it at home free of charge. Once you develop a routine, it doesn't take that long to work on your entire body. For middle-aged or older hunters, yoga is especially beneficial, because it is very low impact. Swimming is also an excellent way to maintain loose limbs and ligaments. It is also an excellent cardiovascular workout that does a fair job of strength training if you vary your strokes. I swim a half-mile a day at least five days a week during the summer, and by hunting season, I have a spring in my step and much better wind than at any other time of year. But I like to swim, and that it the critical ingredient of any successful exercise regimen: You need to enjoy it.