Effective November 18, 2009, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency changed their guidelines for distance learning. Students are now required to spend a minimum amount of time on each course page before proceeding to the certification exam.

Click here to go to the latest version of the Today's Hunter in Tennessee online course—the official hunter education course of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

The following course material is for reference only. Please go to the new course to complete your Tennessee certification.

Rifle-Firing Techniques

Using correct firing techniques will help you steady the rifle for the most accurate shooting. Bear in mind that these are only the basics. Further study will help you understand other factors that can affect your accuracy, such as wind, heat, and parallax.

Shooting from a Rest: When shooting in the field, the safest and most accurate shots are taken from a rest—a log, large rock, or other stable object. Don’t rest the barrel directly on a hard surface, or the rifle will fire higher than normal—put some padding, such as a hat or a jacket, under the rifle.

Breathing: Your breathing can move the rifle just enough to throw off your shot.

When you’re ready to shoot, draw a deep breath and exhale about half of it.
Then hold your breath as you squeeze the trigger.
Bear in mind that if you hold your breath too long, your heart beats faster, which increases your pulse and causes the rifle to move. If you notice this happening, take another breath and start over.
At times the excitement of spotting game will make it more difficult to control your breathing. Try to relax and follow the correct procedure.

Example of using a telescopic sight for accurate shooting

parallax: Optical bending of telescopic crosshairs in relation to the target

Trigger Squeeze: Jerking the trigger or abruptly clenching the trigger hand can move the gun enough to cause a miss.

To squeeze the trigger without jarring the gun, simply apply slow, steady pressure until the gun fires.
Practice makes breath control and proper trigger squeeze habitual.

Follow Through: After the bullet fires, it’s important to continue the squeeze or follow through. That prevents you from jerking the gun before the bullet has left the barrel.