WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU BECOME TOO DEPENDENT ON GADGETS?

I arrived early, filled with anticipation. This was going to be a hunt to remember. The stars had finally aligned, and I got two of the best Recon Sniper Instructors I knew to come out on a predator hunt with me. We started prepping gear as they arrived—three highly accurate guns and three rangefinders capable of ranging the moon if needed. Kestrels started swinging, collecting up-to-date atmospherics. Rear bags were strapped to our kits, ready to deploy at a moment's notice—$ 1,000 tripods with various ball heads.

This was going to be the long-range equivalent of shooting fish in a barrel. We hit the trail just before sunrise. No words needed. We just moved off instinct—like we had on so many combat patrols. Just as we crested a hill, we spooked a coyote at 50 yards—he'd been bedded just off the trail, dead asleep. (A testament to how quiet we were moving.)

If you know anything about me, you know I've killed my share of coyotes. My first instinct was to let these guys—who had driven over an hour and a half to hunt with me, by the way—take most of the shots today. I dropped to a knee to get out of the way since I was closest to the coyote. I watched him trot to 50 yards… 75 yards… 100 yards. He was about to crest the hill and vanish. A second before he disappeared, I shouldered my rifle and cracked off a shot. Some call it a Texas Heart Shot. The coyote front-flipped over the hill. Even though this might have been my 100,000th coyote, I still smiled and looked back at my two partners. One was in the prone, with the rear bag in hand, still trying to extend his bipod for a clean shot. The other still had his rangefinder up to his eye.

I broke the silence: "What have you guys been doing this whole time? JUST SHOOT!" I've thought about that hunt a lot. It changed how I interacted with students as a sniper instructor. At the Recon Sniper Course, we teach students multiple ways to engage a target. Only one of those involves using a Kestrel—but once they learn that method, the rest start to feel obsolete. That's where I began to challenge them. After the brief for a course of fire, I'd see them group up, heads buried in Kestrels, updating data and syncing dope cards. I'd walk around and start asking questions:

• How would you run this drill without a Kestrel?

• What's your plan when your dope card falls off your wrist?

Blank stares.

So I started dropping breadcrumbs:

• Would a 12-inch drill work here?

• How far could you be effective using just your max point blank dope?

• This drill is just for practice—why not run a standard atmospheric dope and see how close you are?

I was told once that beginners learn from instruction, but experts learn from exploration. But here's the thing: when I let beginners explore, it started connecting dots faster than any brief could. Am I saying technology is bad? Absolutely not. But here's my challenge to you: start finding ways to be less dependent on it. Where do you start? Start close. Get comfortable operating efficiently on closer targets, then stretch it out.

As an instructor, I get a lot of questions about when to apply which technique. I try to explain it like this: distance gives you time and opportunity. If a target jumps up at 50 yards and starts running, you don't need a wind call or to dial elevation. You just need to point and shoot. If I spot a coyote eating a deer at 600 yards and he hasn't seen me, now I have time. I'll pull out the Kestrel. I'll read the wind with the vegetation. I'll check my natural point of aim and make sure my shoulder connection is clean. Then, I'll build a solid position and supplement it with a rear bag.

Technology has been a game changer in the shooting world. It revolutionized hunting. But don't skip the basics. Otherwise, you might get embarrassed by missing a layup shot. Closing note: have a purpose when you train. When you get range time, set aside some reps to explore something new—maybe something you read on a forum or heard in a podcast. So next time you're on the gun, ask yourself—do I need that gadget, or do I just send it? Because when the moment shows up, it won't wait for your app to load.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Steve Holland discovered his passion for shooting early with pellet guns and .22s in the Boy Scouts, a foundation that served him well when he joined the Marine Corps in 2005. After volunteering for Recon and deploying to Iraq in 2006, his skill with a rifle earned him advanced sniper training, including courses under renowned instructor Todd Hodnett. He deployed again as a sniper and team leader, later becoming a Master Instructor at the Reconnaissance Training Center and continuing to refine his craft. After returning to 1st Force Recon and completing both the Marine Corps Basic and MARSOF Advanced Sniper Courses, Steve transitioned to the Marine Corps Reserve, where he began teaching precision rifle skills to civilians, law enforcement, and military personnel. When the Recon Sniper Course launched, he was selected as an instructor and named Best Instructor during his first course. Steve retired in 2024 and now works as a firefighter in California while staying active in the hunting and long-range shooting communities. Steve also works as an instructor and safety officer for The Cadre, a training company specializing in long-range shooting.