Yep. Despite that, i rarely see anyone at the range assume a field position. It is always the bench.
To accurately shoot a free standing rifle takes a lot of skill. Most of us do not have that.
My goal when I was hunting was to get 2 to 4 inches (depended on what caliber) above center with 3 shots rested.
Of all my game takes, none was ever free standing. Sometimes a tree, sometimes a kneel, once over the hood of a pickup (yes I was a bad boy and shot on from the road)
Huge difference between standing on a firing line all relaxed and working your way through the woods on a stalk.
My brother once shot a moose from up in a tree (yes that is extreme but it was situation specific)
So off the bench tells you the gun is sighted in, what group size you will get at best and who knows what position you will actually be in shooting game? So nothing wrong with that.
Nothing wrong with it.
The hoot is now I am doing nothing but target shooting, I have hunters look at my groups and drool.
Hey guy, this is a game, its not what you are doing (you can always tell the hunters). Do you get your Moose or Caribou each year (usually yes).
Good deal, hunting is not bench rest shooting. Too many other factors go into a successful hunt and Dale Tubbs class shooting is the bottom of the list.
Its your stalk, knowing the area, knowing the animals, stalking in the woods as needed, having a decent camping setup if you are out extended that leaves you dry, decently fed and watered.
The only free standing shot I made was technically a hit. Unfortunately the hit split the hide above the backbone and did nothing other than to confirm I had left and right nailed.
I missed because I held higher than I had sighted the gun in for when I should have put the aim high on the animal and not above it. Dumb me (yes in the end with a lucky shot from my brother and a long chase through the woods we got it - it turned into a saga and a great story)