Hunter's shooting rest and method of using same

Abstract

A shooting rest for supporting a firearm while a hunter is hunting from a tree stand, a tree seat, a ground blind or a field, including a mounting bracket and an arm pivotally attached thereto to allow horizontal aiming adjustment having a pair of forks from which a cradle is supported for resting a firearm therein. Vertical aiming adjustment is allowed by swinging the firearm forward or backward within the cradle and/or adjusting the cradle along the fore-end of the stock of the firearm.

1 . A shooting rest comprising: 
 a mounting bracket for securing said shooting rest to a structure,    an arm comprising a first portion and a second portion, said first portion being pivotally attached to said mounting bracket, and said second portion extending away from said mounting bracket and forming a branched support at an end opposite said bracket, said branched support having a first fork and a second fork, and said second portion of said arm and said branched support extending in use in a common horizontal plane and    a cradle suspended between said first fork and said second fork.    
     
     
         2 . A shooting rest in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said cradle is suspended by a first cord end and at an opposite end by a second cord end, said first cord end associated at an end opposite said cradle to said first fork and said second cord end associated at an end opposite said cradle to said second fork.  
     
     
         3 . (Canceled).  
     
     
         4 . A shooting rest in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said mounting bracket comprises an upper portion having an opening for receiving a screw for attaching said mounting bracket to a structure, a lower portion for engaging said arm, and a back portion connecting said upper portion to said lower portion.  
     
     
         5 . A shooting rest in accordance with  claim 4  wherein said lower portion comprises a first horizontal platform extended from said back portion, and a second horizontal platform extended from said back portion.  
     
     
         6 . A shooting rest in accordance with  claim 5  wherein said lower portion comprises a vertical plate aligned with said back portion and extended between said first platform and said second platform, wherein said first platform and said second platform each includes an aperture for receiving said arm.  
     
     
         7 . A shooting rest in accordance with  claim 5  wherein said lower portion comprises a vertical plate aligned with said back portion and extended between said first platform and said second platform, wherein a cylinder for receiving said arm is affixed to said first platform and said second platform.  
     
     
         8 . A shooting rest in accordance with  claim 1  wherein a length of said arm is adjustable.  
     
     
         9 . A shooting rest in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said branched support is Y-shaped.  
     
     
         10 . A shooting rest comprising: 
 a mounting bracket for securing said shooting rest to a structure,    an arm comprising a first portion and a second portion, said first portion being pivotally attached to said mounting bracket and said second portion extending away from said mounting bracket,    a branched connector attached to an end of said second portion of said arm opposite said mounting bracket, said branched connector having a base portion, a first branch and a second branch, and said second portion of said arm and said branched connector extending in use in a common horizontal plane,    a first fork attached to said first branch,    a second fork attached to said second branch, and    a cradle suspended between said first fork and said second fork.    
     
     
         11 . A shooting rest in accordance with  claim 10  wherein said cradle is suspended by a first cord end and at an opposite end by a second cord end, said first cord end associated at an end opposite said cradle to said first fork and said second cord end associated at an end opposite said cradle to said second fork.  
     
     
         12 . (Canceled).  
     
     
         13 . (Canceled).  
     
     
         14 . (Canceled).  
     
     
         15 . (Canceled).  
     
     
         16 . (Canceled).  
     
     
         17 . (Canceled).  
     
     
         18 . A shooting rest in accordance with  claim 10  wherein said base portion and said arm are removably adjoined using a snap button arrangement.  
     
     
         19 . (Canceled).  
     
     
         20 . A shooting rest in accordance with  claim 10  wherein a first silencer is located about said arm at an end opposite said mounting bracket, a second silencer and a third silencer are located about said first branch and said second branch, respectively, opposite said base portion.  
     
     
         21 . (Canceled).  
     
     
         22 . A shooting rest in accordance with  claim 10  wherein said branched connector is Y-shaped.  
     
     
         23 . A method of supporting a firearm comprising: 
 attaching a shooting rest having a pair of forks to a structure,    suspending a cradle between said pair of forks, and    resting a firearm in said cradle.    
     
     
         24 . A method in accordance with  claim 23  wherein said shooting rest is directly or indirectly pivotally attached to said structure to allow horizontal movement of said pair of forks when aiming said firearm.  
     
     
         25 . A method in accordance with  claim 23  wherein said cradle is swingably suspended between said pair of forks to allow movement of said cradle for vertically aiming said firearm.  
     
     
         26 . A method in accordance with  claim 23  wherein a distance between said cradle and said pair of forks is adjustable.  
     
     
         27 . A method for smooth and continuous tracking with a firearm of moving game comprising: 
 supporting a firearm in a cradle swingably suspended between a pair of forks, said forks pivotally attached, directly or indirectly, to a structure;    swinging said firearm in one or more movements including moving said firearm forward within said cradle, sliding said cradle forward along a barrel or stock of said firearm, moving said firearm backward within said cradle, sliding said cradle rearward along the stock of said firearm, and moving said firearm and said cradle horizontally.