Keeping shooting sticks or a mono-pod (Depending on the type of handgun you are using) in your hand at all times will let you get a seady enough rest for a kill shot at short ranges in dark timber.
Also the trees around you can make good rests as well at times.

 Originally Posted By: dogsbreath
As a back up question, I see pictures of you's guys shooting off rests and listing, what to me, are amazing ranges. When I hunt, I can never get my prey to show up where I want, so I shoot out of hand. Is there some trick to lineing up a shot with a rest? Keep in mind that I hunt the n. Georgia mountains, not along crop fields, not open vistas.

Ernie the Un-Tactical