Do you like shooting sticks or bipod, or neither

sheephunter said:
Perhaps our African experiences have been different but all of our shooting there has been from the standing position at ranges from 20-406 yards. Sorry, i'll take both the sticks and lots of range time.
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Despite our different approaches, both of us I think, do our best to achieve a single shot humane kill, and work within our own limitations to ensure that happens. Your hunting experience with respect to exotic locations far exceeds my own, and I doubt that I will ever again have the chance to hunt outside of North America again . . . . but the Yukon has certainly got my attention at the moment.

Marksmanship however is not location critical. A good field marksman does not loose his shooting ability by traveling to Africa or Asia . . . jet lag not withstanding. If I came across as belittling those who choose to use shooting sticks, that was wrong of me, as the most important aspect of the shot is the placement of the bullet, and not everyone can dedicate the time or money to field shooting that I have over the last 40 some years. This is not to suggest that I am some kind of super shot, I'm not, and I would be easily outmatched in any sort of precision shooting environment. I do believe however that I am a competent field shot, and I do have the time and location which allows me to to practice this craft throughout the year. I totally accept Jeff Cooper's adage, "if you can get closer get closer, and if you can get lower get lower. Stalking game to within easy shooting range is for me one of the greatest kicks you can get. Prone provides the best opportunity for a first round hit, but it is seldom useable unless you've found yourself on a bald hill providing you with a full view of the world. Sitting is nearly as good, and with the added benefit of allowing latitude for steep angle shots without a significant loss of precision. Off hand though suggests short range and fast action, where the use of sticks is IMHO somewhat questionable.

The marksman/hunter in the near future will have all sorts of contraptions to hold the rifle for him. Boddington advances one of these in his buffalo video, not for buff, but for use in a blind when shooting leopard. It essentially puts a portable bench rest in the field. I can't help but think that these things take much from the experience, an experience which takes a significant investment in time and money, and perhaps years of planning and saving. I believe it represents positive reinforcement if I can encourage some to forgo artificial shooting aids in an effort to improve their practical skills.
 
I don't typically use either. I can usually find a tree or something else I can steady myself on. But if all else fails my home made hiking stick has a notch in it to act as a shooting stick.
 
Boomer said:
Despite our different approaches, both of us I think, do our best to achieve a single shot humane kill, and work within our own limitations to ensure that happens. Your hunting experience with respect to exotic locations far exceeds my own, and I doubt that I will ever again have the chance to hunt outside of North America again . . . . but the Yukon has certainly got my attention at the moment.

Marksmanship however is not location critical. A good field marksman does not loose his shooting ability by traveling to Africa or Asia . . . jet lag not withstanding. If I came across as belittling those who choose to use shooting sticks, that was wrong of me, as the most important aspect of the shot is the placement of the bullet, and not everyone can dedicate the time or money to field shooting that I have over the last 40 some years. This is not to suggest that I am some kind of super shot, I'm not, and I would be easily outmatched in any sort of precision shooting environment. I do believe however that I am a competent field shot, and I do have the time and location which allows me to to practice this craft throughout the year. I totally accept Jeff Cooper's adage, "if you can get closer get closer, and if you can get lower get lower. Stalking game to within easy shooting range is for me one of the greatest kicks you can get. Prone provides the best opportunity for a first round hit, but it is seldom useable unless you've found yourself on a bald hill providing you with a full view of the world. Sitting is nearly as good, and with the added benefit of allowing latitude for steep angle shots without a significant loss of precision. Off hand though suggests short range and fast action, where the use of sticks is IMHO somewhat questionable.

The marksman/hunter in the near future will have all sorts of contraptions to hold the rifle for him. Boddington advances one of these in his buffalo video, not for buff, but for use in a blind when shooting leopard. It essentially puts a portable bench rest in the field. I can't help but think that these things take much from the experience, an experience which takes a significant investment in time and money, and perhaps years of planning and saving. I believe it represents positive reinforcement if I can encourage some to forgo artificial shooting aids in an effort to improve their practical skills.
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well said Boomer. I'm from Nova Scotia but live in BC, talk about coast to coast :), but I bring it up to point out that the game hunting, terrain being hunted and firearm/ammo used all add up to an endless variety of shooting scenarios. I don't get out to the range as often as I should (or can due to work) like I did when I was younger and at home every night and weekend. The areas I hunt are typically cut lines and cut blocks, where I either still hunt or set up. In cases of still hunting across rolling terrain, I have found that my ability and confidence in making proper first shot placement increases with the use of a hiking staff and using a sling. Even with those, if I can find a suitable stump, rock, etc. I'll choose that first. I also have a self imposed distance of 200 yards and have never had to stretch that due to the areas I hunt, I do admire those who can literally shoot twice that distance on a regular basis as it is a skill level I don't have. I believe the important thing is that each hunter use whichever method(s) are best suited to their particular circumstances.
 
Boomer said:
Despite our different approaches, both of us I think, do our best to achieve a single shot humane kill, and work within our own limitations to ensure that happens. Your hunting experience with respect to exotic locations far exceeds my own, and I doubt that I will ever again have the chance to hunt outside of North America again . . . . but the Yukon has certainly got my attention at the moment.

Marksmanship however is not location critical. A good field marksman does not loose his shooting ability by traveling to Africa or Asia . . . jet lag not withstanding. If I came across as belittling those who choose to use shooting sticks, that was wrong of me, as the most important aspect of the shot is the placement of the bullet, and not everyone can dedicate the time or money to field shooting that I have over the last 40 some years. This is not to suggest that I am some kind of super shot, I'm not, and I would be easily outmatched in any sort of precision shooting environment. I do believe however that I am a competent field shot, and I do have the time and location which allows me to to practice this craft throughout the year. I totally accept Jeff Cooper's adage, "if you can get closer get closer, and if you can get lower get lower. Stalking game to within easy shooting range is for me one of the greatest kicks you can get. Prone provides the best opportunity for a first round hit, but it is seldom useable unless you've found yourself on a bald hill providing you with a full view of the world. Sitting is nearly as good, and with the added benefit of allowing latitude for steep angle shots without a significant loss of precision. Off hand though suggests short range and fast action, where the use of sticks is IMHO somewhat questionable.

The marksman/hunter in the near future will have all sorts of contraptions to hold the rifle for him. Boddington advances one of these in his buffalo video, not for buff, but for use in a blind when shooting leopard. It essentially puts a portable bench rest in the field. I can't help but think that these things take much from the experience, an experience which takes a significant investment in time and money, and perhaps years of planning and saving. I believe it represents positive reinforcement if I can encourage some to forgo artificial shooting aids in an effort to improve their practical skills.
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Well said.
I have dabbled in all sorts of supports and still haven't found anything that is employable in the area I hunt- other than a sling.
Which reminds me; I got to hit the range this weekend:)
Cheers
 
Use what ever you feel gives you the best confidence. Practice when you can, and develop a routine that works for your hunting style/area. No one way is wrong.
Many times over the years I have had opportunities at various game animals at distances that left my crosshairs waiving accross an animal so bad I knew it would only be luck if I effectively scored a kill shot. So I passed on many opportunities. It sucked big time, but I felt obligated to show the game animal respect.
In fact, a few times that I passed up a shot opportunity, led me to another! On two particular occasions it resulted in me getting a shot at a different animal I did not originally see. Those times allowed me to shoot the biggest whittetail buck and moose of my life.

So sometimes passing on a difficult shot, and stalking closer to make an easier shot has paid off "BIG TIME"!

Everyone has thier own thoughts and opinions. Anyone who bases and voices thier own opinions based nothing more than heresay and internet babble, simply have no "MERIT" to concider. ACTUAL EXPERIENCE that has been shown by some shooters in this thread are worth trying for sure!

I tend to use what ever works best for me from practice. The only way to know what truely works best for you, is get out and practice with various setups and techniques.

Part of learning is gained from reading some of these replies.
But "KNOWING" is only gained by actually doing/practicing it.
 
I've been using the bipod for at least 15 years, however; I practice shooting it at the range along with kneeling, sitting and using a post or pole as a rest. Over the decades of shooting and killing big game I utilized all of these positions. I'm not a long distance shooter/killer, and like Boomer I love stalking my animal. There is a rush of excitement that a stalker can describe as a feeling never felt by any other experience in life. In the past I've stalked animals and was so excited that my knees almost gave out on me.............go figure. Pleasurable stress performs strange things to the body. This is why I hunt!
 
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Well said dthunter.

I hate it if I even clip a bit of the flank. Like I said before, I'm a meat hunter and I hate wasting any.

For me , shot placement is critical and anything I can do to make that shot I'll utilize.

Usually it's a Jack pine but sometimes nothing.

Anyone can drop an animal, it's not hard but when I read on US forums about shooting through the shoulder or even up the arse I just cringe.

It's up to the individual to decide what their standards are.
 
In hunting situations in Western Canada, a person well practised shooting prone will be able to hold his own against a bipod.
I always have a pack - many time have used it.
I used to pack a harris swivel bipod - and once in a blue moon pack it for speed goats, but for the rest it is simply a couple more lb's of "noisy" junk.
IMHO
 
07blackwater said:
Are people here implying that unless you've been to Africa you aren't considered a real hunter?
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Certainly not me.....I was just using an example of a place where the use of shooting sticks is fairly universal. i suspect there's a reason for it. i've certainly never heard anyone belittled for the practice over there anyhow.
 
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For hunting yotes, I will use both a swivel bi-pod (prone - for steady, long range shots) however I use shooting sticks (homemade with two dowels and some leather and nice large angled nails). Most of the commercial sticks, I found were hollowed, noisy contraptions. Still looking to see whether I can make something a little better, with and extending idea. I had a monopod (made with extending painting stick, but internals were too flimsy for bush work) and it broke after two years of use.

The reason I like the shooting sticks is that they are relatively steady and the reduced movement is due to the shooter alone (less error). I also found some of the commercial shooting sticks to be quite cumbersome and slow to set up, and did have a flimsy factor as well.
 
Neither, but an improvised rest is often taken advantage of, such as a tree, windfall, rock, my pack, etc...but usually it's freehand as I like to either spot and stalk, or call them close enough to poke them in the eye, lol.
 
sheephunter said:
Certainly not me.....I was just using an example of a place where the use of shooting sticks is fairly universal. i suspect there's a reason for it. i've certainly never heard anyone belittled for the practice over there anyhow.
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If we had up to half a dozen support people on a domestic hunt like a safari, one of them would be carrying shooting sticks. It is a bipod for me however.
 
Buckmastr said:
If we had up to half a dozen support people on a domestic hunt like a safari, one of them would be carrying shooting sticks. It is a bipod for me however.
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That's my North American choice too...for other than moose hunts where cover is typically too tall. For moose hunts I carry my own shooting sticks It's the height of the cover that makes them the choice in Africa too....not the half dozen support staff :)
 
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