Hunting/Shooting Support Sticks

AdamRoby

AdamRoby

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Kirkland, Quebec
This may bring many different points of view, but I find at 100 yards it's hard to keep the scope sights fixed on a target without some kind of support. At the range it is easy with your elbow on the table, but out in the field, aiming at a deer, nerves on high alert, I need something to help me stabilize my shot. I think a simple single pole adjustable stick would be enough, but as one does you start looking at seeing two legs, three legs.. and start to wonder what is best. I think a single pole would be easier to carry, quicker to setup, and won't get in the way if using from a chair blind or standing, maybe even from a tree blind.

Thoughts?
 
1 leg is easiest to move around. 2 legs are more stable. 3 legs are super stable but hard to move. I have some variation of all 3 (a trekking pole with a v-yoke, a small extending bipod that is only tall enough to use while sitting, and a Bog Deathgrip tripod) and it really depends on the situation as to which I would use.

The Trekking pole is the most versatile, goes low enough to shoot from sitting on the ground, and goes tall enough to shoot from standing. But its also the least stable, and generally speaking I have my hiking pack on my back if I am going anywhere that I'm going to want a trekking pole, and I find the pack (with an internal frame for rigidity) makes a better platform if I can sit down behind it.

On the other end of the spectrum the Deathgrip is super stable, but its bulky and heavy, so you wouldn't want to be trying to move it around when its time to shoot. Would be great if you had a blind that you only looked in one direction from, but if you're looking out 2 or 3 sides of your blind then I would want something more maneuverable.


What about different sitting positions? I've found sitting cross-legged with my elbows on my knees to be a very stable position. Getting down on one knee and putting my elbow on the other knee has also proved useful, albeit less stable than crosslegged with both elbows supported. Also shot a bear from a folding lawn chair with my elbow on the arm rest, that worked pretty good too.
 
Got two things about shooting sticks just last week, both via our friends down in the NRA, this link should lead to the other one.

https://www.americanhunter.org/content/stick-it-a-guide-to-shooting-sticks/

Actually, I prefer the term trigger sticks for the above aids because the first term actually first applied to those seats on a stick the English use. I mention this because I'm always on guard against the Yanks Americanizing our Canuckian speech, and also of course because I can be a real pain in the ass sometimes. But I do hope the NRA articles will be helpful.

Shooting stick:
tan-leather-adjustable-shooting-seat-stick-with-black-shaft[1].jpg
 
I hate carrying any pole when I'm packing my rifle. I went with a spartan bipod that attaches to an adapter on my rifle magnetically. I got the 8" to 12" high bipod. Every hunting scenario is different though, sometimes the grass is too high to shoot prone, if this is the case I guess if there's no other option I'll shoot off my knee. There are a couple different brands of light weight shooting stick that might help.
 
An offhand shot at 100 yards should not be difficult. Spend more time at the range shooting off hand than making nice tight groups off the bench is my answer. Even using a 22 at 40-50 yards helps a lot.

I only look for something to lean on if past 200 yards or I have lots of time and the game is not moving or spooked.
 
Bipod, sticks, tripod, non pod I have used them all..if you want the most stable quad pod is just about the shizzle. I have diy quad pod built for standing, one for seated on a stool and a couple for sitting on the ground for coyote hunting. Once you figure out how to position yourself it's crazy stable. Only real hitch is you have no lateral movement but you can adjust vertically by rocking forward or back. Using my standing quad pod I can often hit a my 12" gong at 1k yds standing...a quick google search will give you an idea of how to make your own.. I used appropriate sized dowel and bolts for my standing and large sitting sets and fiberglass driveway markers and paracord for hinges on my coyote hunting set.
 
For hunting I carry a set of quick sticks..the shock cord type and my pack. I practice using the pack as a rest as well as the sticks. I also practice unsupported both sitting and off hand.
 
I practise offhand shooting for times when it's necessary, but shooting offhand is a last resort.

If I'm hunting by myself in semi-open brushy county, I usually use two sticks which are the correct length / height to support standing shots. Quick to employ, and can be used as a single "monopod" if there isn't time to spread and set the correct height. The commercial sticks with triggers and cradles and other doodads are a commonly available commercial marketing success, and some are nice, but are not necessary. Learn to grasp your rifle at the same time as the intersection of 2 simple wooden sticks bound together with rubber near the top. It's not difficult to learn, the sticks are free if you build your own and they work fine.

Three legged and quad sticks are very stable, but I've only used them on guided hunts where the guide or tracker can carry them and set them up. Too finicky and slow and noisy for use by one person.

If hunting in open country where prone shooting is a realistic choice, I do that, and support in my rifle on my day pack. But then I also carry a set of folding aluminum bipod waist-height sticks on my belt. They come in very handy for support while shooting from the sitting or sometimes kneeling position if snow or grass is too high.
 
I tried a shooting stick - once. It is now gathering dust in my gun room. For shooting gophers, I use a little stool to sit on and a cheap camera tripod with a special adapter to cradle a rifle. Both are very light to carry and fold easily. Hunting big game, I don't use anything. If anything, I'll maybe go down on one knee and use it for support with my elbow. YMMV
 
When turkey hunting and sitting against a tree, I'll use my knee. When sitting in a chair blind, I can't keep my legs cross for very long, and any slight movement triggers the turkeys to take off pretty quick. I guess with deer at some distance you could still position yourself on the chair to use a knee without spooking them. I'll have to try it out. I had some home made sticks but never seemed to get the length just right. Sometimes it's just easier to buy something known to work well... thanks for the feedback, I'll have to mull this over a bit. I wish the range would allow for more positions to practice in a more realistic hunting position. Once the snow melts I'll head into the public land to test in a more realistic situation.
 
Making a good shot is vital. I always utilize a tree or go down on a knee, but frequently the tall grass when I'm out in an open area makes any kind of kneeling shot impossible. It's hard to be prepared for every situation, and not be heavy leaden with gear, making the hunt torturously fatiguing.
 
I made my self a quad stick that is amazingly stable, almost as good as being at the bench, that said I never used it hunting! Usually I use my pack wile sitting or prone, if in a canoe I will raise a knee and rest my elbow on it! Most of the time I can rest the forehand against a tree! I think I will make a set of “African style” sticks I like how quick you can deploy them and how stable they look!
 
Bog pod death grip is about 10lbs. Rock solid tri pod but no way in hell am I dragging that in the field.

Trigger stix Gen 3 tripod long or short is a good tripod. Bit heavy for longer walks with 3 legs to catch on stuff.

I still use my 2 leg bogpod shooting sticks. If I need a quick shot I keep the legs together and drop to one knee and I'm still more solid than a free hand shot.

Three 1" wooden dowels about 5-6ft long, held together at the top with a strip of bicycle tube rubber to make a tripod worked great in Africa. I carried it a lot for a walking stick, Even though the tracker tried taking it every 5 minutes ha.
 
I've looked at the bamboo sticks at the dollar store meant for gardening supports as a source for materials to make a shooting stick. They're tall enough to use standing, and cheap enough to experiment with.
 
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