Hunting/Shooting Support Sticks

Don’t discount a properly adjusted sling for when you’re gun is shouldered, or when you take a knee and get slung up tight. Shooting sticks likely work well but I have found when things happen quick a sling is a good compromise to a stable shot. I’ve used them successfully out to 75y and I have zero doubt I could do so at 100-150y.
 
I quite commonly grab a branch off a tree or log that has a Y at one end when I get out of the truck. I break it off at a height that is about right to support the rifle when down on one knee. I find that to be pletty steady for up to about 250 yards. If anything further than that I need to be more steady, preferably in prone off a bipod or my backpack. I'll pass up a shot of I'm not prepared and steady. Prone is my preference any time, but I shoot target from prone a lot and it feels comfortable and familiar to me.
 
Been watching a lube tuber in Australia of late, his channel is Into the Night.
He uses a Hyper Pod II, well it was gifted as a promotional, seems to work for him truck hunting and the occasional stalk on a Dingo or shooting feral hogs or cats.
Not for everyone, but its an option in one doesnt like Varmint Al's Bi-Fur pod.
Rob
 
I am not the best shot in the world, and shake like a leaf in a high wind, so any time I have to shoot over 100 yards, I try to find a rest of some sort in the field. I have learned where to break the trigger in my wobble, and it works for me, but is not the best option. And I can say that I have taken offhand shots over 100 yards only on a few occasions, and only once over 200 yards on a large bull moose in a grown logging block where I had no other option at the time.

I have a Bog Pod Tripod, and while pretty stable, it can be awkward on a stalk, and is not as stable as I would prefer.
I also picked up a short tripod that has an arm for the back of the rifle. From a sitting position this does work pretty well, and have used it to practice out to 500 yards. I do find that having a back support also helps, so I try to sit back against a tree, log or rock when in the field.
I have a single trigger stick and a tripod trigger stick. The single stick works better for stalking and doubles as a walking stick, but is pretty unstable; better than off hand, but not by a lot. The tripod stick is quite a bit better. When sitting, I again try to find a back support and/or support under the rear of the rifle for even more support.

I have seen where people are hunting in pairs or more that where one is using the tripod and another is using the single, when one has a shooting opportunity, the shooter sets up on the tripod, and the other assists by placing the single under the rear stock of the rifle for added support, whether standing, kneeling or sitting. Seems like a method to try for additional support, provided the shooter has the time to set up for the shot.
 
There's the thing called a thumbstick, a type of staff which seems to be popular for hill walking in Scotland. They can be made from antler as shown, with a joined on piece of wood, or from a natural growth of tree. You might have to design the 'thumb' part to accommodate your rifle, but they make an adequate monopod. You would want a sling for your rifle when on the move.

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blackthorn-thumbstick-hiking-stick.jpg
 
I've been meaning to make myself an antler topped walking stick like above. Just havent gotten around to it. Got some cut up antler, gotta find a good stick...
 
use your sling by putting your elbow in it and wrapping your arm around ...3 point aiming
I also like the trigger stick bi-pod
 
53Izzy744 said:
Light and easy to pack, works well. 46$ on amazon, was much cheaper back when i bought mine.

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You can stick that into your belt or pocket for a bit of extra left support if you are in a hurry. I've done that on the range. You can unscrew the Y-shaped thing and hold on to the rubber bit if you want it more compact. Or just use a short wooden stick.
 
53Izzy744 said:
Light and easy to pack, works well. 46$ on amazon, was much cheaper back when i bought mine.

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Hard to beat a purpose-made piece of equipment. I actually got a pretty good traditional thumbstick at the Boy Scouts of Canada National Headquarters store here in Ottawa, which can be a surprisingly irritating place to visit so I don't go there much. At that time they were also being sold at LeBaron Sports, showing the ancient time period I'm talking about, but maybe they're still around somewhere. You might think the UK would supply the best ones, but those I've seen from there have been total crap, they must think were idiots.
 
Environment dictates what I carry. For open prairie, I usually have a bipod attached to my rifle for prone shots when shooting off my pack isn't high enough. In sage brush where you can't shoot prone I will use my backpack (Mystery Ranch Metcalf) which has a frame and will shoot kneeling or sitting off of it.

When I hunt at home or the thick bush, I drop the bipod an carry shooting sticks for anything kneeling or higher, shots. If I'm still hunting, I will have the sticks at standing height and I can either use it as a monopod or bipod. Anything else, I try to shoot prone, kneeling/sitting off of my backpack or find a natural rest like a tree.
 
Big Bad said:
Hard to beat a purpose-made piece of equipment. I actually got a pretty good traditional thumbstick at the Boy Scouts of Canada National Headquarters store here in Ottawa, which can be a surprisingly irritating place to visit so I don't go there much. At that time they were also being sold at LeBaron Sports, showing the ancient time period I'm talking about, but maybe they're still around somewhere. You might think the UK would supply the best ones, but those I've seen from there have been total crap, they must think were idiots.
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The fact you're calling it Boy Scouts dates it too - Scouts Canada has been co-ed in all sections since the mid 90s.
 
Big Bad said:
Hard to beat a purpose-made piece of equipment. I actually got a pretty good traditional thumbstick at the Boy Scouts of Canada National Headquarters store here in Ottawa, which can be a surprisingly irritating place to visit so I don't go there much. At that time they were also being sold at LeBaron Sports, showing the ancient time period I'm talking about, but maybe they're still around somewhere. You might think the UK would supply the best ones, but those I've seen from there have been total crap, they must think were idiots.
Click to expand...

I miss Lebarons, back when XS Cargo was next door. Now it is a Giant Tiger, or at least it was last time i was on that nightmare called Marrivale Road lol i always looked forward to their fall catalogs and imagined what gun i would buy when i was old enough.
 
I'm amazed how much they can charge for a stick... I can find a range finder for cheaper than most of these.
I did find one that is a tripod, but that can be configured (removable legs) to be a bipod or a monopod.
It's a no-name brand, but it might be an option to configure for many different scenarios.
 
I very rarely go into the field with my Primus walking staff / shooting stick, basically because I use it to help me walk in the rough ground I hunt. Lots of side hills and climbing .
I wouldn't get far in my physical condition without it.
I have rarely used it for support however for two reasons, the first being that manybof my shots happen so fast that the gun comes up and the shot is taken within a second or two.Any time involved in getting the gun set up on the staff means a lot shot.
Quite often as well, if there is a better support for a longer shot such as a solid tree branch, that is more preferable .
Sitting in a ground blind it is pretty danged usable however .
Cat
 
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