Hunting With Sticks

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another pake

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One of my favorite spots to see game, especially white tails, is near the top of an open hillside looking down with a wide, nearly 180 degree, field of view.

Deer are likely to appear from the willows below, like ghosts rising out of the mist. Many times I've thought that it might be nice to have a set of sticks that I could swing around to match the changing target lines. Ranges vary from 40 - 250 yards with most being in the middle of that.

My spot to sit is in deep grass on the slope. My feet are below my butt, but the angles don't work out for a braced shot to my knees.

Anybody here use sticks? Or mono, bi or tri pods? Honest opinions are appreciated. Do you find them useful? Or are they just one more thing to carry.

Thanks!
 
I shot my best buck in just sort of a situation out in the trans pecos of west Texas. I used a set of "shootin' stix", a crossed stick that was adjustable. Still have it, but around here I kinda prefer a monopod for portability. The cross sticks are more stable, though. That shot was 150 yards and I put it right where I wanted it. They're much more stable than shooting off your knees.
 
By all means get a set of sticks. The mono takes some getting used to and is not nearly as stable as the bi-pods. The new bi-pods they have out are slim and lightweight. I won't hunt anymore without one or the other.
 
Mono sticks are useless. A tripod type of shooting stick works best, but they are much better if you have someone carrying them for you. There are several bipod type shooting sticks that work well enough and are a good compromise

I have 2 sets of the Stony Point sticks. I bought the light duty set first. They work just like shock corded tent poles and break down quite small and light. I carry them in a side pocket of my pack and never know they are there. They take a little practice, but do improve accuracy.

You adjust height by how wide you make the base. Not as sturdy as the others, but take up little room. Can only be used sitting or kneeling. Mine are "similar" to these. Couldn't find a photo of the actual ones I have

http://www.amazon.com/Hammers-bunge...82342&sr=8-20&keywords=tripod+shooting+sticks



I bought a heavier duty set of these. They are more steady, and can be used sitting or standing.

http://www.amazon.com/Stoney-Point-...82183&sr=8-51&keywords=tripod+shooting+sticks

A bit more to carry, and I don't always use them. Depends on where I'm going. The shorter sticks go most of the time just in case.
 
One of my favorite spots to see game, especially white tails, is near the top of an open hillside looking down with a wide, nearly 180 degree, field of view.

Deer are likely to appear from the willows below, like ghosts rising out of the mist. Many times I've thought that it might be nice to have a set of sticks that I could swing around to match the changing target lines. Ranges vary from 40 - 250 yards with most being in the middle of that.

My spot to sit is in deep grass on the slope. My feet are below my butt, but the angles don't work out for a braced shot to my knees.

Anybody here use sticks? Or mono, bi or tri pods? Honest opinions are appreciated. Do you find them useful? Or are they just one more thing to carry.

One of my favorite spots to see game; i.e., coyotes, racoons, crows and groundhogs is from my front porch and I use sticks. I've found them very effective even to ranges past 300 yards.

j19ud-232.jpg

I have 2 sets of sticks. One I bought for a bit over $100 and they're very nice. The others I made for maybe 50 cents; they're the perfect height for a sitting shot. I use them when they could potentially get dirty. Both work well.

I don't like monopods and I don't like the tripods. I prefer the bipods. In my opinion the use of a tripod is more likely to cause side to side motion of the barrel while a bipod will be more up and down and not affect accuracy as much. A monopod is the worst of both worlds.

j19ud-227.jpg
 
For years I coyote hunted off of a set of homemade sticks. I took a piece of oak scrap I had and cut two square pieces 1/2"x1/2"x36". Stick them side by side and drilled a hole about 8" from the top. Put in a bolt with nylock nut. Painted them dull camo. They worked great. My rig wears a bipod most of the time now, but the sticks are still handy.
 
If your furthest shot is 250 yards, I wouldn't bother with sticks. Learn how to sling up, and practice from the sitting position.
 
Yes, I hunt with "sticks" - a bipod in my case. My knees aren't as young as they used to be, so the secondary purpose of the bipod is to provide motive stability (with the bipod legs locked together, of couse) for me while the primary purpose is to provide shooting stability for my rifle.
 
Mono sticks are useless.

While not as stable as cross sticks, a monopod is far better than "slinging up" and shooting off hand. Fartherest I'm apt to shoot with it is maybe 75-100 yards. I use it for squirrel hunting with my pistols, too. I walk in the woods with it like a walking stick, set it to shoot from. I can stalk within range and set up without noise or hassle. It's far from useless.
 
I uses two oak dowels from the hardware store with a piece of leather around them. I can move the leather up and down to adjust elevation.
 
Thanks guys. That's exactly the kind of input I was looking for.

rule303, yep on the sling. Got a Turner, and know how to use it. I spent my share of involuntary time wrapped around a military sling about 45 years ago. I just don't want to do it for an eight hour day on the side of this hill in November. Plus I've gotta pour coffee once in awhile.

Grumulkin, I like your "stand"! I've been known to punch a yote or a skunk from my porch too. Great fun.

Thanks again everyone. I may just give it a try.
 
I've tried all three.

I would go with a tripod from a sitting position. Second choice would be a bipod. Monopod would be a distant third. In fact, I would tie two sticks together before using a monopod.
 
Harris Bipods

Harris Bipods are exceptional for sitting and 250 yards they will work very well.
If you can shoot prone they are awesome. If you shoot rom the seated position the 24" version is good if you can shoot prone I think the 13" version is excellent.
 
I use a set of shooting sticks when I stalk. With the way I carry them I can get from a standing position to on the sticks and shooting in less than 1.5 seconds. They are incredibly useful.

If you are sitting for a long time then you might want to make sure that the sticks you get have "feet" that will keep them from sinking into the ground.
 
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