Handgun Hunting w/ Steady Sticks (Why?)

I think it depends on your goals and your style of hunting. I generally carry an iron sighted revolver in a hip holster and keep my shots under 50 yards. No need for a stick. On occasion, though, I carry a scoped revolver with the expectation that a 100 or 125 yard shot might be the best I can hope for. In that case, I find a stick pretty handy. If nothing else, a "monopod" is a fine hiking stick, and I don't have any rifles I dislike enough to put to that use.

I think all hunters like to use something to steady their aim so it certainly behooves a handgun hunter to use what's available such as his backpack, the side of a tree limb, steady sticks or sitting down and propping against an upturned knee. I'll use anything like I've mentioned as opposed to shooting offhand.

It depends mainly on how you hunt. If your shots are all short enough that you can reliably hit a kill-zone target using nothing other than your hands, then you likely don't need a steady stick. As the range increases, so does the need to stabilize your pistol. All of us could shoot a deer sized target at 10 yards with no supporting device. However, push that shot to 120 yards, looking through a scope, and you're likely not taking that shot without a support of some kind.

I've hunted a few times with my 460 XVR, and I've passed on the shots I was presented with simply because I couldn't get the gun steady enough to insure a hit. On the range, sitting down at a bench and shooting off a rest I can hammer out accurate 100 yard shots all day. I once had a guy on the next lane comment that I shoot better with a pistol at 100 yards then he was doing with his rifle. In a field position though, it's a completely different deal. I can't get anywhere near as stable in the field as I can at a bench on a range. Shooting sticks help with that.

As for "defeating the purpose of handgun hunting", I'm not sure I'm tracking your thoughts. Shooting sticks increase your ability to shoot more accurately at distance with a pistol, how is that defeating the purpose? A bipod doesn't defeat the purpose of rifle hunting...same thing with the pistol.

Shooting a rifle at 100 yards is not a challenge. Shooting a pistol accurately at that distance is much more challenging, and therein lies the appeal for many people.

I think many handgun hunters use shooting sticks because they aren't out and about and happen upon a deer of chance, but rather, go looking for a deer to shoot with their handgun. They'd likely use shooting sticks for a rifle shot too. They likely wouldn't pack a rifle, or even a handgun if they weren't hunting.

I carry a handgun all the time, and often pack a rifle when afield even when not hunting. Same as I pack a knife when I don't plan on whittling or skinning. I seen many folks that don't carry a gun when scouting, or fishing, or hiking. That's a different mindset.

ZenRooster said:

On the other hand, using it as a walking stick is a good idea, so I can get behind that.

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https://www.ammoboxes.com/sws-1-40.html
I don't know how many times I've recommended one of these MTM Shooter's Walking Sticks. I've used one myself for probably 20 years. It provides an excellent "3rd leg" for traversing steep or uneven terrain (increasingly important as I age) and it provides a steady, if not quite "rock solid" rest for my rifle - as long as the brush isn't too high and I can sit down to shoot.

ZenRooster said:

But carrying along an extra item into the field with the absolute certainty of using it makes me wonder why not simply use a rifle.

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My wife and I had to laugh while we were sitting in the truck eating our lunch while out deer hunting yesterday. We saw the answer to "carrying along an extra item into the field" while hunting. While we were eating our lunch, we saw a guy and a kid (probably 9 or 10 years old) come hiking down off the hill across the road. The guy had a rifle on his shoulder with a bi-pod mounted on it, but the kid wasn't carrying a rifle at all - instead he was carrying a set of shooting sticks that looked long enough for the guy (probably his dad) to use if he had to stand to shoot.
My wife and I both got a chuckle out of that. The guy was obviously using his kid as his shooting sticks bearer. The kid didn't seem to mind though.

ZenRooster said:

.......But carrying along an extra item into the field with the absolute certainty of using it makes me wonder why not simply use a rifle.....

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Think you might be missing a key factor equating a rifle with a supported handgun....handgun calibers do not have the range of a rifle and bullet drop can be significant. That's where a support for the handgun can help. As others have point out, the distance you're shooting and skill level dictates the technique.

I shoot from some sort of supported position whenever possible with everything but a shotgun. I carry shooting sticks when hunting with a rifle and while I don't intentionally handgun hunt would do the same if I did. The goal is to make a shot into the kill zone and put the game down ASAP with a clean kill. Whatever it takes.

ZenRooster said:

Wouldn't carrying / using a steady stick or tripod defeat the purpose of handgun hunting? Otherwise, why not simply use a rifle? I'm so confused. I always pictured handgun hunting as being an off-hand shooting activity.

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Using a rifle is rifle hunting, Using a handgun, even with sticks is still handgun hunting. What about when you use a rest for your rifle, does that change the rifle into a punt gun? Even with sticks, the challenge to make a clean shot with a handgun is more difficult than with a shoulder mounted rifle. You are also restricted to much less distance for a clean shot, even when using modern hand cannons like a XVR. As a hunter, you quarry deserves a clean, quick and ethical kill shot. With a handgun, that is best achieved with some kind of rest. Trying to be macho and bragging to your friends how you took the shot one handed @ 75 yards, does nuttin' to ease the suffering of a gut shot deer.

ZenRooster said:

Wouldn't carrying / using a steady stick or tripod defeat the purpose of handgun hunting? Otherwise, why not simply use a rifle? I'm so confused. I always pictured handgun hunting as being an off-hand shooting activity.

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Some people hunt with handguns just because, some do it because it’s more challenging and some do it because it is advantageous. Same arguments can be made for archery, muzzleloader, primitive. In some States they have their own dates where a particular one might be legal when a regular rifle cannot be used for certain game.

I have hunted with a number of handguns that are less than ideal for offhand shooting but almost never carry sticks.

What you need is going to be highly dependent on you, your equipment and what/where you are hunting.

I remember the first time I handgun hunted it was odd walking into the woods without a rifle I kept thinking I forgot something but the 629 was there in a crossdraw holster. I generally use sticks when hunting a field edge not so much in the woods.

Most people don't practice enough to be proficient offhand with their pistol or rifle. It they aren't using the correct gun for the hunting method.
I don't need a brace for my Blackhawk. But I probably would for an x frame Smith or other cannons the manufacturer forgot to put on a carriage.
On the other side, said cannons can kill a white tail at ranges beyond what a lot of people rifle hunt. The few who are good with them can make use of it with sticks.

I’ve been a dedicated handgun hunter for the last 25 years or so. I’ve taken several deer with and without the use of shooting sticks. I use the Primos Shooting Stick specifically.

I use the stick as a walking stick when moving from place to place. When I’m at my stand, I hunt from the ground, I’ll use it as a shooting stick. It gives stability for the shot. A rifle has three points of contact; shoulder, hand gripping the stock and the hand gripping the forend.

Handgun hunters often use a braced shooting position….using their knees for support. Others will shoot off-hand and still others will use the shooting stick.

I’ve used shooting sticks to take a 70 yard kill shot on a doe using my Super Redhawk. I’ve also taken an 80 yard (measured with a gps) off-hand with my T/C Contender.

Even though I have killed a couple of dozen deer with handguns, I usually feel better about using a rest of some sort. I have shot several deer offhand at close range but I feel I owe it to the deer to make a clean kill.

When using a scoped handgun offhand, it's a nightmare trying to find the target in the scope and holding it steady ... try it some time and you'll probably agree.