Hunting tripod help

[Okie_Poke]

Good evening. I could use some help. I’ve gone down a few different rabbit holes researching hunting tripods recently and think I’m making this way more complicated than it needs to be. Much like this post, I’m probably trying to do too many things at once. Your assistance is appreciated. (I apologize if this thread is in the wrong spot. I’m new to posting here and picked the forum that seemed to fit).

I’ll start with my use case: Elk hunting this year, during a rifle season. Binos only, no spotter, though I might add a spotter for future hunts. I would also like the ability to shoot off of it, at least from a sitting or kneeling position but standing would be nice. Arca-Swiss compatible head. Tripod could also be used in future for pronghorn and whitetail hunting. Trying to keep this tripod and head lightweight and under $300 or thereabouts, so please don’t tell me RRS and outdoorsman make the only good stuff. I’m sure it’s great, but it’s not in the cards for me right now.

Currently, I have an old vortex aluminum tripod that can handle 10x42 binos from a seated position and not much else. I also have Primos tall trigger sticks tripod. The former works for seated glassing but is too flimsy for a rifle. The latter is taller and can support either rifle or binos, but it’s not terribly stable for either when seated because of the legs having to be splayed out to get that low. It’s also long and cumbersome, though it’s very easy to deploy. Unless I add a tripod, I’m planning to make the Triggersticks work.

Okay, now to my most specific question: Does anyone have first hand experience with and feedback on Leupold’s Alpine CF-425 tripod? Per my best internet research, it appears to be a rebranded Leofoto LS-224 with a lh-25 head. Weighs 2 pounds; rated to support 13 pounds. I have no doubt it will handle binos fine. But has anyone shot off of it? Outdoor life says, “It’s a handy shooting platform when paired with aftermarket accessories such as Spartan’s Davros head and rifle socket,” but I haven’t found any other review of someone shooting off it and OL provided no additional detail. I love the weight and can find the Leofoto version for $220, but I want to be able to shoot off it. I’m hunting, though, not shooting PRS, so I don’t need to shoot 1,000 yards.

A related question is just how stout does a tripod and head need to be to support a hunting (8 pound) rifle? Is the 13-lb rating enough, or do I need 20- or 30-pound ratings to get stable (or more)? Will sirui’s va-5 fluid head (or these others) support an 8 pound 30-06 for an occasional field shot (plus enough practice to be proficient)? Is the increase in glassing smoothness for the fluid head worth needing a perfectly level tripod?

As you can see, I have lots of questions and few answers. In the attached survey I’ve identified a few options that I think are reasonable choices for my budget and parameters. But I don’t know what I don’t know and would appreciate your input, experience, and expertise. What would you take? If you have experience with any or all or others, please let me know. Thank you.

 

[Chuck R.]

I've got zero experience with the ones you've listed, but I'm sort of in the same boat by getting ready for a MT mulie hunt this NOV.

From the research I've done, generally weight equals stability to a point and a lot of the reviews I read stated that the tripod listed limits were usually conservative. You should have no problem with a tripod and an 8lb hunting rig.

For years I've used a simple BogPod tripod that weighed about 2lbs and was pretty good with it sitting out to 300-350. Longest shot with it has been a little over 300 on a few bucks and a nice prong horn last SEPT in WY. I was practicing out to 450-500, so 300 was sort of a chip shot when it came. A lot of places I hunt here in KS going prone just isn't practical due to the grass/brush so the tripod comes in handy. I will always have one when hunting from a ground blind. My Bogpod:



I have been working with a Hog Saddle carbon fiber with their lightweight ball head for about 6 months now and I can get about another 150yds with it when "clamped in". Further than that I really have no interest in for hunting.

https://stores.hogsaddle.com/piglite-cf4-carbon-fiber-shooting-tripod/

Weight is about 3.6lbs, rated for 24lbs, a couple of my precision rigs are just about 15lbs
Head weight is a little over 1lb so just about 5 lbs "all up".
I also bought a Hog Saddle clamping mount to go with it, works pretty well for coyotes & beavers, about useless for hunting. Too slow to set up.

The tripod isn't too bulky and straps to easily my backpack and carries well. This was a concern because some tripods had a pretty long OAL and bulky leg sections. Good stability, not so hot on portability. Don't go cheap on the ball head, you'll pick up more deflection if you're loading it IF/when clamped in. My current head is OK, but I'll probably look at replacing it next year. When clamping in, I usually start about 2mils below the TGT, and apply downward pressure with my cheek to raise up into the TGT.

The only mod I've done so far was replacing the Arca clamp with a Really Right Stuff clamp that allows the plates/rifle to drop in VS slide in. I've had Arca plates installed in 2 rifle stocks (both my "long" shooters; .270 and .300WM). and swapped out the Bogdan plate on my Swarovski spotting scope to an Arca. My precision rifles have rails, so no problem mounting plates to them.

Another "accessory" I bought is a Thunderbird Long Range Mini Tacky bag with Git Light fill, which is about 10 ounces. It also straps to a backpack and I don't even notice it. I've also got a "Gamechanger" bag with regular fill, but it's a pig to carry. I've found throwing the bag on the head is faster, but clamping and "loading" is more stable. The bag also works well for Binos and will support a rifle just resting on it:





I haven't tried it yet, but there might actually be more benefit to skipping the ball head altogether and just throwing the bag on the tripod. It'd save some weight and probably gain some stability for the bag.

I've spent quite a bit of time practicing both with .22LR. .223 and the real deal and like anything the tripod requires practice, both shooting off it, and setting up rapidly. I've even got a little mule deer picture in my basement for dryfire practice. Dryfire has saved me quite a bit of time/money trying to find positions that work for me. I still spend time shooting of hasty positions like off my backpack because I'm still not convinced there will be enough time to set the other chit up, unless I'm doing some sort of overwatch/ambush. .22LR and .223 are way more cost effective, especially with the shortage of hunting bullets I'm experiencing.

I've found the tripod to be useful, but personally I prefer prone off my backpack, the closer I get to the ground, the happier I am. Another option I practice is running a bipod off my backpack when sitting. I'm using a Eberlestock X2 with metal frame so the pack does a pretty good job as a support.

Saturday I've got my hunting buddies coming out for a practice session when we'll shoot from field positions out to about 500 or so on steel with our game rifles. I might bring a timer to work on setup and 1st shot times as it still feels awkward.

Good luck with your choice and please keep us informed on how it's working out!

 

[Okie_Poke]

I've got zero experience with the ones you've listed, but I'm sort of in the same boat by getting ready for a MT mulie hunt this NOV.

From the research I've done, generally weight equals stability to a point and a lot of the reviews I read stated that the tripod listed limits were usually conservative. You should have no problem with a tripod and an 8lb hunting rig.

For years I've used a simple BogPod tripod that weighed about 2lbs and was pretty good with it sitting out to 300-350. Longest shot with it has been a little over 300 on a few bucks and a nice prong horn last SEPT in WY. I was practicing out to 450-500, so 300 was sort of a chip shot when it came. A lot of places I hunt here in KS going prone just isn't practical due to the grass/brush so the tripod comes in handy. I will always have one when hunting from a ground blind. My Bogpod:

View attachment 1099766

I have been working with a Hog Saddle carbon fiber with their lightweight ball head for about 6 months now and I can get about another 150yds with it when "clamped in". Further than that I really have no interest in for hunting.

https://stores.hogsaddle.com/piglite-cf4-carbon-fiber-shooting-tripod/

Weight is about 3.6lbs, rated for 24lbs, a couple of my precision rigs are just about 15lbs
Head weight is a little over 1lb so just about 5 lbs "all up".
I also bought a Hog Saddle clamping mount to go with it, works pretty well for coyotes & beavers, about useless for hunting. Too slow to set up.

The tripod isn't too bulky and straps to easily my backpack and carries well. This was a concern because some tripods had a pretty long OAL and bulky leg sections. Good stability, not so hot on portability. Don't go cheap on the ball head, you'll pick up more deflection if you're loading it IF/when clamped in. My current head is OK, but I'll probably look at replacing it next year. When clamping in, I usually start about 2mils below the TGT, and apply downward pressure with my cheek to raise up into the TGT.

The only mod I've done so far was replacing the Arca clamp with a Really Right Stuff clamp that allows the plates/rifle to drop in VS slide in. I've had Arca plates installed in 2 rifle stocks (both my "long" shooters; .270 and .300WM). and swapped out the Bogdan plate on my Swarovski spotting scope to an Arca. My precision rifles have rails, so no problem mounting plates to them.

Another "accessory" I bought is a Thunderbird Long Range Mini Tacky bag with Git Light fill, which is about 10 ounces. It also straps to a backpack and I don't even notice it. I've also got a "Gamechanger" bag with regular fill, but it's a pig to carry. I've found throwing the bag on the head is faster, but clamping and "loading" is more stable. The bag also works well for Binos and will support a rifle just resting on it:

View attachment 1099767

View attachment 1099768

I haven't tried it yet, but there might actually be more benefit to skipping the ball head altogether and just throwing the bag on the tripod. It'd save some weight and probably gain some stability for the bag.

I've spent quite a bit of time practicing both with .22LR. .223 and the real deal and like anything the tripod requires practice, both shooting off it, and setting up rapidly. I've even got a little mule deer picture in my basement for dryfire practice. Dryfire has saved me quite a bit of time/money trying to find positions that work for me. I still spend time shooting of hasty positions like off my backpack because I'm still not convinced there will be enough time to set the other chit up, unless I'm doing some sort of overwatch/ambush. .22LR and .223 are way more cost effective, especially with the shortage of hunting bullets I'm experiencing.

I've found the tripod to be useful, but personally I prefer prone off my backpack, the closer I get to the ground, the happier I am. Another option I practice is running a bipod off my backpack when sitting. I'm using a Eberlestock X2 with metal frame so the pack does a pretty good job as a support.

Saturday I've got my hunting buddies coming out for a practice session when we'll shoot from field positions out to about 500 or so on steel with our game rifles. I might bring a timer to work on setup and 1st shot times as it still feels awkward.

Good luck with your choice and please keep us informed on how it's working out!

Thank you for the detailed response. There's a lot of good information to digest here. I appreciate it.

 

[Chuck R.]

Don't mention it!

There's lots of info available, especially from the PRS crowd, the trick is going to be sorting out what works for you. A lot of it has to do with how much weight you're willing to tote VS what your accuracy requirement will be. Heavier is generally better, until you have to carry it a long ways, kinda like extra ammo and swimming. I've already gone through my pack looking for ways to save the 5lbs the tripod is costing me...

Then there's also the positions that will work for you. For instance my most stable sitting is hunched low with elbows locked on knees, but If I have time, cross legged sitting with my backpack on my lap is like sitting at a shooting bench. I positively hate kneeling, but it's quick gets me over brush and I'm OK at it a little further out to about 250 yds. There's a whole learning curve to associating position with range limits. And I still try to find time to practice the non-tripod enabled positions....

 

[Okie_Poke]

Bumping this up and asking again. Chuck provided a lot of great information, but I’ll take some more if y’all are willing to share.

 

[jmr40]

My thoughts.

If you're in typical elk habitat that means steep mountains at high altitude. The less weight you have to lug around the better. I prefer shooting sticks. I have 2 sets. One is pretty small and uses shock corded sections that fit together. It weighs next to nothing and easily fits into my daypack.

Not exactly what I have but similar. These don't extend enough to use standing but work when sitting or prone.

Primos Pole Cat Steady-Stix Mag Shooting Stick (midwayusa.com)

I also have a set of these.

Primos Pole Cat Tall Bipod Shooting Stick (midwayusa.com)

Like anything else using them requires some practice. The tripod sets are steadier, and great if you you're on Safari and have someone to carry them for you. The ones with a single pole I've never mastered. But 2 sticks seems to be a good compromise. I can almost match the accuracy I can get shooting off a bench, and have less to carry.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Here are my thoughts as a highly mobile hunter that uses a tripod. I like my trigger sticks. They are light and portable, easily adjustable, and use a yoke.

With that said, most of the folks I hunt with use formal, rock solid, tripods, all sorts of brands. The type of sticks doesn't seem to matter that much so long as they are decent, but it is how you decorate the top of them with your preferred ball head or self leveling head and what sort of attachment you use to affix your rifle to your sticks that seems to make all the difference.

If I was planning on hunting in a situation where I was going to be stationary for a long period of time, I would NOT want my trigger sticks. I would want my tripod to be holding my rifle the entire time and that is going to come from the better sticks and mounts. If I was wanting to make really long range shots, trigger sticks would be less ideal.

As a rest for glassing, I would not bother with anything more than your trigger sticks.

Of course, my needs and preferences may not mimic your own.

 

[Electrod47]

I have all the large 3 legged Bog Pod's and the tall Trigger Stick. They are great. But, for portability WHILE ACTUALLY hunting I prefer Pole Cat's preset for upright standing. With my Pole Cat in my left hand, serving double duty as a walking stick and my rifle slung muzzle down on my right shoulder, I can come to bear on target with the Pole Cat tripod in the same time it takes to raise the rifle.

 

[Chuck R.]

Here are my thoughts as a highly mobile hunter that uses a tripod. I like my trigger sticks. They are light and portable, easily adjustable, and use a yoke.

With that said, most of the folks I hunt with use formal, rock solid, tripods, all sorts of brands. The type of sticks doesn't seem to matter that much so long as they are decent, but it is how you decorate the top of them with your preferred ball head or self leveling head and what sort of attachment you use to affix your rifle to your sticks that seems to make all the difference.

If I was planning on hunting in a situation where I was going to be stationary for a long period of time, I would NOT want my trigger sticks. I would want my tripod to be holding my rifle the entire time and that is going to come from the better sticks and mounts. If I was wanting to make really long range shots, trigger sticks would be less ideal.

As a rest for glassing, I would not bother with anything more than your trigger sticks.

Of course, my needs and preferences may not mimic your own.

Plus 100%

IMHO it really comes down to Task/Purpose (like most things really) and your accuracy requirement will dictate to some extent your equipment requirement.

I've spent quite a bit of time practicing from field positions with various rests and getting used to what accuracy I can get based on the position. Generally there's a positive correlation between steadiness and weight. Whether or not you need it and are willing to pack it, really is a personal choice. Unfortunately there's only one real way to sort out what's going to work for you, and that's through trial and error. I shot quite a bit yesterday from my tripod (also off a backpack, off a log prone, kneeling etc.) while locked in and off a bag thrown on the head. This morning I shot off my BogPod with saddle rest and tripod with bag. There's a world of difference in the stability between the "systems". Here's how I rate them:

#1 Clamped on a precision tripod 500+
#2 Bag on the precision tripod 400+
#3 The BogPod with saddle. 300+

The saddle is the least stable because it acts as a fulcrum, better than free hand, but it allows for quite a bit of muzzle wobble.

This setup is extremely stable, ARCA plate mounted to rifle stock and locked into tripod:



It's not quick to set up (not really slow either), but it turns and 8.5lb rifle into a steady 12+ lb rifle. I'd be very confident with the above in overwatch out to 500yds as long as the wind wasn't "stupid" strong & varying.

For about 90% of my hunting in eastern KS though, the simple BogPod tripod suffices.

 

[rabid wombat]

I have not meaningfully used a tripod hunting - only once. Back when…the go-to was Hogsaddles. I bought the Pig, because I could not justify the cost difference for a Hog with my usage. For tripods, Manfrotto - due to my wife’s photography. The heads were Manfrotto, so Manfrotto quick connects. My wife prefers the Manfrotto tripod leg locks - a lever lock versus a twist compression lock. A lever is also available on the Really Right Stuff Arca mount for their ball heads (and retrofit-able for other brands)

Today - we have upgraded the photography equipment to Arca ball heads with Arca mounts. The rifle game seems to have followed suit. If I had to do this, I would look at the PRS game and real hunters for starters (thanks @Chuck R. @Electrod47 @Double Naught Spy @jmr40 ). Arca mount is a standard…a lot of people are producing rifle mounts (Really Right Stuff (RRS), American Tactical, Seekins, etc.). As part of photography, I visited Really Right Stuff near Salt Lake City. They support the rifle community (S.O.A.R), so my vote goes that direction. Great product, too.

I would look at the secondary market, as you can get a lot ‘used’, but not abused for less money. B&H below is a great supplier of used equipment.

https://hogsaddle.com/
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/products/Tripod-Legs/ci/2636/N/4075788741?filters=fct_brand_name:manfrotto
https://www.arca-shop.de/en
https://www.reallyrightstuff.com/shop
https://rrssoar.com/?_ga=2.157596409.213220736.1662318614-2080498564.1662318614
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/browse/Used-Equipment/ci/2870/N/4294247188

 

[rabid wombat]

Fluid heads weigh a TON. I would practice with a loose ball head to see if it works for you. Likewise, look at the mounts available for your glass…when I bought, the Swarovski mounts for bino’s and spotting scopes were Manfrotto based. I think they are Arca now. Look at your options for the glass you have.

 

[Okie_Poke]

I really appreciate your responses. I’m still trying to dial-in my system and figure out what will work for me. Most of my hunting to-date has been whitetail, and where I hunt them I rarely needy to shoot beyond 100 yards. When I do, I have a shooting rail and have never shot over 200. Western hunting is something different.

For last four years, my brother-in-law and I have been bitten by the elk bug. I’m pretty sure the only cure will be to finally get one down on public land. We bow hunted two seasons. Last year, we went first rifle season. My BIL had the tag. We should have had one down on opening day, but a series of marginal choices left us with a wounded elk we failed to recover after a full day of tracking. We were both sick, and it’s an experience I don’t want to repeat.

This year, due to a really unlucky draw cycle for me, we’re going OTC rifle for the first time. It’ll be my turn to carry the tag. Our prior hunts have been very mobile. All of our encounters in this unit so far have been pretty short range. For that, I’ve been practicing offhand, off my triggersticks standing up and seated, and off the frame of my pack from seated.

My understanding is that later season hunts are a glassing game. I’m not going to run a spotter, but I have a decent set of 10x42 binos that I’ll use, and my past experience with them off a cheap aluminum tripod is that the tripod really helps. I would like to carry something that can support my binos but also be shot off of if the opportunity presents itself. Currently, I can only get to 300+ yards reliably when prone, either on pack or bipod (I don’t think I want to carry my bipod as my pack works fine). I can’t get that far every time yet from any seated position, and definitely not standing.

My cheap aluminum tripod is garbage, though it will work for seated glassing out of the wind. I wouldn’t put a rifle on it at all, though. My trigger sticks are an option, but they are long, loud, and not super stable for seated glassing or shooting, which is what I think the primary use would be. They are too loud to walk with, in my opinion, so I don’t think I’ll be using them they way electrod has described walking with his polecat. I don’t have trekking poles, and they don’t really help my glassing use. The lightweight tripod setups appeal to me, but I don’t want to buy another garbage tripod that I can’t shoot from. I just bought a short arca rail from outdoorsman’s that could be mounted unobtrusively to hunting rifle in front of mag well, if I go that route.

From what I’ve been reading, most shootable tripods start with 28mm legs and go up from there. But the real kicker appears to be the head. RRS appears to have a great (but pricey!) head, and two vets and Leofoto both seem to have good options, but it costs almost $200 for even those heads. But by the time I get legs and one of those heads, I’m out $400-$600 and 4 pounds of weight. Hog saddles are similar. That’s why I’m really curious about the little Leupold alpine. It’s 2 ponds and I can get the Leofoto package of the same thing for $220. If it would work, I might buy it and upgrade the head another year. But if it’s not going to work as-is, I think I’ll just save my money and run what I have (I.e. my pack and maybe triggersticks).

I appreciate your feedback and experience. Please keep it coming if you’ve got more.

 

[rabid wombat]

@Okie_Poke do you have a retailer near you that has either? If not, find a retailer (Amazon, B&H, etc.) that has a generous return policy. See or buy what you are interested in, and determine if it meets your needs. If it meets your needs, keep it. If not, return it. Not the cheapest, but a real sure way of knowing what the product is.

I would love to be able to tell you get xyz…I cannot. You already have a data point, ‘My cheap aluminum tripod…”. I can promise you…camera equipment like shooting equipment…there is a strong correlation of dollars to quality (not perfect!). That also said…like golf…99% of the time, it is not the equipment’s fault.

 

[Okie_Poke]

@Okie_Poke do you have a retailer near you that has either? If not, find a retailer (Amazon, B&H, etc.) that has a generous return policy. See or buy what you are interested in, and determine if it meets your needs. If it meets your needs, keep it. If not, return it. Not the cheapest, but a real sure way of knowing what the product is.

I would love to be able to tell you get xyz…I cannot. You already have a data point, ‘My cheap aluminum tripod…”. I can promise you…camera equipment like shooting equipment…there is a strong correlation of dollars to quality (not perfect!). That also said…like golf…99% of the time, it is not the equipment’s fault.

Thanks. The “try it briefly and return it advice” is a good idea. And your point about it not being the equipment most of the time is well taken. I’m going to load some more practice ammo and go shoot again. For all this worrying, if I get a shot it’s probably going to be offhand or off my pack.

 

[Okie_Poke]

Quick update on what I decided to do here. Leaving for third season rifle hunt this week. Hopefully I'll have a success story---or at least a good story---to share afterward.

I went ahead and got the Leofoto 224c (the Leupold Alpine appears to be this tripod rebranded). It's light and plenty sturdy for my needs when seated or kneeling, which is my principal use case for this tripod. It can be extended for use standing with binos, though it's definitely not ideal for standing and probably not stable enough to shoot from or glass with a spotting scope while standing. Regardless, it's quite a bit more stable than than my old aluminum tripod and doesn't weigh any more, coming in right at 2 pounds. Probably the biggest knock is the ballhead, which does not have an independent tensioner for the pan function (you have to loosen the ball in order to pan) but is otherwise perfectly solid and usable for my purposes. I also bought a shooting v from Outdoorsman's that attaches like an Arca-Swiss plate, and that works great as a shooting rest. For glassing with binos and shooting from a seated position, I think it'll work just fine.

The triggerstick is definitely quicker to setup and is handier for standing shots. However, it's heavier, much less compact, and noisier. My calculus is that I'll predominantly use the tripod for seated glassing, and the triggersticks have quite a bit of give and are not great for that. For shooting, I'll either find a tree for a rest if standing or get seated to use my pack or tripod. If I have to take a standing shot, I don't think I'm going to have time to get the triggersticks out anyway, and they are too heavy and noisy to walk with all the time. When seated, the tripod is better for both glassing and shooting than the triggersticks.

Anyway, that's my theory. We'll see how reality treats it next week. Happy Hunting.

 

[Chuck R.]

By any chance did you try a bag on the tripod VS. the "V"??

The bag is a little more cumbersome to have to carry, but I find it more stable.. less fulcrum-like.

Good luck on your hunt! I'm still in the process of packing and tuning. We're not leaving until the 16th and our hunt doesn't start until the 18th. Supposed to be a sweltering high of 30 and lows in the teens. I'm probably going to go buy some more "puffy" stuff for layers.

 

[Okie_Poke]

By any chance did you try a bag on the tripod VS. the "V"??

The bag is a little more cumbersome to have to carry, but I find it more stable.. less fulcrum-like.

I did not yet, though it's something I do want to experiment with. None of the bags I own are really big enough to do that well.

I'm eating tag soup from the hunt. Saw several cows and calves, but never any bulls in the daylight. Several of bulls were shot around us, but we were always in the wrong spot. The tripod worked well, though. The only time I used it for either glassing or when setting up in case of a potential shot was from a sitting position. It was perfect for that.