Hunting Sticks

[coreydb]

The whole purpose of shooting sticks is to provide stability for the shooter while standing, taking the shot. Practicing at home with sticks provides the necessary practice to learn the feel and motion while aiming. All PHs have them because there are no trees from which to lean against in the plains.

 

[Sideshow]

The whole purpose of shooting sticks is to provide stability for the shooter while standing, taking the shot. Practicing at home with sticks provides the necessary practice to learn the feel and motion while aiming. All PHs have them because there are no trees from which to lean against in the plains.

Also most trees in Africa have ruddy great thorns sticking out of em if you like the pin cushion look and want to give your trackers PH and game scout a jolly good laugh lean away!

 

[Javaman]

I have a set of Viper Flex Journeys and like them a lot - used on three African safaris with a fourth coming in May. Bought them from Holland Long Range - they break down into a travel pouch and easily fit in tuffpak gun case. I like them because they support both the front and rear of the rifle and take all that circling around the target out of play. YMMV but I find them stable down to MOA from 50 to 300 yds (furthest Id probably shoot in Africa).

 

[BeeMaa]

I've currently have a set of Viper-Flex Styx Pro To Go quad sticks and would take them over all the other sticks I currently own or have owned. They collapse down (3-seditions) short enough to fit in my rifle case. Are made of lightweight carbon fiber meaning they are as durable as aluminum without chilling my hands while carrying them on cold days. Of course there is the price...well you get what you pay for I suppose. The only modification I've made is to tie 550 cord between the front and back rifle supports so it opens to the same spot every time. Makes for extremely quick set up that I can do with my left hand while holding my rifle in my right.

 

[dmcilvaine]

Many thanks to everyone who shared their insights regarding the hunting sticks. I decided to buy the Viper-flex carbon fiber Journeyman sticks after watching the videos and considering the input on this forum. I bought them from Holland and looking forward to receiving them. Soon it will be time to practice and drill down on where to hunt, what to hunt and with whom!

 

[Javaman]

I've currently have a set of Viper-Flex Styx Pro To Go quad sticks and would take them over all the other sticks I currently own or have owned. They collapse down (3-seditions) short enough to fit in my rifle case. Are made of lightweight carbon fiber meaning they are as durable as aluminum without chilling my hands while carrying them on cold days. Of course there is the price...well you get what you pay for I suppose. The only modification I've made is to tie 550 cord between the front and back rifle supports so it opens to the same spot every time. Makes for extremely quick set up that I can do with my left hand while holding my rifle in my right.

View attachment 673298

Hey BeeMaa - been thinking about that paracord mod on my viper flex sticks - something the Brits do a lot for stalking - details are a bit tricky to find on how folks do it, in your “spare time” maybe you could post a couple of detailed pics on your paracord setup (where and how tied), would be appreciated. Does the paracord get in the way while stalking?

 

[BeeMaa]

Hey BeeMaa - been thinking about that paracord mod on my viper flex sticks - something the Brits do a lot for stalking - details are a bit tricky to find on how folks do it, in your “spare time” maybe you could post a couple of detailed pics on your paracord setup (where and how tied), would be appreciated. Does the paracord get in the way while stalking?

I don't feel like the 550 cord gets in the way, but the chances of it doing so aren't zero. Total distance of the cord between the sticks is less than 23", with a little leftover at the front in case I want or need to lengthen it.

I attach to the front through the hole that would be used for mounting the deployment lever for left handers with a pretty simple knot.

The back is secured with another self tightening knot around the pole. Use whatever you see fit. I don't even know the name of this one. Maybe two half hitches? I might change this out for a round turn and two half hitches.

The back rest sits just behind the sling swivel stud.

The front is adjusted to ride where I like it to accompany my hand position by lengthening (or shortening) the 550 cord.

 

[Chad Arnette]

I’m a fan of two sticks/bipod for dangerous game. Quicker to get on and off them. If you are hunting South Africa with longer shots a tripod will be more stable.

 

[Art Lambart II]

4 Stable Sticks worked great for my son and I in the Easten Cape.

 

[Javaman]

I don't feel like the 550 cord gets in the way, but the chances of it doing so aren't zero. Total distance of the cord between the sticks is less than 23", with a little leftover at the front in case I want or need to lengthen it.

I attach to the front through the hole that would be used for mounting the deployment lever for left handers with a pretty simple knot.
View attachment 673327

The back is secured with another self tightening knot around the pole. Use whatever you see fit. I don't even know the name of this one. Maybe two half hitches? I might change this out for a round turn and two half hitches.
View attachment 673328

The back rest sits just behind the sling swivel stud.
View attachment 673330

The front is adjusted to ride where I like it to accompany my hand position by lengthening (or shortening) the 550 cord.
View attachment 673331

Excellent! Thank you!

 

[BeeMaa]

I’m a fan of two sticks/bipod for dangerous game. Quicker to get on and off them. If you are hunting South Africa with longer shots a tripod will be more stable.

Quad sticks can be used as a bipod, plus have the ability to expand to quads for an even more stable platform.

 

[Sideshow]

Question for those with quad sticks. How do you find them adjusting for height in thick bush.
Reason for asking is I’m having a bit of a battle with mine. Was out yesterday morning trying to get onto some fallow buck. The understory in the woods I hunt is quite eaten out but with the bracken grown up it was a struggle to get the correct height. Lost a lot of time fannying around trying for the correct height whilst trying to identify the correct animal and get a shot off.
Just wanted to know if others have had this issue.
Love the stability of the quad sticks. Just not the adjustably for height.
Cheers SS

 

[375er]

Question for those with quad sticks. How do you find them adjusting for height in thick bush.
Reason for asking is I’m having a bit of a battle with mine. Was out yesterday morning trying to get onto some fallow buck. The understory in the woods I hunt is quite eaten out but with the bracken grown up it was a struggle to get the correct height. Lost a lot of time fannying around trying for the correct height whilst trying to identify the correct animal and get a shot off.
Just wanted to know if others have had this issue.
Love the stability of the quad sticks. Just not the adjustably for height.
Cheers SS

How were you trying to adjust the height?

 

[375Fox]

Question for those with quad sticks. How do you find them adjusting for height in thick bush.
Reason for asking is I’m having a bit of a battle with mine. Was out yesterday morning trying to get onto some fallow buck. The understory in the woods I hunt is quite eaten out but with the bracken grown up it was a struggle to get the correct height. Lost a lot of time fannying around trying for the correct height whilst trying to identify the correct animal and get a shot off.
Just wanted to know if others have had this issue.
Love the stability of the quad sticks. Just not the adjustably for height.
Cheers SS

Quad sticks have really changed my shooting but there are certain terrains they aren’t that well suited for. If the ground prevents moving the legs at all a tripod is better option.

 

[Rickmt]

Any brand of quad sticks. Supporting the back end of the rifle improves accuracy. They are easy to use once you get used to them. Rudolph sells them for around 100 bucks direct. Viperflex are the carbon Cadillac 3-400. I have both and if PH is carrying them who cares how much they weigh.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Quad sticks have really changed my shooting but there are certain terrains they aren’t that well suited for. If the ground prevents moving the legs at all a tripod is better option.

Right. Steep terrain or rocky also requires a lot of fiddling to get quad sticks just right. In the meantime all the extra movement and swearing gives the shooter away and game makes an exit. They work fine in the wide open plains.

 

[375Fox]

Right. Steep terrain or rocky also requires a lot of fiddling to get quad sticks just right. In the meantime all the extra movement and swearing gives the shooter away and game makes an exit. They work fine in the wide open plains.

The extra movement and swearing is user error. In your case if you had made any attempt to practice with quad sticks before or after the results would have been different. The terrain you post in your photos is well suited to quad sticks. There have only been a few areas and terrains I felt a tripod is better suited.

 

[wesheltonj]

I purchased ASC permium wood sticks for my first trip. They rode in the back of the truck and were scratched up and had to send them back for refinishing. So to prevent that I purchased the Carbon Fiber version. Took those on my second trip, and still looking good. I took a Europe trip they were using 4 Stable Sticks and I was sold. I took the ASC Carbon and the 4 stable on my third African trip. The plan was for using the 4 Stable for long shots and the Carbon for thick brush. Ended up only using the 4 Stable. The ASC will stay home forever.

 

[Sideshow]

How were you trying to adjust the height?

Thanks for the question. There twists on each leg to adjust the height. Not easy with alert heard females ready to give the game away. These are all tough shots that need to be threaded through branches.

 

[Sideshow]

There have only been a few areas and terrains I felt a tripod is better suited.

Yes for summer think I’ll go back to my trigger sticks and once the leaves drop I can go back to the quads.
Might see if I can retro fit some clips onto the quads to make adjustments easier but ultimately think this is what it is.
Fields and open spaces brilliant for quads. Love the longer shots with them and have taken some very tight shots that I would have passed up on the trigger sticks. But once in the thick stuff the tiggers are just faster to set.
Dr Robertson says 4 seconds to get on your sticks and get the shot off. Fighting height adjustment in my woods in summer just not possible. I’m not giving up yet though cheers for the input guys.