Shooting from sticks

[csmiffy]

Please forgive me if I sound like a dummy here.
Reading about going on safari and one of the things that popped up was getting used to and practising shooting from sticks. I know what it is but it isn't something that hunters in NZ do that much. Our topography and style of hunting doesn't usually allow carrying sticks about.
Not a lot around to try either for probably much the same reason.
Whats the go in this situation? Make your own or just not worth the pain?

 

[nztimb]

I have a set of the Bog Pod tripod sticks Craig. I use them all the time when after rabbits as there are a lot of ridges and gullies so standing shots are mandatory and the 20 Vartarg over the sticks makes 150+ yd shots a certainty. I dont use them when after goats/deer but do have a set of stoney point kneeling height bipod sticks that are dead set steady in the sitting position but seldome use them. They carry neatly on my belt.
If you get stuck for a set to try before buying I can send them up for you to play with for a couple of weeks.

 

[Ridge Runner]

Upon returning home from my first African safari I now use my hunting sticks in America when hunting American game.

FYI: Shooting sticks and a poncho, large trash bags, or tarp make a quick shelter against light to moderate rain or snow.

Since African PH's prefer hunters to make the best most accurate shot from a steady rest, i.e standing (for the heavy recoiling guns) and rifle resting on sticks.

To practice from shooting off sticks it is easy and cheaper to make your own.

I recommend the following:

You just need 3 pieces of 5/8 inch to 3/4 inch in diameter x 5 to 6 feet length ( longer or shorter depending on your height) tree saplings (as straight as possible) and a piece of cordage about 3/16 inch to 1/4 inch in diameter x 10 to 12 inches long.

NOTE: I find the minimum 1/2 inch diameter rods to be unstable and 3/4 inch and larger rods to be to cumbersome to use the tripod as a walking stick.

Note: I find cordage 1/2 inch or thicker doesn't work as well as 1/4 or 5/16 inch diameter.

Standing up:

Arrange the sticks into a triangle, at approximately eye level, wrap the cordage several times around the 3 sticks, snug the cordage and loosely tie a knot. Spread the now tripod open and the legs evenly apart yet they remain firmly positioned to hold the weight of your rifle. Adjust the cordage up or down till you can comfortly be in a good/solid standing shooting position. Now remove your rifle, close the tripod up and tighten the cordage a little bit and tie a tighter knot. Open the tripod and place your rifle back on the sticks. If you have difficulty opening the tripod up to your adjusted position the cordage is to tight, Don't worry as you open and close the tripod the cordage will loosen. Eventually you will have to retighten the cordage when it becomes too loose.

NOTE: For loose or soft ground you may need to shallow point the base ends of the tripod for better stability.

 

[BeeMaa]

We currently have 2 sets of BOG-POD tripod sticks, the RLD-3 and the Adrenaline. The Adrenaline are really good, easy to deploy/stow, steady, reasonably light/compact and high quality. My wife and I use the sticks for just about everything from range sessions and dry fire practice to hunting just about everything. A versatile tool for us that makes taking game much easier for us.

I understand your situation in NZ and not having the perceived need for shooting sticks, but I would say that it's worth the investment to find out. Especially if you plan on hunting Africa in the future (seeing as that's pretty much what this website is all about). The more practice you have with them, the better you will be.

Right now it's 3am on the East coast of the US and I'm packing my sticks for a Turkey hunt on opening day. They will be used to pattern test my shotgun (and others as well), a walking stick across uneven terrain and of course they will be in the blind if needed to steady a shot. Shooting sticks have become one of the first things I pack on nearly every hunt.

 

[Mopani]

In 50 years of hunting, in Germany, England, Slovenia and mainly South Africa, I never used sticks. A stem, rock, pole, anthill or my knees was all I need. Never liked long distance shots, for a buffalo 40 metres away I don’t need a rest…

 

[Rickmt]

In 50 years of hunting, in Germany, England, Slovenia and mainly South Africa, I never used sticks. A stem, rock, pole, anthill or my knees was all I need. Never liked long distance shots, for a buffalo 40 metres away I don’t need a rest…

Different strokes for different folks is what makes life interesting. I have never hunted in Montana without sticks of some sort . I prefer a steady shot at game and here our shots can be 200plus yards.

 

[fourfive8]

In 50 years of hunting, in Germany, England, Slovenia and mainly South Africa, I never used sticks. A stem, rock, pole, anthill or my knees was all I need. Never liked long distance shots, for a buffalo 40 metres away I don’t need a rest…

I agree up to about 95%. I grew up same way here in US hunting (60 years now) all manner of game with no sticks Exactly, I never even thought about lugging around some kind of rest like sticks or rifle mounted bipods, etc. None of those I hunted with did either. But then again we usually hunted individually no trackers, PHs skinners.... no entourage to haul around and set up things like sticks. I never warmed up to the idea of adding a gadget like bipod to the forend my rifle to add weight or a brush catcher. What I discovered in Africa though, was that some small percentage of the time, sticks have really helped and of course glad I learned how to use them under those situations. In Africa, I have grabbed or propped on limbs, small tree trunks, day packs, regular tripod sticks as set up by trackers or PHs and once a slimy muddy termite mound in the middle of a nasty thorn bush of some sort- ouch!. That semi prone shot off the mound was about 60 yards on a buffalo and I didn't even feel those dang stinging thorns embedded in me until after. For DG and PG in Africa I've shot prone, sitting, standing, offhand, sideways, on my back and off sticks. But yep, using sticks not at all necessary or even the best for me in all instances- so I understand completely what you are saying. But for me it has been good to practice for those times when sticks really have helped.

 

[Rubberhead]

If you already have a camera tripod, you can get a rifle clevis that screws into the 1/4" tap for about $10.

 

[Mopani]

In 40 years of hunting in South Africa I only took three long shots. As a forest officer one day I noticed two bushbuck in a fenced-in compartment. I rested my Heym SR 21 .375 H & H on the roof of my vehicle, quite easy shots. Distance around 200 metres.

One day I had been hunting kudu on a cattle farm near Alldays. I walked up a small hill (koppie) and there was a nice kudu bull. It run away and when he stopped and looked to us, without hesitation and without thinking I lifted the rifle and shot. Then I came to my senses, gosh, that was quite a long shot. We found the kudu nearby, dead with a perfect shot. The following day I purchased a long tape: 235 metres without a rest… Have never done it before and never again, it was just a reflex.

I like to get as close as possible, most was around 40 to 70 metres. Only four years ago had I booked a hunt, it was the very first time with a ph. And only then I noticed shooting sticks, never thought of them, always hunted alone, with me just a farm worker as a guide. Without such guide it would have been easy to get lost…

 

[SLG]

I have used a tripod for a lot of my shooting (professional, non hunting), and it is amazing. That said, the level of accuracy required is much higher than any hunt I have been on. The Really Right Stuff SOAR line is the best I have used, though others are good too. I carried this on a hunt for elk and pronghorn for my daughter last year, as she needs the help in nay position except prone. As he gets bigger, that will not be true.

I prefer to hunt using fundamental rifleman skills. Get closer and get steadier, but for me, that means a natural rest or prone in most circumstances. Prone is obviously not used much in Africa, so for kneeling or sitting, I like a proper shooting sling. The newer ones on the market are quite fast to loop up with and allow me to hit any animal's vital zone out to 300 yards or so, which is further than I prefer to shoot when hunting. For standing it of course doesn't do anything, but I don't generally take standing shots unless I am within about 50 yards. Then there is no need for a rest.
PH's went to sticks some years ago as a cure for hunters who could not shoot well enough. I don't mind using sticks but I prefer to work on my shooting instead. Others may have infirmities or other issues that make this less possible, so non of the above is meant as a judgement on what anyone else does. I just always default to shooting skill rather than equipment. Then when I need equipment, everything is easier.

 

[BRICKBURN]

.......
Whats the go in this situation? Make your own or just not worth the pain?

You have the components to make a cheap set for practice.

https://www.advancelandscape.co.nz/shop/Stakes+&+Ties/Bamboo+Canes+500-2400mm+length.html

https://www.fishpond.co.nz/Beauty/7...NG-SURGICAL-GRADE-25-CONTINUOUS/9999122023370

 

[Shootist43]

Csmiffy, you can easily make your own. There are several ways to do it. I used hardwood dowel rod, three pieces of 1/2" conduit and a vacuum cleaner belt. You can also use a piece of inner- tube. I made my "legs" in two pieces for ease of storage and transporting. After using them for the first time I made a few improvements. Like you, I'd never used shooting sticks, but they can be helpful at times.

 

[rookhawk]

I strongly recommend either A.) Making your own, or B.) paying the fortune demanded for African Sporting Creations shooting sticks.

The aluminum and plastic ones such as Primos, etc. are way too delicate. The locks wear out, they dent and won't open/close, the legs fall off and parts go everywhere. Oh, and they are stupid expensive for what they actually are, a $5 product with $30 in freight due to their size, then marked up 3x to a grand total of $100-$120.

Practicing off sticks is critically important as it is exactly how almost all hunting gets done. If not off sticks, you're shooting off a tree branch, or off your knee, or leaning over a boulder, etc, etc. Bench rest shooting is an activity and a competitive sport but it isn't "Real world". It's like Olympic Karate, it looks amazing but you'll get your clock cleaned on the streets.

Get some good wood sticks and go practice.

 

[Woodcarver]

Get a set of Gunstix. They work sitting, kneeling, standing or as walking sticks. Weigh just over 2lbs.

GunStix - GunStix

Dealer & Affiliate Enquiries Welcome!! GunStix!! A unique quad leg design of shooting sticks that provides an extremely steady front and back rest for your rifle, providing bench rest like accuracy in the field! Weighing just over 2lbs and compacting down to 32.5 inches allows you to train with...

gunstix.com

Then practice. There is no substitute for practice, even if it's just dry fire in the living room at the tv.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

I've thought about trying to make a set using fiberglass rod stock, but I am not sure how stiff this stuff is. Might just buy a 5 ft piece and see what it's like. If it appears stiff enough, order three 10 ft pieces and cut them for one tall set and one short set. Maybe 6.5 ft and 3.5 ft.

https://www.grainger.com/search?cpnuser=undefined&searchBar=true&searchQuery=fiberglass+rod+stock&suggestConfigId=6

 

[WyoBull]

I use the Primos Jim Shockey Edition tripod sticks. I can use them sitting down when I am calling coyotes, use standing up or anywhere in between. I also use them to mount my spotting scope and they are great for steadying my binoculars as well.
They are a very useful tool for sure.

 

[Bert the Turtle]

Sticks are a nice tool to have in the toolbox but for sure the large majority of my shots in Africa have not been from sticks. There’s usually a tree or a bush or a termite mound or something. I’m unusually fond of prone shots, but I recognize that’s me.
of the standing shots, as often as not it’s a snap shot without time for sticks or a backup shot.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

I read on here to buy some and practice. My PH's are homemade and resemble the Bog Pod with a U shaped yoke... so that is what I bought. And then I practiced. I found mine to be very durable even with hot loads out of my .45-70. I am super glad I bought and practiced with them, and believe it was a significant factor in the success of my hunt (10 animals shot at, 10 killed, ranges from 45 yards to 235 yards). Like others, I have found myself using them for hunts here at home. I paid 75 for mine on Amazon.

 

[csmiffy]

@Von Gruff that is a good point about the rabbits. Just don't do enough to do that but a great idea none the less.
I will certainly keep you in mind although i am not buying anything anytime soon.
Great advice people. This started a very good discussion

 

[Puddle]

Where we hunt Elk there's so much water in the hills that the "low" brush is chest high out beyond 300 yards. Beginning around ~400 yards you can start thinking about sitting or prone shots. Standing sticks are standard equipment around there.
Our regular hunting rifle challenge meetups always kick off with the initial shot from standing sticks.