Shooting Sticks?

F

Fremmer

New member
I was watching one of those hunting shows on cable. This guy was hunting bear, and was set up pretty close to the bait area. When a bear showed up, he shot but missed, hitting a log that was well in front of the bear. He stated that at the "crucial time", his shooting sticks had slipped, causing the rifle to move.

He was close enough that if he'd just taken a moment to get set up for a good off-hand shot, he probably would've killed the bear.

I've always declined to use those sticks because it is just another thing to have to carry, and I want to work on my off-hand shooting, at least at close range. Any of you ever use shooting sticks for hunting?
 
I use a monopod when I hunt with my SRH with scope (handgun). I can't hold it steady enough off hand and I have practiced with the monopod. Works better than shooting sticks for me. If I have a tree for support, I would use it. With rifle, I wouldn't bother with any kind of sticks unless I'm hunting a field or very open area where long shots might be more common. Where I hunt whitetails, a very long shot would be 100 yds and 50yds or less is more common.
 
Shooting sticks are too much bother but a shooting sling takes a few seconds to set up and is always there when you need it.
 
I use a pair of Stoney Point sticks (http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20712-cat20774&id=0005830222262a&navCount=4&podId=0005830&parentId=cat20774&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=UH&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat20774&hasJS=true) and I really like them. Much faster to use than any sling as long as you already have the legs un-folded and locked together. I used them to shoot a bear at 202 yards and a deer way beyond what I should have ever tried to shoot. They definatly provide a steady rest when used properly.

I'm suprised the guy was using sticks as most bears hunted over bait is done from a tree stand. He probably just muffed the shot and didn't want to blame himself. A lot of people find fault in their equipment when they fail to make good shots.
 
Long answer............

For over 25 years, lots longer than the current craze for commercial shooting sticks has been going on, we've used them when hunting with pistols.

We always made our own. In fact there is one out on the porch right now waiting for a few coats of linseed oil so it will be ready for when the general gun season ends and we switch to pistols and shotguns for the hogs we hunt.

We make them from saplings, usually hickory or cedar. We pick a sapling about a inch in diameter at the point we cut it and that has a number of small branches starting 3 feet or so from the cut extending up to about 5 to 5 1/2 feet. We then take the sapling and sit down with it and the pistol. We figure out which side branch is at the the proper hight to use when seated in a ground blind. We also figure out which one is at the proper hight for standing shots.

Once we know which side branches to keep we trim those to about 1 1/2 to 2 inches and remove the rest of the branches. It gets debarked and is allowed to dry out. The we oil it. It also helps if you chose a sapling where the side branches have a slightly upward tilt to them.

Low tec and lasts for years............ cheap too. And if you're so inclined they can be dressed up with adornment.
 
Yep...I have used them

and if given the time I will use them at any chance. That said it is like any other tool....use it as intended and up to your capabilities. I practice enough that If a deer is at 50 yards and ready to bolt I am going off hand. At 150 yards I am really hoping for the time to set them up as age or the shakes :D have caught up to me and I feel much more confident using them. But i also practice at the range with those to be comfortable. Doug
 
I use a shovel handle that broke on me about 4 or 5 years ago. Comes in handy for a walking stick, and doubles as a good shooting stick when needed. I covered it with some camo tape, and it works pretty good.
 
They sound good if you're going for the long shots. I just can't stand thinking about carrying them around. Maybe someone makes some compact sticks or something.
 
I've carried various types and used 'em seldom.

What I've always seem to have with me without much fuss is the old butt and a set of knees. ;)
 
There never was, nor never will be a perfect set of hunting circumstances. Sometimes, I use them, sometimes I don't. It depends on what I plan on doing. If I'm going to be doing much walking, they stay in the truck. If I'll be relatively stationary, them I grab them.

Like most others, I made my own set. I utilized my sticks for the second deer that I shot this year. It was a standing shot at about 130 yards. The broomweed was so tall that I had no other choice but to stand up to get a shot. I would not have taken that shot without a rest of some sort.
 
Used the Stoney Point shooting sticks today(11/24) to shoot a Whitetail doe at about 150yds. Mosin 91/30 with scout scope. 1 shot, 1 kill.
 
Note what "Stinger" said................

A stick can be the difference between a confident shot that ends in a humain kill and no shot. Or worse a shot that wounds.............

Once you carry one for a while you get to where you want it when you don't have it..........................
 
When I stand hunt in our outhouse blind i have a pair of sticks that are the perfect hight for my chair. If I am out walking around I will shoot off hand unless I have a long shot and time to set up.
 
I also have used them and carry them in most of my hunting situations.
I have the Stoney Point folding sticks that come with a carry holster that goes on a belt. I hunt mostly in open country where 200+ yd shots are common. (I also practice at long range for competency). If I have the time to set up they are a very steady rest. I practice offhand with a sling but still prefer a rest. With the carry holster they are not that much bother to me.

Mike
 
monopod

I've used a monopod during the last two seasons and it's now part of my gear to take out to the "condo" it steadies my rifle better and allows for shooting from farther back in the blind(Idon't have to rest the rifle on the window sill):cool:
 
Yeah, i think shooting sticks work great for the right application. In other words , have the right sticks for the job - the right length for walking, ground blind or tree stand shooting, Also crucial is to practice with them at the range - somebody told me to lean the bipod/sticks toward you and use your body as the "third leg" of the tripod, makes sense for a steady shot!
 
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