Shooting sticks?

[Wyoming Sage]

I have a walking/shooting stick that is a single and I can use it O.K. but I was wondering if a double legged or three legged stick would be better? I guess I am just wondering if it would be worth the amount of money for what you get. Out here you don't always have a steady rest, heck some places it's miles to the nearest tree. I am looking at a tri-pod type or double that would be able to use in the my ground blind and in open land, I also wonder about hiking as that is sometimes miles at a time. The guys here in town I know that hunt, laughed at the old guy when I asked about this. Course the nearest one is 24 years younger than me, little punks anyway..

 

[1_pointer]

I almost always have a pair of collapsible shooting sticks with me. I use the jointed ones from Stoney Point. They work great IME for steadying a sitting/kneeling shot. However, they are not sturdy enough to be used as a hiking stick. For those I use Leki's. What ever brand you buy, get the flip locks and you can thank me later! Much more convenient than twist locks. Some folks use this as shooting sticks. This can be done a couple of ways. 1. use your hands to hold them in an X and 2. loop the wrist straps over the other pole and they will support themselves in an X.

 

[sbhooper]

I have used attached bipods and shooting sticks. I now have a three-legged Bogpod and I think that it is the best. Three legs are much more stable for shooting.

 

[Carrion Carrier]

I sometimes carry a set of steady-stix. IME they are usually too short to see over brush or shoot uphill. I'd love some taller ones though.

 

[stillkickin]

I have used attached bipods and shooting sticks. I now have a three-legged Bogpod and I think that it is the best. Three legs are much more stable for shooting.

As a "seasoned" hunter (old and gimped up), I researched and tried most of the shooting rest systems. I have settled on the Bog-Pod CLD:

http://www.boggear.com/tripods/cld_tripod.html

It works great as a rest, although I prefer to use the narrow pad that comes with it, the larger pads and rests really hindered it's use as a walking stick. I would advise that you shoot a lot of rounds over the off season as the use of a stick, bi-pod, or tri-pod is not a natural feeling thing.

Also, if you are going to shoot longer ranges you will notice a lot of movement the higher you are from the ground.

I still prefer shooting in the prone position using a short gun mounted bi-pod or resting on a pack, etc. for maximum stability.

 

[Phantom]

Another vote for the bog-pod tripod model. Very handy when antelope hunting. I wouldn't use as hiking sticks though.