What sticks do you use if any

Bruce Potts mentioned quad sticks from Brown Trout & Co in Shooting Times recently. They're about £90 for a set, and come in 3 sizes. Has anyone experience of using these?
 
Bruce Potts mentioned quad sticks from Brown Trout & Co in Shooting Times recently. They're about £90 for a set, and come in 3 sizes. Has anyone experience of using these?

Personally I can't see the point in spending £90 on a set when the canes are £1.99 each from B&Q. Just bought a new pair today.
 
I was introduced to quad sticks last year having previously used a single stick and though they were a bit fiddly to start with, a bit of practise had them set up correctly and providing an extremely stable and adjustable platform. Great bit of kit.

I looked at B&Q canes but thought they were a bit bulky and so I cut up a piece of hardwood I had lying around into 14.5mm square sections, 1680mm long then bolted together. With the edges rounded, when the sticks come together this can be comfortably held in the hand as a single stick until required.
 
Harry mac

Fair point, but lots of people use Stoney Point rather than a pair of B&Q canes, and they cost that sort of money?

Would anyone be kind enough to put up some "working drawings" of how they made their quad sticks? They look interesting but I can't quite get my brain cell round how they are made (or work in practice!)...

Andrew
 
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I had a go with the Quad sticks at the Keepers Fair last weekend. They seemed very stable and I fancy a pair. However, I'll be making mine because as far as I could tell they are literally 4 bits of dowel fitted together with bolts and some elastic shock chord to maintain tension.

The ones for sale at the show were £55.
 
Stoney Point - Polecats - i've got two pairs and l found that the first didn't like 20 rabbits tied to them (retracted) balanced over my shoulder! Bought the second pair not so long back and wont be making the same mistake!

T
 
Thanks Deer Man, very helpful.

How's the GWP coming along? Hope it's quietened down more than ours!

Andrew
 
Thanks Deer Man, very helpful.

How's the GWP coming along? Hope it's quietened down more than ours!

Andrew

Andrew, did I meet you when we were culling a few Sika and is your dog from the same litter as mine? He is very hard hunting and loves finding Muntjac!
 
DM

Don't think we've met (although I think you're local to Bury St Edmunds?). We got out GWP from Rory Major; she was born in May last year I think; mother was one of Rory's dogs, the father from Chris Gray in Scotland (Trudvang). She's still a hooligan but that probably reflects our inexperience at training her.

Andrew
 
I see, yes mines from Rory, the mother was Briar and the father Modi from Chris gray, I think it may be the same litter?
 
So, Back on the topic a bit.
It's no secret that I'm not big on sticks. I'm not even certain about the legality of them in Montana (;) ) but I'm curious: Do you guys carry these things around with you while you stalk? Or do you have hired help follow behind? Seriously, it's all I can do to get myself and my rifle silently through the woods without carrying sticks to shoot off of. Also, do you ever just not use them? I have been informed that on some properties they are required, but if it's optional do you just drop them and shoot? I'm not picking a quarrel here, just trying to get the logistics of stick use down. On television hunting shows here the fellows use sticks but they are always carried by a minion. How does one do it solo?~Muir
 
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Muir

I carry my sticks in my left hand with the rifle over my right shoulder, action forwards. It's then an easy move to open the sticks with my left hand and get the rifle up on them.

So far as not using them, only if I'm using the bipod on the rifle itself for prone/sitting shots.

Also, if I'm guiding a client, even if they have their own I will carry my own sticks. I often use them to steady the binos when scanning. Also, I tend to find I can deploy my sticks far quicker than a client can deploy theirs, normally because they are still looking for the deer ;)

Hope this helps

willie_gunn
 
Thanks Willie. It still seems an ungainly way to hunt from my perspective. Most of the time I wouldn't have the time to set up sticks without having the deer vanish. If I do have that time, it's usually a very long shot and I take them prone or kneeing, or not at all if the shot doesn't look doable.~Muir
 
Thanks Willie. It still seems an ungainly way to hunt from my perspective. Most of the time I wouldn't have the time to set up sticks without having the deer vanish. If I do have that time, it's usually a very long shot and I take them prone or kneeing, or not at all if the shot doesn't look doable.~Muir

Muir, I do not know how your farmers/hillmen manage but in the UK and Europe sticks are used as a walking aid especially for steep or uneven terrain. To me going stalking without my stick would be like wading a salmon river without a wading staff.

ft
 
Muir, I do not know how your farmers/hillmen manage but in the UK and Europe sticks are used as a walking aid especially for steep or uneven terrain. To me going stalking without my stick would be like wading a salmon river without a wading staff.

ft

Well I dont always use a staff for salar but alway when I'm after the real fish ;). But I agree, to go in the woods without a stick is silly. If I'm not shooting it is a 6 foot peice of hazel, (good bino support and hoodlum/poacher basher). But theres always a stick!


Sam
 
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