What sticks do you use if any

[tikkamuz]

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

MuirLike I carry my quad sticks in the same way as Willie and find them a great aid for walking over rough terrain or using as a rest when scanning with the binos so wouldn't be without them. When the opportunity of a shot arises I use what is most appropriate be that the sticks, a rock, tree, bipod or whatever. If there isn't time to deploy the sticks fully they can still be used as a single stick support either kneeling or standing. An advantage of these sticks is still being able to take a shot when in long grass etc when a kneeling or prone shot would be impossible.
Muz

 

[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

Muir

In fact it becomes almost second nature, and I'd as soon be without my rifle as not have my sticks. In general I'd guess I can have them open and the rifle ready in under a second. Personally I'd not want to be "snap-shooting" a deer. I know it might be the case elsewhere, but I'm perhaps overly safety conscious (paranoid!!) to be comfortable doing that. Even watching DVD's of driven boar gives me the shakes

My stalking mentor has always drummed into me the four Golden Rules of Stalking, the most relevant of which here is that "If you see the deer first, you have to make a mistake. If the deer sees you first, the deer has to make a mistake".

If I'm stalking 'properly', even in thick woodland, then I shouldn't just bump into a deer. Ideally I should have seen it before it sees me and then get into a position to (a) ensure a safe backstop, and (b) have as steady a shooting platform as possible. For the latter, if I'm in woodland, I'll try to have my back against a tree and the rifle up on the sticks. I try to do this, but it doesn't always work

willie_gunn

 

[Muir]

Thanks for the replies. I guess it's different. In the areas I hunt, the woodlands are thick with bramble and blow-down. It is very easy to miss a deer. Our deer are larger, for sure, so I shoot off hand quite a bit and practice for same on a weekly basis year-round; even though our seasons are limited and only in the fall months. Seems like I practice hundreds of hours for a split second's work!! I have no complaints as I'd rather shoot than eat. Maybe sometime I will rig some sticks as detailed in this thread and give it a try. ~Muir

 

[Cyres]

Have used Stoney Point telescopic polecats for years, indispensible.

Had to re rivet the tops as mine were a bit flimsy and have taped a short length of grey pipe insulation on legs to prevent them clicking.

Mate uses tripod version with butt support, but I think too bulky and take too long to set up esp when foxing, OK for deer if you have time.

D

 

[KevinF]

View attachment 926Garden centre canes, Hoover Junior vacuum cleaner belt, cycle tyre inner tube and electrical insulation tape. Use 'em all the time, and usually reverse into a tree to make them a tripod, if circs. and time allow.

 

[SussexFallow]

I use the quad sticks .made from 12mm aluminium a few 4mm nuts and bolts , camo tape and some leather from a hat.
Very useful indeed nice and light and aids accuracy. Will try to post a picture later

ATB Steve

 

[doghound]

I use quads, bought them from millfield and wondered why I spent the money. Humped em round and used them as a mono and bipod for ages.

Then I came across some fallow out in a large field couldnt get any closer put the rifle on the quads, the cross didnt waver. Two bucks later, i use them all the time.

The draw back with them now is the temptation to take longer shots.

 

[limulus]

two BnQ plastic coated garden canes (the wide ones so that the rubber inserts from socket fittings fit over them to stop them knocking together) nuts and bolt, couple of washers and about 10 mins to assemble.

 

[farren01]

i use these quads http://www.southwickshootingsupplies.com/

 

[50/50]

When I first got serious about deer stalking in the UK I bought some retractable tripod sticks from Bushwear, but they fell apart in no time. Noisy, difficult to set up and a total waste of money IMO.

Did a bit of research and found out about Knobloch bipods and tripods from Germany. Check em out at http://www.knobloch-jagd.de/gb/index.php?vpid=2&xpid=7

As always, the Germans make the best hunting gear. Well engineered with speed lock adjustable legs. Rock steady shooting platform as used by many a Scottish FC stalker. These guys shoot 300 odd deer a year for a living. If its good enough for them , its good enough for me!

If you want to do it on the cheap, I have also used very basic sticks in Africa effectively. Just fixed length rods with rubber bike inner tube wrapped around top to form a tripod.

Tripods and quads are much steadier than bipods, by the way.

I also like to use my sticks to glass with binos. Reduces fatigue and creates a nice steady platform. Important when you're looking for a flicking ear in a sea of scrub!

 

[Teckel]

I'll second the Knobloch tripod as i've had mine for over ten years and use them really hard (hung deer off them, thrown them at things) only one thing they're not cheap.

 

[sauer]

ive been thinking bout this after using my bipod sticks X3M1 cheap n cheerful and ok for money and value.....

but....
i feel im not using em enough so that when i do im not that comfortable.....yes i know i need to get out more and practice...saying it is one thing doing it is another ...family .work blah blah blah.......


i feel i would benefit more with a tripod or quad system.....

so.....

any bodye use the following

1) PRIMOS TRIGGER STYLE TRIPOD SYSTEM ....i havent seen it but apparently the dogs danglies and very user adjustable quickly and easily
http://bushwear.co.uk/nostyles.php?ProductID=316957&ClassID=46

but expensive

2) X3M1 SHOOTING TRIPOD BUT WITH BUTT HOLDER
http://www.greenacresupplies.co.uk/X3M1_Hunting_Pod_HP-32.htm

i like look of this but dunnoe if butt extension would actually be a pain in the butt to get caught up or does it fold in quite neat??

i have used canes before (bipod only ) and cheap and effective but i like the idea of telescopic / collapsible ones for ease of transport etc etc

i havent seen stoney point tripod ....any good ...links or details of em ...and where to buy?


cheers sauer / paul

i havent used any of em

 

[Huntingstella]

I purchased a stick set from www.forestandhill.co.uk which has worked very well, no issues easy to fit

 

[matt308]

I used to use the twin canes lashed with inner tube. Worked fine for years. I now use the telescopic bushwear ones ( which are probably rebranded X3M1 ) which have the advantage of being easier to use from seated. Take the strap off, though. I found it bounced the rifle, and the legs won't open fully, so you can only adjust height by telescoping. Not always convenient.

They are cheaply made though, so it's probably worth paying more than £20

I know the quads work really well, but I never had the urge to make some. It all looks too fiddly to carry round/deploy. I know it's just practice, but then so is stalking closer and using 2 sticks.

 

[bewsher500]

I use 2 sticks.
Bolted mine together rather than wrapping. makes them silent to operate. found the 4 stick contraption a faff.

I also incorporated a strong pair of magnets 2/3 of the way down the bipod legs to hold them together firmly
added back up of some 3/8" O-rings on the lower legs and they are "clash" free walking sticks when together.

the racket tape grips mean I can open then one handed. the way I carry my rifle means I can open and position the sticks with my left hand and swing the rifle off my shoulder and onto the sticks one handed.

 

[User00003]

well here's an old thread revived!

bi's, tri's, quads, it all depends on the lie of the land you shoot, the distance, and how much time you have to deploy the sticks before you need to take the shot.

I personally would never be able to deploy anything more complex than bipod sticks, as the ground I stalk is too hilly and generally uneven. In addition, I usually set up my shooting platform when I locate a deer via proactive stalking, which means I need it to be deployed silently and swiftly. Some will pick a point to shoot from (static stalking I guess), and wait for a deer to show, which is a completely different ball park, and makes the use of tripods and quads more efficient.

as for distance/range off sticks, I would shoot out to around 100yds but not further. I've practised a lot from sticks and would say that I'm a good shot, but at 100yds+, there is just too much natural movement/body sway/etc to ensure a clean kill IMHO..at least of twin-sticks that holds true in my book. took a nice little buck on saturday off the old B&Q green garden canes with foam insulation over the tops, can't beat them, esp. at £5 all in.

 

[bogtrotter]

I use 2 sticks.
Bolted mine together rather than wrapping. makes them silent to operate. found the 4 stick contraption a faff.

I also incorporated a strong pair of magnets 2/3 of the way down the bipod legs to hold them together firmly
added back up of some 3/8" O-rings on the lower legs and they are "clash" free walking sticks when together.

the racket tape grips mean I can open then one handed. the way I carry my rifle means I can open and position the sticks with my left hand and swing the rifle off my shoulder and onto the sticks one handed.

The same way I make mine only I work a tripod , just cut one to the length where the bolt goes through the other two take a two inch strip of leather attach one end to the top of the short stick attach other end to the pivot bolt in the other two, if you keep the short stick to the front when you open them they are really quick to deploy the advantage over bought sticks is that they are easier and quicker to adjust for kneeling or sitting shots the further apart you push the legs the lower it gets but still stays stable.

I like the idea of the magnets

The other thing I have been thinking of was some way of hinging the legs so easier for transportation, but would need someway of positive locking, no good if a leg folded just as you were about to take the shot.

 

[bewsher500]

The other thing I have been thinking of was some way of hinging the legs so easier for transportation, but would need someway of positive locking, no good if a leg folded just as you were about to take the shot.

problem I see is its very thin material. bends very easily.
a pivot point would have to be re-enforced otherwise I can see the metal tube giving way.
a slot in leg joint like a tent pole would work but again they are all separate pieces that are stronger than the actual pole

 

[glyn]

ive been thinking bout this after using my bipod sticks X3M1 cheap n cheerful and ok for money and value.....

but....
i feel im not using em enough so that when i do im not that comfortable.....yes i know i need to get out more and practice...saying it is one thing doing it is another ...family .work blah blah blah.......


i feel i would benefit more with a tripod or quad system.....

so.....

any bodye use the following
1) PRIMOS TRIGGER STYLE TRIPOD SYSTEM ....i havent seen it but apparently the dogs danglies and very user adjustable quickly and easily
http://bushwear.co.uk/nostyles.php?ProductID=316957&ClassID=46

but expensive



2) X3M1 SHOOTING TRIPOD BUT WITH BUTT HOLDER
http://www.greenacresupplies.co.uk/X3M1_Hunting_Pod_HP-32.htm

i like look of this but dunnoe if butt extension would actually be a pain in the butt to get caught up or does it fold in quite neat??

i have used canes before (bipod only ) and cheap and effective but i like the idea of telescopic / collapsible ones for ease of transport etc etc

i havent seen stoney point tripod ....any good ...links or details of em ...and where to buy?


cheers sauer / paul

i havent used any of em

1) PRIMOS TRIGGER STYLE TRIPOD SYSTEM ....i havent seen it but apparently the dogs danglies and very user adjustable quickly and easily
http://bushwear.co.uk/nostyles.php?ProductID=316957&ClassID=46

but expensive

yes very expensive ,but very stable and VERY fast to set up ! had them about 8 months now ,after the x3m1 lost a lower section whilst walking through a bog ! i had tried them previously twice in anger and have no regrets other than the price,only down sides are if you are over 6' 2" ish you could find them a bit low and they are quite heavy compared to the x3m1( just got back from a couple of weeks stalking and found the lower section of the x3m1 ,typical !!)

 

[sauer]

well i have been having a look thru the interweb and cant see any other uk stockist for the primos trigger tripod.... bloody expensive but would be best option for deploying quickly i think

funny how when i looked at em last week thye were on bushwear site for £119 now they are £129 !!!!!

damn site cheaper across the pond but i have no experience of buying from the states and mmmm dont fancy getting caught out somehow

anybody know of any other uk stockists?

sauer /paul