Shooting Stick advise

[donut757]

Looking at getting a Vanguard shooting stick, nothing crazy or extravagant... The monopod variety has a U and a V yoke choice. Outside of a lead sled or hood of truck, ive never used a shooting stick/support so really not sure of the advantage or one or the other.

What yoke would be preferred for a rifle/slug gun?

This would primarily be for hunting from the ground during deer season and maybe some varmit . It would be used when casually shooting at paper too.

 

[Mobuck]

I have a "bog pod" 2 legged shooting support that works well for sitting on the ground or in a low chair if you are looking to buy something ready to use. The shooting sticks I use most of the time is homemade from two pieces of bamboo/cane pole material bound with either 1/4" diameter latex tubing or a common bootlace. I use this very basic accessory when hunting especially in the snow. If I drop or forget the sticks and can't find them in the snow or it's a long walk back to where I left them, I haven't lost much.
Personally, I don't care for a one leg support, it only provides stability in one dimension. A two legged support put into tension by pulling everything back into the shooter's shoulder is very stabile while allowing some lateral movement to follow moving game.

 

[contender]

Well, I have several options of shooting sticks,, (and yes,, I also use them for shooting handguns mostly.)
I have found that all of them have pluses & minuses.
One brand & all that I have found to be quite nice,, and easy to carry, & use,, is the Primos "Trigger Stick." It is lightweight,, (lighter than the excellent Bog-Pod) but RAPIDLY deploys with just a pull of the trigger,, and adjusts to whatever height I'm at.
If you want one,, I have a pair of the Primos Monopod V-notch types. I can part with one quite as I do not need 2 of them,, AND I also have their tri-pod design. I can make you a deal in one.

 

[bogus bill]

A guy I know makes these.
http://catshootingsticks.com/

 

[Mobuck]

When deciding on yoke, remember that many of the yokes aren't wide enough for some types of long gun and I don't recommend allowing the barrel to rest directly on the yoke. I also don't care to have the sticks "attached" (some have a bungie thing to loop over the fore end). Most of my use is for coyote calling and I certainly don't want to have those sticks hanging off the front of my rifle if "Wiley" comes in behind me and I have to quickly change shooting direction. This(and the added weight) was the major impetus for switching from an attached bipod to crossed sticks.

 

[GunnyGene]

Why pay for something that nature provides? :roll: Just cut a sapling as needed and sharpen the bottom end so you can stick it in the ground.

 

[toysoldier]

A guy I know makes these.
http://catshootingsticks.com/

Those look great, especially the benchrest set. That's a lot easier to tote (and adjust) than sandbags. That's my next workshop project.

 

[Paul B]

I've used shooting sticks twice. The first time was in 2009 on my antelope hunt They were some kind of plastic cross sticked with something like a rubber donut holding the sticks together. A bit on the wobbly side but worked when it came time to shoot my animal.

The second time was on my last elk hunt. It was a tripod affair with a "U" shaped yoke. I didn't catch the brand name but it was when we were watching some elk behind some thick brush. I was able to hold quite steady in the direction of the elk but none cooperated to show enough for a shot. Later on I got shot at one running straight away from me and had to that the shot offhand. I hit the elk at the base of the skull and it was lights out.

I've never really given much thought to shooting sticks but maybe I'll spring for a set for varmint hunting.
Paul B.

 

[mlazarus5388]

Primos trigger sticks.