3 Tricks for Shooting Sticks

Is your stance right? The rifle in the yoke correctly? Using this popular field rest isn’t as easy as you think

Many deer and turkey hunters never experience a long stalk that culminates in a shot from shooting sticks. The concept was foreign to me on a recent African safari. But, after some practice, I learned that using rapidly deployed shooting sticks — properly — is a useful skill for American big game and turkey hunters to learn, too.

Shooting positions closest to Mother Earth are the most stable. Shooting sticks can make a seated shot almost as solid as a bench rest. Of course, in many hunting situations, shooting while seated is not a viable option due to challenges from topography and vegetation. But shooting while standing, from sticks, is significantly steadier than shooting offhand. However you use shooting sticks, it takes practice to deploy them quickly and effectively in the field. For these tips, we’re focusing not on firearm-mounted bipods, but on freestanding rests with one, two, or three legs.

1. Use the Right Sticks

The game you’ll be hunting, and where you’ll be hunting it, factors into selecting and learning to shoot from sticks. Backcountry hunters cognizant of weight — and who also might need a walking staff — may opt for a single-legged monopod. Western big-game hunters will likely prefer either a mid- or full-length tripod, while ground blind or turkey hunters can use a short or mid-height bipod or tripod. Personally, I have several different brands and styles of sticks — including a Primos Trigger Stick, BOG-Pod and Vanguard VEO. Each has its place and gets time on the range.

If hunting from a blind, get in that same chair on the range and practice shooting with the pod positioned at the optimum height for windows or shooting lanes. For mobile hunting, the sticks will either be hand-carried or stowed in a pack for rapid deployment. Train on the range the way you intend to hunt. Carry the sticks, get them set with the rifle in position, brace and balance, and focus on making an accurate shot. Speed comes with practice and should never be forced. Practicing on the sticks you plan to use will add range, confidence, and serious stability to your game.

2. Use Proper Mechanics

If used incorrectly, sticks can actually cause errant shots. Utilized properly, these rests should not correct, but rather, enhance an already balanced shooting stance. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, similar to shooting offhand, and the rifle’s forend — never the barrel — firmly resting in the v-yoke of the pod. The forward hand should grasp both the forend and the sticks, and from this position, that hand can apply light downward pressure at the point of the yoke. You can grasp in front of or behind the yoke. It’s personal preference. With the firearm in place, the buttstock pulled firmly into the shoulder, and the body in balance, the stage is set for success. As an added benefit, shooting sticks help reduce felt recoil in larger calibers, because the body moves more naturally than from a bench, and it rolls from the impact. Proper mechanics will lead to more accurate shot placement and increased confidence.

3. Play the Terrain

Seasoned hunters will be able to get on their shooting sticks quickly using proper mechanics and place that first shot with confidence and accuracy. Though it’s ideal to fit oneself to the sticks and not vice versa, sometimes the terrain dictates shooting from unorthodox positions. While some sticks adjust more rapidly than others, any brand of sticks — even homemade — can work well on just about any terrain, if you practice.

Whether shooting kudu in Africa or turkeys in the Midwest, the theory remains the same: Learn to rapidly deploy your shooting sticks, especially in uneven terrain. While the majority of shooting-stick shots will be standing, some hunts will allow for seated positioning. In those cases, not only do bipods or mid-height tripods excel, but you can also sometimes take advantage of both the terrain and your gear to further steady the rest. Get creative with seated shots by using a backpack to brace the buttstock, a boulder for a backrest, or any number of makeshift options to supplement the sticks. It’s all about adding multiple points of contact to further steady the gun.

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