Bipods
One of the most common shooting aids, a bipod sits on the front of your rifle stock and usually comprises of two legs that provide a rest whilst lying prone and at the same time raising the rifle itself above any foliage or rough ground thus enabling a stable, clear shot.
Amongst the best known is the veritable Harris Bipod, however newcomers such as the easily attachable and detachable Spartan range, the tactical inspired Tier One range or the new kid on the block Norne Hunt all offer pros and cons.
Things to think about when choosing your bipod include the height of the legs(what ground will you be shooting over), whether you “load” your bipod and thus need a certain load weight capacity, weight (many of the new ones are carbon-fiber and light thus avoiding ruining the balance of your rifle) and whether you want it to be quickly detachable.
Just be careful if you go down the detachable route, that you don’t leave it on the hillside in the excitement of the hunt’s climax!
Shooting Bags
Whilst predominantly seen on shooting ranges, more and more hunters have started taking shooting bags, whether single ones just for the front of the rifle or double bags for front and back, with them when they hunt from highstands.
These small sand or rice filled bags create a perfect rest for shots however they do mean that you lose the ability to quickly move and react to the situation if it changes. They can also add considerably to your pack’s weight, something to keep in mind if your stand is a long walk from your car!
Walking/SingleStick
Many hunters will take at least a single or walking stick out with them when they are hunting on mountainous terrain, they can also be incredibly handy when on soft or boggy ground too, enabling you to check whether the ground is firm underfoot or how deep water is before crossing.
These sticks can also do double duty as a shooting rest, either by stablising the front hand (and thus front of the rifle) or by leaning against a tree or rock, creating a bipod type arrangement that is even more stable.
This may not be as stable as some of the multi-leg sticks detailed below, but it is often the quickest to get into position, key when the chance is a fleeting one.
ShootingSticks
Double or Bipod
These canvary from two garden canes with a bolt through the middle to fancy carbonfiber versions. What they all have in common though is that they fold up for easycarrying during your hunt, before deploying quickly and easily to present a “V”for you to rest your rifle in to take the all-important shot. Given the lack of rear support, they are not as stable as quad sticks, but that does enable more movement and adjustment. They are often popular with those stalking in woodland or on monterias where shots can be quick and movement is to be expected.
Triple or Tripod
The half-way house between double sticks and quad sticks, the tripod sticks gain additional stability thanks to the additional leg but do lose some of the speed and ease and deployment.
Several options now exist when it comes to the top of these sticks, whether the standard “V” shape, a grip type top which holds the rifle in place firmly or even the Spartan attachment which slots into an adaptor on the base of the rifle itself.
A special mention must also go to Primos for the tripod trigger sticks, a truly love or hate item which some love for easy deployment and height adjustment and some can’t just can’t get on with!
Quad
The ultimate in stability, however also the hardest and slowest to set up. The benefit with these is that they can be used as double sticks if needing a quick shot or fully deployed with all four legs for both front and rear support if time allows.
These sticks do take practice to master, but once you have, the stability they offer is incredible and allows for taking longer range shots that most would feel uncomfortable or unable to take from any other position than prone otherwise, ideal when hunting with high cover or undergrowth that makes this impossible.
Whichever you pick, practice makes perfect and being able to quickly and quietly get your shooting aid deployed and your rifle in place will often be the difference between getting your animal or now.
As one clever writer once said “the more I practice, the luckier I become!”
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