tophet1
.400 member
Reged: 15/09/07
Posts: 1873
Loc: NSW, Australia
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I was just wondering how often are shooting sticks used for plains game with a magazine rifle. They seem to figure prominantly in visual literature about hunting in africa. What have your experiences been ?
Cheers.
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hoppdoc
.400 member
Reged: 02/03/06
Posts: 1791
Loc: Southeastern USA
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Used them or my own "shooting stick" walking stick with bolt guns for most of my shots past 100yds. I have used shooting sticks at long range on game with great success. That wouldn't necessarily apply to shooting at closer ranges with Double rifles.
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An armed man is a citizen of his country, an unarmed man just a subject.
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Tatume
.400 member
Reged: 09/06/07
Posts: 1091
Loc: Gloucester, Va USA
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My shooting stick was made from red oak. It is a single shaft, one end of which was carved to a dull, rounded, chisel point and fire hardened. The other end has a lanyard. It is used various ways, depending on the circumstances. Accuracy with the stick approaches that which can be achieved prone.
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ozhunter
.400 member
Reged: 18/08/04
Posts: 1692
Loc: Sydney, Australia
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You will use them often in Africa
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shakari
.400 member
Reged: 09/02/03
Posts: 1107
Loc: South Africa
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I'd say most clients use them most of the time.... but they're not compulsory.  They come in a wide range of styles but the oddest ones I've ever seen came with 2 Austrian clients early this year. They (the sticks, not the Austrians)looked so bloody akward it's not true. Setting them up (for me) was a bit like trying to do a rubic cube in a hurry, but these guys had them well sorted and they got the sticks up and the shot off, incredibly quickly.
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Steve "Shakari" Robinson
Kuduland Safaris (Africa) Ltd
info@kuduland.com
www.kuduland.com
Edited by shakari (25/11/07 03:15 AM)
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mikeh416Rigby
.450 member
Reged: 24/02/03
Posts: 6051
Loc: The beautiful Oley Valley, PA....
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I've used them extensively in Africa. The set I used was purchased at Long Grass Outfitters, www.long-grass.com . They are made of red oak, and come in two sections for packing. A metal ferrul connects the sections, and the top is wrapped with leather.
No matter which shooting sticks you use, lots of practice is required, as they do take some getting used to. But, after you're comfortable with them, your groups shrink amazingly. I can comfortably place 5 shots in a 4 inch circle at 200 yards with them.
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Ripp
.577 member
Reged: 19/02/07
Posts: 16072
Loc: Montana, USA
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Used them a lot in Africa--hunting buffalo and plains game--however sometimes time does not permit and have used off hand--when I did use them they worked great...
Here in the US--I used either a bipod when hunting varmints or lean on the back pack when longer shot is required=--if that is not handy there always seems to be a tree or boulder near by--
Ripp
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ALL MEN DIE, BUT FEW MEN TRULY LIVE..
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Rick_R
.300 member
Reged: 03/07/03
Posts: 118
Loc: WV, USA
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During my one and only trip to RSA our PH had a set of the Stoney Point sticks and he was adroit at setting them in front of you while you were getting the rifle ready and figuring out which animal he wanted you to shoot. I didn't feel like I "needed" them but only a fool doesn't take advantage of support that's already where you need it.
Someone let a pack of dogs loose inside one area we were going to hunt the first night we were there (apparently a poacher's trick) and I loaned my 9,3x62 to the PH so he could prevent them from harrassing the game. Early the next morning I was getting ready and heard "BOOM!" right outside my chalet. When I went outside the PH was walking across the grounds with rifle in one hand and shooting sticks in the other. I asked "what didja shoot?" and he pointed to a medium size dog whose remains were sprawled in a flower bed @60 yards away. And he said "never used the shooting sticks before but thought if the damn Americans could use them I could too".
We tried to explain that we don't normally use them either and frequently take deer out past 100yds, but I don't think he ever believed us...
Edited by Rick_R (25/11/07 05:15 PM)
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bonanza
.400 member
Reged: 17/05/04
Posts: 2335
Loc: South Carolina
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Why are you shooting sticks?
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"Speak Precisely" G. Gordon Liddy.
"Life is absurd, chaotic and we must define its purpose with our actions" Abert Camus
"I''m the dude playing a dude disguised as another dude."
"Yo! Mr. White"
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shakari
.400 member
Reged: 09/02/03
Posts: 1107
Loc: South Africa
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bowhunters.......
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Steve "Shakari" Robinson
Kuduland Safaris (Africa) Ltd
info@kuduland.com
www.kuduland.com
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mikeh416Rigby
.450 member
Reged: 24/02/03
Posts: 6051
Loc: The beautiful Oley Valley, PA....
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Quote:
Why are you shooting sticks?
We're shooting sticks because it's difficult to get adequate penetration on a 15" Oak Tree.
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bonanza
.400 member
Reged: 17/05/04
Posts: 2335
Loc: South Carolina
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eats,_Shoots_&_Leaves
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"Speak Precisely" G. Gordon Liddy.
"Life is absurd, chaotic and we must define its purpose with our actions" Abert Camus
"I''m the dude playing a dude disguised as another dude."
"Yo! Mr. White"
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tophet1
.400 member
Reged: 15/09/07
Posts: 1873
Loc: NSW, Australia
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Aaaagghh... there's more than one comedian in here...
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NitroX
.700 member
Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 40643
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
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Quote:
I was just wondering how often are shooting sticks used for plains game with a magazine rifle. They seem to figure prominantly in visual literature about hunting in africa. What have your experiences been ?
Cheers.
I have used them in Africa for a fair amount of plains game shooting and use them a fair bit in Oz at home on small game and deer.
In Africa an advantage is a tracker or the PH carries them and sets them up for you. Carrying them yourself and putting them up yourself takes more time. Use of them on game at close range however is NOT advantageous as the extra movement often alerts game and causes them to run.
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John aka NitroX
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Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"
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bonanza
.400 member
Reged: 17/05/04
Posts: 2335
Loc: South Carolina
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I recently bought a mono-pod shooting "stick"; completely useless. I was better off shooting off hand.
Thankfully it works well for photography.
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9.3x57
.450 member
Reged: 22/04/07
Posts: 5561
Loc: United States
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Since I don't hunt in a crowd with somebody to pack them around for me, I've never used them. They look handy, though and many seem to like them.
Can anyone verify if bonanza actually looks like Rhett Butler?
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What are the Rosary, the Cross or the Crucifix other than tools to help maintain the fortress of our faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
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bonanza
.400 member
Reged: 17/05/04
Posts: 2335
Loc: South Carolina
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I only wish I were that dashing.
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