Thread: Who uses a tripod to hunt / shoot from?

Interested in which specific tripods people have had good experience with, what to look for when buying, and also what you are using to support your rifle - the y shape rests ? or heads that support arca or picatinny ?

Looking to get above scrub, tussock or leatherwood, and hopefully still be light enough that I will actually carry it up a hill or two.

I had read a couple of posts a while back, but can't for the life of me find them in the search.

Cheers!

I've been converted to tripod shooting, and wouldn't look back now.
Went through a few tripods, and finally landed on something that performs very well. Then went through the whole exercise of ball head options, then levelling heads.
What I ended up with is a two section 40mm carbon tripod, with a arca / picatinny leveling head.
Most solid and steady setup I found. It only gets used for rabbit control, but being able to take 100M headshots on rabbits all night, while at full standing height is hard to beat.

Mate has the 4 section version, just because it packs down shorter. Almost as steady as the 2 section.

@quentin What brand of tripod it that Q?

Bexin / Innorel (same tripod just different branding on it), and a sunwayfoto leveling head.
The 2 section was a special order from the factory, but the 4 section can be picked up on Aliexpress.

I shall be reading this topic with interest - tried a cheap tripod got what I paid for - horrible - slightest movement was accentuated at the tripod - it slipped- moved took awhile to set up right - soon gave that up - so whats a good one ??

Not a tripod but I've been using a triggerstick for a while and find it very useful for getting above "stuff". It's light quick to set and although it's not recommended does useful service as a hill stick

I have a Primos Trigger Stick Tripod knock off from xHunter. I've used it for rabbit shooting before, but took it on a recent farm hunt for goats and pigs. I was impressed by the stability from standing or sitting. It's light, but couldn't see myself carrying it through the bush. I would also leave it behind if I expected to do any fast shooting. It's quick to deploy, but not that quick and even if you decide not to use it, the movement and noise from putting it down would scare off any self-respecting deer.

I bought a quad stick from supplier at Cambridge. With practice they set up reasonably quick but definitely not a snap shooting solution. They fold up to make a fairly decent walking stick but the velcro strap that holds them together is pretty useless. They are very adjustable with holes and buttons to get your preferred base height, then to get a specific shooting height you just spread the legs in or out a little. They support the rifle at the fore end and just in front of the trigger guard so very stable. Thats how I use them if setting up to monitor say a slip face. If I'm stalking and see target before it sees me but not enough time to set up fore and aft I simply use them as a shooting stick. With practice this is very effective. Height is adjusted simply by leaning the now single stick (x4 together as one), forward or back as suits. Can be very quick to get onto target. If animals, say goats in cover, know I'm there and are moving and I need to snap shoot offhand I just drop them on the ground. Worth putting some flash orange on them to make it easy to find if yiu happen to move off in heat of the moment..

Biggest downside is banging them on stuff can make noise. Why orange flash is good..ive left them in some circumstances and then collected them later..

Cost $180 couple of years ago..Had my $$ worth..

I have an Aziak Backcountry on its way with ballhead. I think there's a tradeoff between weight and function. I asked a few people and they were happy with this. Not perfect but the best compromise. I will have Arca Swiss front on an XLR chassis.

The tradeoff is very real... photographers are advised to always choose the heaviest tripod their assistant can carry!
Seriously though the attributes you are looking for are: Cheap. Lightweight. Sturdy... but you can only have two.

AliExpress has some great lightweight and sturdy tripods that are as good as, but cost far less than 'premium' brands in NZ, but they still cost a fair bit. For shooting, the legs need to be thicker than a photo tripod, because cameras don't have recoil when you shoot. 40mm legs is probably as much as you'll need.
I don't own one of these (I have a Manfrotto 055 carbon magnesium) but that is sort of what you are looking for.
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mNJal1E

Originally Posted by Jhon

I bought a quad stick from supplier at Cambridge. With practice they set up reasonably quick but definitely not a snap shooting solution. They fold up to make a fairly decent walking stick but the velcro strap that holds them together is pretty useless. They are very adjustable with holes and buttons to get your preferred base height, then to get a specific shooting height you just spread the legs in or out a little. They support the rifle at the fore end and just in front of the trigger guard so very stable. Thats how I use them if setting up to monitor say a slip face. If I'm stalking and see target before it sees me but not enough time to set up fore and aft I simply use them as a shooting stick. With practice this is very effective. Height is adjusted simply by leaning the now single stick (x4 together as one), forward or back as suits. Can be very quick to get onto target. If animals, say goats in cover, know I'm there and are moving and I need to snap shoot offhand I just drop them on the ground. Worth putting some flash orange on them to make it easy to find if yiu happen to move off in heat of the moment..

Biggest downside is banging them on stuff can make noise. Why orange flash is good..ive left them in some circumstances and then collected them later..

Cost $180 couple of years ago..Had my $$ worth..

These are awesome. Great for inexperienced shooters. Turns newbies in to not bad shots.
I've even converted a few experienced hunters.
Trigger sticks are OK but tripods (Bogpds etc) awkward and slow to set up.

Originally Posted by 7mmwsm

These are awesome. Great for inexperienced shooters. Turns newbies in to not bad shots.
I've even converted a few experienced hunters.
Trigger sticks are OK but tripods (Bogpds etc) awkward and slow to set up.

Yes, mine are light to carry and very stable. You often see them used on UK Field Sports vids hunting deer and fox etc. Where I first got onto them..

Originally Posted by Jhon

Yes, mine are light to carry and very stable. You often see them used on UK Field Sports vids hunting deer and fox etc. Where I first got onto them..

You might be surprised how many guides are carrying them here too.
Primos made a five leg version which is like shooting off a bench. But they have stopped making them.
Owl Optics (FSSPrecision?) had a similar one at the Fieldays. About $400 but worth the money.

I don't even use a bipod now.. tricer tripod and arca rail on my rifle. Take all my shots out to 450 so far sitting behind a tripod

Literally just watched this half an hour ago,

Little bit spendy but looks like the goods

https://youtu.be/tLgbidqll4g?feature=shared