Hunting Rests...

[predator_huntin]

Hey guys,

i'm curious what all you handgun hunters are using for hunting rests in the woods while out hunting with your TC's?  i have tried the sling setups (dont really like them, i dont feel like they let me get stable/solid enough) and i've used my hunting pack as a rest in the past as well.  i do alot of stalk/walk hunting, and i just cant find a good setup to get stable, so i've been using my TC's setup as carbines for that.  i've got some nice thickets to hunt this year though, and i'd rather do it with the handgun.  let me know what you guys use for fast/stable rests...

[Graybeard]

There is a relatively new outfit called a "Bog Pod" that really looks to me like the best of the various pods. I've not used one and they are not cheap at $100 but it looks to me to be the most stable of them all and can be used as a hiking staff while walking. I don't use a TC walking and stalking but iffen I did I think that Bog Pod would be what I'd want to have along.

[irold]

I still hunt two ways here in Pa. ,  lots of brush and thick cover where I hunt , I don't have to worry about long shots , most tween 35 and 75 yards.  That being said , i've carried a staff sort of thing , where I simply lay the fore end over my left hand which is holding the staff...maybe lean the whole thing against the nearest tree...works for me.   Or I simply llay my wrists against a tree of a partially down ed tree........in other words : use whats available....Thats pretty much still huntin in Pa   Good luck   irold

[onesonek]

I like and use simple cross sticks I make myself. The 4 footers seem about the best length for me. I very seldom shoot from a full upright standing position. Th 4' work well kneeling or sitting, and with a stool if I'm in that situation. And they do seem to be long enough as a walking stick aid. In some situations, at long range, I use 2 sets, one under the forend, and the other under my grip hand or wrist.

Dave

[skarke]

For me, it depends a whole lot on where you hunt.  Plains areas require sticks of some sort. 

However, if you hunt from trees or behind stumps or rocks, or even out of a blind, a small sandbag about the size of an elbow rest for BR shooting it awesome.  I have taken very long shots successfully this way, well over 100 yards with perfectly placed bullets. 

Place the bag over the tree limb, rock, or stump.  Wiggle the forend into the rest until you get a good, steady hold.  Push the pistol all the way forward, with little or no gap between the trigger guard and the bag, and you'll see what I'm talking about.  Use good sand.  The extra weight can be carried easily if you get something to attach it to your belt.  I use an old canteen holster, but anything will work.

When taking the shot, you can use a little light pressure on the side of the forend for sight adjustment with your left hand, just don't cover the top of the barrel for obvious reasons.

[Catfish]

One of my favorite deer guns is an Encore with a 15 in. barrel chambered in .357 max. I have a Harris 27 in. By-Pod on it. It is just right to rest the gun butt on your knee when setting on the ground. It like shooting from a bench.

[Davemuzz]

When I hunt using my 14" Contender 7-30 Waters, I use the T\C sling http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=548658 in combination with a Stoney Point shooting stick. I have the Stoney Point Monopod and the BiPod stick.

When you "wrap" the sling (I'm a right hand shooter) over your right shoulder, around your back, and around your left rib-cage, then "push" the gun to tighten the sling against your back, and set the gun on the shooting stick, it's a very solid brace on a Monopod, and on a BiPod, it's even better (no chance of a side-to-side sway). Last year while "warming up for deer season" I shot a groundhog at 130 yards using my MonoPod setup. (The Waters is scoped of course). I was standing up.

Dave

[flyfisher]

The Pole Cat bipod from Stoney Point is one of my favorites.  I can use it for anything from sitting to standing.  It has adjustable legs and is lightweight to carry.  I usually extend the legs to where I can shoot from the standing position, then fold the bipod together and use it as a walking stick.  If you need to shoot in a hurry, just use it as a monopod, otherwise, it is really easy to unfold and get steady quickly.  Right around $50-60.

[Roger_Dailey]

For me, it depends a whole lot on where you hunt.  Plains areas require sticks of some sort. 

However, if you hunt from trees or behind stumps or rocks, or even out of a blind, a small sandbag about the size of an elbow rest for BR shooting it awesome.  I have taken very long shots successfully this way, well over 100 yards with perfectly placed bullets. 

Place the bag over the tree limb, rock, or stump.  Wiggle the forend into the rest until you get a good, steady hold.  Push the pistol all the way forward, with little or no gap between the trigger guard and the bag, and you'll see what I'm talking about.  Use good sand.  The extra weight can be carried easily if you get something to attach it to your belt.  I use an old canteen holster, but anything will work.

When taking the shot, you can use a little light pressure on the side of the forend for sight adjustment with your left hand, just don't cover the top of the barrel for obvious reasons.

That is what has worked very well for me.  My "bag" was a 6-8" piece of blue jean leg filled about 3/4 to 7/8 full of old brass tumbler media (ground corncob).  The media was much lighter than sand and worked fine for me.  As you said, the secret is to get the gun nestled into the bag and the bag pressed against a tree or rested on a limb. 

[kennisondan]

Where does the TC attach and what does it look like mounted.
thanks
dk

[Heavy C]

On the rare occasion I spot and stock I have a Stoney Point walking stick, but most of my hunting is done from a stand.  For that I found a neat sand bag made by Outers.  It has a couple of flaps sewn onto it so it can straddle the wall of the blind - it works really well.

[MnMike]

I sometimes have to do some long shots from the ground. If I can't go prone, I use an old microphone stand (a single pole with 5 legs on the bottom).
I made a wood rest to go on top. It is very stable and works with both rifle and Contender.

mike

[Davemuzz]

I sometimes have to do some long shots from the ground. If I can't go prone, I use an old microphone stand (a single pole with 5 legs on the bottom).
I made a wood rest to go on top. It is very stable and works with both rifle and Contender.

mike

Mike....do you practice any Karoake during those slow times?

Dave

[MnMike]

Maybe just a bit of:
Deer Prudence
Deer Landlord
Deer Heart

mike

[sscoyote]

Tne steadiest shooting position i've ever used besides prone with a bipod is the following--

Get one of the soft-sided stadium seats they usually have at K/Wal-Mart. Now cut off the female end of the Fastex snap on the side straps and resew it closer to the seat (it's never close enuf to provide sufficient back support). This is IMPORTANT. Now attach another Fastex snap on the ends of the side strap webbing to carry hands-free around your waist. This system is best used in conjunction with a tall Harris bipod. I've come very close to small targets at extreme range using this sytem by placing the trigger guard between my knees from the sit, and pushing slightly into my knees and the bipod.

[skarke]

Roger,

Glad  to see that I'm not the only one.  I was beginning to think that I was violating some unwritten TC rule, like shooting ducks sitting on a pond:)

[Davemuzz]

Maybe just a bit of:
Deer Prudence
Deer Landlord
Deer Heart

mike

Mike.....come in from the woods now....it's OK....come in...you know.....in thru the door.....like you use to do years ago....it will be good, you'll have coffee again.,...none of that tree bark 'n hot water stuff!

[MnMike]

Davemuzz said

"Mike.....come in from the woods now....it's OK....come in...you know.....in thru the door.....like you use to do years ago....it will be good, you'll have coffee again.,...none of that tree bark 'n hot water stuff!"

I think we have gotten off topic so I will quit. Besides, I need to gather more tree bark. Coffee is soooo last year.

mike

[Davemuzz]

Well, Ok...if were gonna get back on subject....I've found another handy use of my Stoney Point mono is for night hunting fox and coyote. Up until this year (here in Pa.) we were not allowed to use a gun mounted light. In fact, even now we can't use a gun mounted light until the animal is positively ID'ed by another means (ie: another scan light) and then you can turn on the gun light. Well, I've gotton use to my setup so I don't bother with a gun mounted light. I use a shooting stick mounted light. I scan with it and when I get the "eyes" it's just a drop of the gun on the stick. Quick 'n easy. Here is a pic:

[chiefs50]

I usually hunt from a ladder  or climber type tree stand in pretty close cover.  Deer can come from almost any direction and generally do not give you a lot of time to get into shooting position.  Have any of you come up with a workable rest solution for this scenario?

[ftw]

  I usually hunt from a tree stand. Climbing,ladder or chain on and I do my best to get as solid of a rest as I can. On some of my stands I have a rail which will act as a rest. On open front stands, I cross my legs and brace off a knee. Anything is better than pure offhand but I do shoot and practice off hand just to be safe.

  I carry a set of ratchet pruners in my fanny pack and many times I just cut a sturdy sapling with a fork in it and cut it for standing or sitting/kneeloing heights. I will usually leave it at the start of a trail when leaving the woods and just pick it up the next time I come by that area to hunt.

[SingleShotShorty]

I use Stoney Point Shooting Sticks