Backpack hunts and shooting tripods

[LIWolverine]

I take two tripods. One for shooting and one for video. I am practicing with my trekking poles and Wiser attachment to move away from taking two but it’s not THAT big of deal.

Ideal would be to have a buddy take a tripod so you can both glass and one video and one shoot when the time comes.


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[Macintosh]

That aziak ridgeline is like 20oz including the ball head. It isnt as stable as my big tripod, but its pretty darn good. Shockingly good given the weight. I made 3 for 3 hits on a 10” circle at just under 500 yards the other day off it without any rear support—a trekking pole or pack on the butt and it’d be even better. The 2-section legs are quick, too. If sitting/kneeling height is ok it could be a good option.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

If you’re interested in trying something different and that is easily 4-5 times faster than setting up any tripod, the Spartan bipod with long legs works quite well.

I carry mine pre-set to my sitting with pack as a rear rest height, strapped to outside of my pack. It can be unclipped from pack and snapped into rifle stock foreend in seconds.

I am nearly as stable in this position as I am prone and this shot here represents roughly 70% of my kills every year.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Taking 2 tripods on a backpack hunt is crazy.

I barely even like to bring just the one.

 

[Juan_ID]

I’m glad I saw this. I was practicing last night and have always felt tripods are limited beyond 300 without rear support. I only had my spotter so I did this but I know this isn’t a hunting setup….

So I was actually pondering trekking poles last night. Do you have them attached to each other somehow when you use them as a rear support?

Pretty simple, just wrap both straps around the handles of the opposite pole then cross them and it makes a nice little cradle. Something like this

 

[hereinaz]

I grab the straps and the sticks to create a cradle.

If you aren’t carrying the tripod, then there are fast and easy options like @mxgsfmdpx

And, if you have even a light tripod, you can run it with a backpack like @mxgsfmdpx for better stability.

 

[Jordan Smith]

I'm a fan of a tripod if I have one with me for the spotter, and if I have time to use it. If not, the cradled trekking poles method also works great. Shot a blonde colour-phase BB a few weeks ago from sitting, using poles as a front rest and my knee as a rear.

 

[TradLife406]

Spike camp elk hunting I’d be ditching both tripods/spotter and practicing shooting off my pack or maybe a lightweight bipod. I guess if your lightweight shooting tripod is sub 1 lb that wouldn’t be much more than a bipod.
Zero chance I’m carrying in 2 tripods and trying to set up both to video the shot sounds like a cluster.
Please post the video if you do though

Ha normally I'd be of the same mind. But I've got a really good tag. I keep hearing stories of 380's. I'm really going to try for 340+. Putting in the work scouting every weekend I can. I'll have three weeks of vacation to hunt plus some weekend warrior action during archery.

Nice thing is though that baby Kowa is super light.

 

[TradLife406]

I take two tripods. One for shooting and one for video. I am practicing with my trekking poles and Wiser attachment to move away from taking two but it’s not THAT big of deal.

Ideal would be to have a buddy take a tripod so you can both glass and one video and one shoot when the time comes.


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Ha, see there's the right answer. My daughter turned 12 this year and got a kids EXO for her birthday. I'm planning on her going with me as she can shoot a buck or a cow on her general tag in this unit. I've got an older 2 Vets No Name Jr she can pack in. She kind of owes me for the times she has snuck "cool" rocks into my backpack! Goofy kid once had this stone that was basically an Idaho potato that was well over a half a pound in her bag. But her rifle was too heavy to carry Little punk


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[LIWolverine]

Ha, see there's the right answer. My daughter turned 12 this year and got a kids EXO for her birthday. I'm planning on her going with me as she can shoot a buck or a cow on her general tag in this unit. I've got an older 2 Vets No Name Jr she can pack in. She kind of owes me for the times she has snuck "cool" rocks into my backpack! Goofy kid once had this stone that was basically an Idaho potato that was well over a half a pound in her bag. But her rifle was too heavy to carry Little punk


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[weaver]

Gotcha. That changes things. For whatever reason I was assuming trying to rustle up a raghorn on a general tag haha.I like shooting of a tripod and would definitely keep that as an option since you’re already carrying it but I’m still not carrying 2

 

[TradLife406]

Gotcha. That changes things. For whatever reason I was assuming trying to rustle up a raghorn on a general tag haha.I like shooting of a tripod and would definitely keep that as an option since you’re already carrying it but I’m still not carrying 2

Yeah for a general otc I'd be like whatever. But I keep hearing how this area has some giants.

 

[justinspicher]

For those of you using Spartan tripods, I got a table set up from @hereinaz that he built using a Spartan MLok adaptor.

So far I’ve only shot Pdogs but it’s pretty rad! The stability this table gives me for shooting is far beyond just the post on the Davros head.

Right now my shots have only been out to 300yds, but this table has been a game changer for me and how I use my tripod.

 

[Juan_ID]

For those of you using Spartan tripods, I got a table set up from @hereinaz that he built using a Spartan MLok adaptor.

So far I’ve only shot Pdogs but it’s pretty rad! The stability this table gives me for shooting is far beyond just the post on the Davros head.

Right now my shots have only been out to 300yds, but this table has been a game changer for me and how I use my tripod.


View attachment 900981

What’s the table made of and what’s it weigh? I’ve thought about buying a lightweight plate with a thin fat bag to pack hunting but haven’t gotten around to it quite yet

 

[hereinaz]

The plate is impact resistant ABS weighing 6 ounces and the bag filled with ultralight is about 2 ounces.

With the Spartan attachment, it might be 11-12 ounces total.

Ultralight Plate and Bag

LS Wild LLC premium innovative outdoor hunting gear backpacks Thunderbird Long Range shooting bags

www.lswild.com

 

[yeky83]

I use the same tripod to shoot and glass off, the legs double as trekking poles. I have a tripod table for it I’m trying out made by @hereinaz that is pretty awesome so far.

View attachment 899612

Is it the Spartan Ascent? Do you make use of it as trekking poles, or does it end up more of a backup thing?

 

[Juan_ID]

The plate is impact resistant ABS weighing 6 ounces and the bag filled with ultralight is about 2 ounces.

With the Spartan attachment, it might be 11-12 ounces total.

Ultralight Plate and Bag

LS Wild LLC premium innovative outdoor hunting gear backpacks Thunderbird Long Range shooting bags

www.lswild.com

Looks cool, I don’t use a spartan so would just put an arca plate on it. I need to practice clipping in a little more but I’m not a big fan of that and this seems like a good solution if I can’t get the hang of clipping in.

 

[DuckDawg22]

ARCA mount on the tripod, can have the spotter off and rifle on in seconds. I don't have a YouTube channel so the video, while cool, isn't that important to me

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

ARCA mount on the tripod, can have the spotter off and rifle on in seconds. I don't have a YouTube channel so the video, while cool, isn't that important to me

I am planning on trying this, this year on ambush style hunts like you mention. For true spot and stalk and getting animals killed your "seconds" take more like "minutes" (which isn't always a bad thing).

 

[hereinaz]

Looks cool, I don’t use a spartan so would just put an arca plate on it. I need to practice clipping in a little more but I’m not a big fan of that and this seems like a good solution if I can’t get the hang of clipping in.

We have small ARCA as well, and that is how I use it. Adapt it to your tripod system.

Depending on the hunt, I glass off it and shoot. It works great for NRL hunter to glass and range targets then transition to rifle. I only strap the glass on for longer glassing sessions.

We had a bedded bull behind brush, and I set my buddy up to get over brush and stay in a relaxed position. Clipped in with a bag in back. We watched him for a long time till he stood up. We both had inverted leg Leofoto and he is 6’6”.