Backpack hunts and shooting tripods

[TradLife406]

I'm pretty well attached to my shooting tripod. I know there's other options for shooting and I play with those too.
All of my experience since I started taking my rifle hunting more serious has been prairie whitetail and ambushing. Not going more than a couple miles in. It's nice having the gun locked in and ready when ambushing.

But elk hunting this fall I'm wondering if it's worth taking in my light shooting tripod and a light glassing tripod.

It's pretty steep country. I'll probably be packing in a spike camp too.

Would I be better off just practicing this summer shooting off the Wiser trekking pole thinger and my pack as a rear rest? To a point where I can be as good as if off a tripod. 600 off the tripod sitting is a high percentage shot for me.

I just know that sometimes prone isn't an option.

 

[mtnbound]

I'm pretty well attached to my shooting tripod. I know there's other options for shooting and I play with those too.
All of my experience since I started taking my rifle hunting more serious has been prairie whitetail and ambushing. Not going more than a couple miles in. It's nice having the gun locked in and ready when ambushing.

But elk hunting this fall I'm wondering if it's worth taking in my light shooting tripod and a light glassing tripod.

It's pretty steep country. I'll probably be packing in a spike camp too.

Would I be better off just practicing this summer shooting off the Wiser trekking pole thinger and my pack as a rear rest? To a point where I can be as good as if off a tripod. 600 off the tripod sitting is a high percentage shot for me.

I just know that sometimes prone isn't an option.

I would say use your pack and poles but I don’t hunt in an area where a tripod makes much sense. The idea of packing 2 tripods sounds like too much fiddle factor but if you feel it’s needed for your hunt then do what is going to give you the most confidence in harvesting a animal.

 

[686]

I like to pack in one “light” tripod when elk hunting; a 65mm spotter, and I have the wiser thing on my trekking poles as well, just in case. It’s some serious extra weight, but it makes glassing really nice, and like you, I’m very confident to 600 shooting off my tripod. If I’m really cutting weight, I’ll leave my spotting scope behind and still bring the tripod. Sometimes I’m in areas where you have to be standing to get a shot, having the gun locked in a tripod in front of me is really great. I’ve never regretted hiking it in. How heavy is your tripod?

 

[rickyw]

I have a little V attachment that I can swap onto my spotting scope tripod. Works great. Similar to this

 

[SloppyJ]

If you're going to be glassing a bit then I'd take the tripod just for that. I have doubts about setting up it quickly and efficiently in broken terrain but it is money. If a quick shot presented itself I think that'd be the last thing I reached for though.

Practice off your sticks (looped) in the front and a bag for the rear.

 

[justinspicher]

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.

 

[hereinaz]

I take my glassing/shooting tripod for rifle hunts. It’s dual purpose and I don’t take a bipod.

I consider a lighter tripod but never take it.

 

[BLJ]

I take my glassing/shooting tripod for rifle hunts. It’s dual purpose and I don’t take a bipod.

I consider a lighter tripod but never take it.

You’re completely away from a bipod?
Tripod if a prone shot presents itself?

 

[TradLife406]

You’re completely away from a bipod?
Tripod if a prone shot presents itself?

I really like a tripod for prone.

I guess I was thinking it'd be nice to set the spotter and phone up to video the shot and have a tripod to shoot off of...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[BLJ]

Never considered that.

 

[weaver]

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

 

[hereinaz]

You’re completely away from a bipod?
Tripod if a prone shot presents itself?

I can use the tripod prone, or my pack.

Basically, I have practiced shooting off a tripod and supporting my position seated that I am more comfortable and confident than shooting prone.

 

[BLJ]

That makes a lot of sense.
I’m sure seated tripod is way more versatile.

Do you find seated to better than one or both knees?
Do you use your pack to fill the void created between your body/buttstock/tripod? Thanks.

 

[hereinaz]

Seated and I fill all the gaps I can everywhere and find support for the rifle. But, I have other positions low and high kneeling that are stable.

Stability is all about support. There are ways to build it out including my pack, bags, the tripod legs,etc.

Shooting off a tripod, to manage recoil, it is important to always build the position with some meat behind the gun to keep control. A little weight forward of your center of gravity. Recoil will lift the muzzle and you’ll miss high if it pushes you back.

Here is a kneeling position as solid as prone for me. It’s as simple as front support, rear support, support for your body and a clean trigger press.

My feeling is that the vast majority who really practice with a tripod won’t take a bipod.

 

[ruger35]

I’m not sure I’d say seated tripod is as stable as prone for me, but it is definitely more stable than kneeling/standing. My tripod is around or right over 5lbs. After NRL Alaska I came home and started researching lighter tripods because that match made me really feel comfortable shooting tripod sitting.

I’ve never tried tripod prone, but I could see where tripod practice and someone would leave a bipod at home to save on weight for the rifle. I do enjoy shooting clipped in to the tripod though.

 

[BLJ]

My feeling is that the vast majority who really practice with a tripod won’t take a bipod.

That’s really interesting and something I’ll look into.
A tripod would definitely be more versatile in the big picture. Would be difficult to glass from a bipod.

I never got comfortable clipped in.
Do you prefer a bag? Thanks.

Apologies for the OP if I’m hijacking.

 

[hereinaz]

That’s really interesting and something I’ll look into.
A tripod would definitely be more versatile in the big picture. Would be difficult to glass from a bipod.

I never got comfortable clipped in.
Do you prefer a bag? Thanks.

Apologies for the OP if I’m hijacking.

I am good with clipping in most of the time. I will use a bag when it is dynamic situation.

 

[hereinaz]

I’m not sure I’d say seated tripod is as stable as prone for me, but it is definitely more stable than kneeling/standing. My tripod is around or right over 5lbs. After NRL Alaska I came home and started researching lighter tripods because that match made me really feel comfortable shooting tripod sitting.

I’ve never tried tripod prone, but I could see where tripod practice and someone would leave a bipod at home to save on weight for the rifle. I do enjoy shooting clipped in to the tripod though.

Depending on height, the Leofoto inverted leg tripods are the ones that I have used.

Leofoto SO-282CX is the long one, too long for most but I live with it cause I can glass off of it standing. The short version works for sitting or for non 6'2" humans.​

 

[Poser]

Taking 2 tripods on a backpack hunt is crazy.

 

[satchamo]

Seated and I fill all the gaps I can everywhere and find support for the rifle. But, I have other positions low and high kneeling that are stable.

Stability is all about support. There are ways to build it out including my pack, bags, the tripod legs,etc.

Shooting off a tripod, to manage recoil, it is important to always build the position with some meat behind the gun to keep control. A little weight forward of your center of gravity. Recoil will lift the muzzle and you’ll miss high if it pushes you back.

Here is a kneeling position as solid as prone for me. It’s as simple as front support, rear support, support for your body and a clean trigger press.

My feeling is that the vast majority who really practice with a tripod won’t take a bipod.

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?