Bipod/Gear recommendations for first sheep hunt

[grizz19]

So as the title states, I’m looking for bipod and gear recommendations for my upcoming sheep hunt. This is my first sheep hunt and I drew it on the random in my home state of California. According to Gohunt, I had a less than 0.01% chance to pull the tag. I’m currently using the shorter evolution bipod. The unit that I drew is very steep and very rugged. Sheep will all be at 12,000 feet plus. One of my biggest questions is will a shorter bipod like this be sufficient, or should I look at a longer bipod like a used 27 inch hatch or something similar? Any other gear recommendations would be appreciated. I just picked up a 15° outdoor vitals bag, I have a sleeping pad with an R rating of 4.4. My hunt will take place between mid August and end of September, it’s hot country, but I will be at 12,000 to 14,000 feet and will be cold at night. So I’m wondering if this R rating will be sufficient enough? Other than that, I have a good pack good clothing good boots, I’m going to try and go DIY. I have a really good group of guys behind me and I’m hoping that we can get it done. I have several scouting trips planned over the next month and a half. Depending on what we are able to find for sheep and mature rams will determine whether I end up going guided or not. Just curious from guys with experience if there is any knickknack gear that you found to be beneficial on your hunts that I could add. I appreciate any feedback. Thank you you!

 

[Sirariel]

I ran a Hatch on my Arizona muzzleloader elk hunt and it worked well. It does have some weight but if you dont mind the extra weight bring a tall and the short. Or run a tall and some Phoenix shooting bags

 

[Grassymike]

I would leave the bipod at home. Work on shooting off your pack/ trekking poles. Maybe the Wiser quick clip thing for your trekking poles. I really work at lightening my pack year over year. The best way to do it is leave stuff at home and only carry things that have at least two uses. This is all based on backpacking , if you have a ride bring whatever you want.

 

[OverInfinite]

MTN Gear bipods. So light it's silly not taking them. And so adjustable you can set up almost kneeling. 10 times better then a pack- in my experience.

 

[blackwood]

I've had a Harris bipod for many years and I use it at the range almost every week practicing. In all of my hunting, including 6 successful sheep hunts, I've never taken or used a bipod. My longest sheep shot was 206 yards at my Dall ram and like for my Bighorn rams and Aoudad, I was able to just lie down prone for the shots.

 

[dgfavor]

I drew sheep tag last year and I went with a Rokstedi p242 - I am 6'5". It's very lightweight, adjustable, and extends nicely to a "middle" shooting position I often find myself in hunting alot in knee/waist high sage brush. I practiced with it at various heights, angles, etc and really liked it - felt like it was the ticket...then when it came time to move in for the final stalk on my ram...I forgot the bipod and shot free hand standing up from 60yds.

Anyway...I'd go with the same bipod setup again if I had a sheep tag now. I personally like it better than a pack/makeshift rest but YMMV. I did use that setup last year also from a seated position, over tall grass, at almost full height on a whitetail from 216yds and worked great.

Good luck, enjoy, soak it in, overthink, overplan, talk about it incessantly...you get the idea!!

 

[grizz19]

MTN Gear bipods. So light it's silly not taking them. And so adjustable you can set up almost kneeling. 10 times better then a pack- in my experience.

I haven’t looked at them before, I’ll check em out!

I drew sheep tag last year and I went with a Rokstedi p242 - I am 6'5". It's very lightweight, adjustable, and extends nicely to a "middle" shooting position I often find myself in hunting alot in knee/waist high sage brush. I practiced with it at various heights, angles, etc and really liked it - felt like it was the ticket...then when it came time to move in for the final stalk on my ram...I forgot the bipod and shot free hand standing up from 60yds.

Anyway...I'd go with the same bipod setup again if I had a sheep tag now. I personally like it better than a pack/makeshift rest but YMMV. I did use that setup last year also from a seated position, over tall grass, at almost full height on a whitetail from 216yds and worked great.

Awesome! Sometimes it works like that I’ll look into them as well. It’s pretty steep country but it looks like getting prone or use of a bipod is definitely possible so I got to figure out exactly what I want to do.