SHOOTING STICKS vs BIPODS?

Whats better for an open sagebrush muley/pronghorn hunt in SE Montana? Dad and I are shooting .264 and 7mm. I would love to hear opinions and the reasons why.... Also, suggest your favorite products, thanks!
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bigbuck92
i would probaly use a bipod but i would want it to be one of the ones with the longer legs but bipods are a bit pricey so i mostly use the sticks but i like either one
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a_bow_nut
Though I've never used them I think that I'd use the shooting sticks. If both of you are hunting togather the non shooter can carry the sticks and can get them set up real quick. I have a few sets of bi pods and for hunting varmits and taking long shots at jackrabbits they are great but if you stalking in on an animal and you need to set up for a quick shot bi pods can be kind of cumbersome.
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AGCHAWK
I think I agree with a_bow_nut. I have never used them before either (Unless you count making your brother get down on his knees and using his shoulder as a rest. Worked great too!) but I think the shooting sticks would be the way I would go.
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I have done a lot of hunting in sage and I really don't think that you need either. I have both and found that really they are more of a pain than anything else. If you are going to buy a bipod Harris is the only way to go. They cost quite a bit, but they really are the cats meow. But they are heavy, and can be a pain taking on and off. If you tighten it too much you're liable to pull the whole swivel stud out of the stock. Really.... either way, you usually just don't have time to imploy them. If you do have time, then you have time to steady yourself with something else like your pack or your knees.

I think you're muley hunting will be in a little more rugged terrain then the pronghorn. If you really are set on buying one, get the longer harris bipod and use it only for the pronghorn. I have both shooting sticks and long and short bipods. None of them get used anymore.
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I have used shooting sticks on spring bear hunts. They can come in handy on long range shots and are light and easy to carry around. The pair I had folded up and clipped to the belt. They also can be used to rest your binoculars on when doing a lot of glassing or for a walking stick after hiking the hills.
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MuleyMadness
I have used a Bipod for a while now, well at least I carry it on my rifle. Can't say it's always useful, but it ads a lot of weight which I don't like.

I'm thinking of trying shooting sticks, but have never used them.

I like that the bipod is basically out of the way, and it does work if you have time of course.
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bowhunter 616
i think that the shooting sticks are the way to go,i have used bouth and find that the sticks are easyer to use on all diferent terrains :thumb
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Torch
I think shooting sticks will work well out in the open country, but if you buy them I would leave them at home for high country hunts or really steep country.

I tried to use them on a Wyoming high country hunt a few years ago. They slid twice as I was squeezing the trigger on a great buck. I finally threw them, laid over a rock, and dropped the buck.

However, I like them in flatter country. I have a few friends that use a snipepod and love them. I think I will switch over. Bi-pods are too heavy for the kind of hunting I do.
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bigbuck92
haha its great to see im not the only one who does it. Hawk i do the same thing to my bro.haha :thumb
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Use either and it won't take any Montanian very long to figure out where your from.

Since this is your first muley hunt, I sustain that your time might be better spent asking questions more pertinent to your hunt, such as " What kind of terrain do mule deer live in?" or " What are deer doing at certain times of day?" or "Should I hunt high or low in October?" or " How do I recognize good muley country?" or " How do I tell antelope tracks from mule deer tracks?" which, by the way, you won't be able to do. Or "How does the weather affect deer patterns?

If you don't know the answers to these simple questions, the only thing you'll have to worry about leaning on is your horn while sitting in a New Yorrk traffic jam.
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I used shooting sticks for 4 or 5 years and liked them except they seemed to be left in the truck about half the time. I went to a set of Harris bipods which are always with the gun, but they do add weight. They do quickly adjust to a pron or sitting position which was difficult with the shooting sticks.

One thing I have learned is the bipods add weight out towards the muzzle which hurts off hand accuarcy. If a guy will quickly lower the bipod legs (not extend them just lower them) this moves weight back making the gun easier to hold steady off-hand.

I am going on a combination speed goat/Muley hunt in Wyoming this fall and the shooting sticks are staying home. The bipods seem to be more user firendly and are definitely more stable.
Good luck!
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I am going to have to go with Bipod as well. Shooting Sticks tend to be more of a hassle then they are worth in my opinion. Just too much of a hassle carrying them around when I am in full battle rattle. Prefer to just have them on my weapon already if I am going to need them.

Andrew "Grayman" Nixon
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Bipods, shooting sticks, kneeling, prone, in fact most everything about shooting and hunting comes down to personal preferance. Find what works for you. Personaly I've had a Harris bipods on my rifles for 10 years. They add some weight to your rifle and are not perfect for every situation. They are however rock steady, and contrary to some beliefs can be deployed very quickly with practice. For an eastern hunter I think you will be amazed at how wide open the west is and for someone who might be shooting 200-300 yards for the first time you will find a good bipod or shooting sticks invaluable. Whether you choose a bipod or shooting sticks make sure you practice shooting your rifle with them before your hunt. Nothing can take the place of practice! Good Luck
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Well I have a pair of Harris, bipods, they can pull out your swivels, I have done this on two separate guns, they are sweet to have but I am going to try a pair of sticks. Like what was said before they do add weight
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Has anyone tried the new sling sticks? They look intresting but wanted to talk to someone who has a pair.
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I use a harris bipod if i am going to be sitting in a ground blind all day. for walking around i have a Pole Cat monopod that i use. For me it just depends on the situation i guess.
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I recently bought the Mossback shooting sticks (more like a tripod) and it has greatly improved my accuracy. Of course I'm a newbie to rifle hunting and have only shot at paper with it. Will let you know after the weekend is over how well it works for real-life shooting. In practice it sets up quickly and seems fairly stable though.
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Show_Me_Your_Rack
I have both if you are sittin and can see a long ways i would say bipod i have only shot a coyote off of a bipod shooting sticks are the way to go for everything else i have shot 2 deer an elk and countless numbers of yotes i would say sticks but everyone has there own oppinion.
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