Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Serious Deer Talk Forum Shooting stick accuracy issues

I'm sure some of yall have run into this. Had a couple of shots this week that should have been much better. Spent 4 hours at the range. I can drive tacks with a bag on the bench. Set up like I was in the field with my hunting chair and shooting stick and big difference. Biggest problem and I can see if left - right yaw. Tried a lot of different things but never could get it as good as I am comfortable with. So I thought I'd post here to see what yall think?

If you’re moving left to right you’re either flinching because the expectation of recoil or you’re pulling your trigger too fast. Slow steady trigger squeeze

Biggest help for me is having slight forward pressure on the stick.

Example, when using tripod sticks, I put one foot directly forward.
Then I put the swivel stud just behind the V of the stick, that allows me put forward pressure and on the gun without it slipping. Keeps it steadier for me.

Also avoid having the stick in the center of gravity.

When I shoot off sticks I angle them away from me and use my backpack under my right arm for support I try not to shoot from a standing position but a tripod like the pig saddle or death grip helps alot

You need to know what you can do in a hunting scenario, which is drastically different than a bench or sand bags. I shoot my rifles from sand bags about once per year. The rest of the time I shoot either crouched, off my knee, off shooting sticks, etc to see how my POI is compared to a solid rest. It don’t matter what you can do on a bench if you can’t hold it together on a deer. Biggest thing is control your breathing and heart rate. Take deep slow breaths in your nose, exhale from your mouth. If your heart beat is so bad it’s moving the crosshairs then you’ve got to get it down. You’ll completely miss a deer at 100 yards in a nervous wreck, even with a rest. You’ll have to figure out ways to rest your gun the best way possible with what you have. I’ve laid prone, propped up against a tree, rested my shooting stick at an angle so it hits my knee (gives you two points of contact) or whatever it takes to get me a solid rest. Just use your head. Find a way to make it happen. If you can find a solid place for the rifle AND your shooting elbow or forearm you’ll have less issue.

Good info above concerning having two points of contact to hold steady. Also, wherever you are hunting (ground or stand)go ahead a practice how to hold and visualize the shot. I like to do it as soon as I sit down and get everything adjusted. Every opportunity I’ve had has lasted 3-5 seconds on a big deer.

Yep. I have my sons “practice” taking a shot on the first deer out some times. That way we can resolve any issues before anything they want to shoot appears. I do it too. I’ll often draw my bow or pull my rifle up to replicate a shot opportunity. You’re right on big deer. You often get a few seconds. Gotta make it count.

For long range shots when my son was younger, I would have him would shoot off my tripod with a U shaped padded piece of metal attached. You can hold so much better compared to stix.

1st. Use shooting sticks like this. Much better than a single stick + lighter than most options.

https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/1021110863?pid=832990&utm_medium=shopping&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Shooting+-+Rests%2C+Bipods+&+Benches=&utm_content=832990&srsltid=AfmBOopuF9aVSTsmvFlWRtdVZk302cg7VRGIkBAZXVCFYhfnDEY96fngbDk

2nd. Use a chair that’s low to the ground or sit on the ground. I use a gobbler lounger a lot. Any seated position that has your knees raised up, is much more accurate than a normal height chair. You can lock your whole body in with a lower seat.

I’m much more accurate/comfortable off the shooting sticks above & a gobbler lounger, than I am out of a shooting house window.

crossed sticks, not a single stick, with a point on each that can dig in a bit. near about infinitely adjustable height by adjusting distance between pointed feet ...

Buy the death grip shooting tripod rest - problem solved - take it with u to range or the hunt - best shooting rest from a tripod i seen

Your welcome 😀

I use the old military style leather sling that you wrap around your elbow and that helps me get really steady

Breathing is a big deal. Killed a deer in FL and 3 deer in AL last week and a half. The 2 I took my time with and used tactical breathing I dropped with a neck shot in its tracks. Then I rushed my shot on a big fat nanny and a big bodied wide 7 point and gut shot both because my breathing wasn’t right. Basically to the right of where I thought I was putting it behind the shoulder. Breath control makes a big difference. Had to track the 2 gut shot because of my own fault not breathing properly and rushing both shots.

I like crossed sticks or any 2 legged stick over a monopod. That’ll steady up the front of your rifle. Try to get your right side, shoulder or elbow against something solid to steady up the butt end. That might mean getting sideways in your chair or set up against a tree or something else solid. This will help with the longer shots.

Need to support the foreend and the buttstock.

First thing I do when I get in a stand. Check all my potential shot angles, see what might present issues, etc. it helps…

I grew up with a pellet rifle and 40 acres to roam. Nothing beats shooting from “a rest” than practice. I’m always applying forward pressure into my rest as others mentioned. It’ll clean up the figure 8 significantly. The buck I shot Wednesday was from shooting sticks, in a turkey lounger. From the time I saw him until I shot was less than 25 seconds and that included me shifting my sticks 30 degrees to the left. I just go on autopilot once I determine I’m pulling trigger. The adrenaline happens after.

I use predator sniper sticks. Not sure if they still make them but I really like them.

There are two key points here, pellet rifles and practice! I used to be really into pellet rifles and shot thousands of times at various targets with very inexpensive ammo.

🧐

This. I have never used any sticks or crap just whatever was available whether it was a bar on a treestand or a tree in the woods. You have to shoot a lot to where shooting is a natural function. Not just sighting in before the season.