monopods, bipods, tripods, trekking poles

[Alabama]

With the thread about how well trekking poles work: I have thought about buying a pair for my hunt this fall, but I don't want to be carrying around a bunch of gear I don't use. Right now I have a short tripod for my el cheapo spotting scope, a bipod on my rifle and a tall Primos trigger stick bipod. I absolutely love the trigger stick bipod for resting my binoculars on. It seems I can double the distance I can clearly see by reducing the shake from holding free handed.

I'm looking to upgrade my spotting scope and tripod. I rarely used the spotting scope on previous hunts but I know that will probably change when hunting elk (the unit seems fairly open and perfect for long distance spotting). I'm going to keep the trigger stick bipod because of a solid rest for binoculars and a rest for standing/kneeling shots. I think I'll lose the bipod on my gun to reduce weight and just shoot off my pack for shooting prone.

What are your recommendations for a tripod for a spotting scope? Would you keep the gun mounted bipod and just suffer through the extra weight? What is your bipod, tripod, trekking pole etc combo?

 

[Dark Mavis]

I think you are on the right track trying to cut weight by ditching the gun mounted bipod. I would use the trigger stick as a "trekking pole", and buy a quality tripod for your spotter.

 

[sneakypete]

Yep, me too^^^^^^

 

[Musket Man]

Have you considered using your spotter tripod for your binos? I have never mounted my binos on my tripod but I do rest them on it quite a bit and it works pretty well. I really like my gun mounted bipod. I shoot very well with it and its always there ready to go. Most times I dont want to take my pack or any extra gear along on the final part of my stalk. If I were going to leave something behind to save weight it would be the trigger stick bipod.

 

[coastalarms]

I'd loose the gun mounted bi-pod. It takes some practice (at least it did for me), but shooting off your daypack is pretty steady.
Trekking poles have become a must have for me.
I use REI brand trekking poles. My tripod is a Manfrotto BeFree alluminum, for both my camera and spotting scopes, weights right at 3.1lbs.

 

[wyheadhunter]

As I have gotten older and more feeble ha ha I have been looking for a good hunting outfit to handle my needs and do what I need my equipment to do at a loss of weight. As everyone here will attest the best walking sticks you can afford are a Godsend. The more I use them the more I wonder how I ever did without them. I ended up getting rid of my rifle mounted bi-pod as I hardly ever used it. A good backpack is the best rest I can come up with. The biggest thing I got to help with the system I use is a bog pod tripod. I have the rifle rest attachment and purchased the camera/spotting scope attachment for it. The camera attachment stays attached to my small leupold 12x40 spotter in my pack and can be used anytime needed. It is not as stable as my full blown carbon fiber sticks with manfrotto fluid head but woow the weight loss. And subs well as a shooting platform from standing down to a sitting or kneeling position They even make bino attachment now. I know you are set and love your trigger sticks so you may look around a little as they maybe got on the bandwagon making interchangeable parts for the trigger sticks. I can generally get tucked away out of the wind good enough to become scope stable with this option. Hope this helps a little.

 

[Alabama]

Thanks for the replies guys.

MM: I would consider resting the binoculars but it just doesn't have the convenience of the trigger stick. You come around a corner and see an elk you think is a shooter but want to give him a quick look over, hit the trigger and you have a rock steady rest instead of digging in a side pocket of your pack then setting up 3 legs at 3 different angles: oops he's gone now. I agree when stopping to glass its a great idea. I really love the trigger stick: it's one of the best investment I ever made. I'm not a great off hand shot and it gives me confidence in knowing I can make the shot if I'm forced to stand because of brush.

Coastal: why did you go with aluminum instead of carbon fiber? Durability? Manfrotto is one of the brands I was looking at along with promaster, silk, etc