Shooting From Sticks.

While it is not that common to shoot from sticks in Australia it is definitely something that should be practiced prior to embarking on an African hunt.  The biggest difference that I noticed to hunting at home or anywhere else for that matter is the lack is suitable natural rests in Africa. Here in Australia we often use a handy tree or bush as a rest, that is just not possible in Africa as every tree and bush is pretty much covered in the most evil spikes and thorns one could imagine or there are no trees as evident in the two pictures below..

A standing shot in the Kalahari.

A sitting shot in the Kalahari

The sticks I practiced with were nothing more than a couple of broomsticks lashed together, Very simple but effective and representative of what you may encounter in some parts of Africa. On my trip I ended up using 3 different kinds of sticks, a nice set called the Bogpod by Bog-gear, a simple wooden set similar to my home made set and a very nice lightweight set called trigger sticks.

Close up showing the trigger for adjusting the legs.

Of all the sticks my favorite were the trigger sticks and I have since purchased my own set, they are light weight simple to use and the height can be adjusted in seconds just by squeezing the trigger with your fore hand.
I was advised to practice taking shots out to about 200mts and in fact ended up taking shots out to about 250mts in the field. At first I was only able to reliably keep my shots in a 6" circle at 100mts but gradually with practice I extended the range to 200mts. Over time as I became more proficient with the sticks I was able to reliably put my shots in a 6" circle at 200mts. I then began to practice setting up and taking a shot in as quick a time as was safe, this proved to be one of the most worthwhile skills I practiced and I encourage any new hunter to practice this. I would also recommend when practicing that you shoot from a wide variety of positions such as sitting, kneeling standing etc, this will ensure you are comfortable if you must take that type of shot in the field.
On my trip I shot standing, kneeling and sitting, and I am glad I practiced a much as I did. There is just no way I could have taken some of the shots I did and got the trophies I did without using Shooting Sticks

Trigger Sticks fully extended.

I also shoot in Field Rifle and 3 Position competition and I believe that these disciplines are just about the best practice one can get for actual hunting conditions. If you are a member of a rifle club I would encourage you to try the Field Rifle discipline, combine that with shooting from sticks and it will do wonders for your shooting. I also found that many shooters go wrong when trying to stop any movement of the scope's cross hairs, I found the best way to consistently shoot accurately is to wind back the power on a variable scope to no more than 6 power and use it at that setting in the field. Rather than trying to stop any wobble, control the wobble it really makes a difference. Also practice dry firing lots!!! get yourself a set of snap caps and practice firing at a target and reload and fire again. I sometimes do this at home for an hour or so when it is too windy or wet to go to the range.
Watch the video below to see Shooting Sticks in action on a Hartebeest during a recent hunt in the Kalahari region of South Africa. As you can see there are no good natural rests to make use of and the only way to ensure a good shot is to use the sticks.

So now you have the lowdown on shooting from sticks make it a priority to practice as often as you can, I promise it will pay dividends when you take that hunting trip of a lifetime and it's time to shoot your prized trophy!!!.