Excellent info, DD... !! Anyone worth their salt in rifle hunting, regardless of game, ultimately arrives at the need for stabilization in the field. That being said, I'm amazed at how many folks don't arrive at that need and simply attempt the standard off-hand/sitting/kneeling options. As a kid I cut my teeth back east, down south, squirrel hunting in the hardwoods. Once I'd migrated from shotguns in my early youth to scoped .22 in my early teens, taking a hand-to-forearm rest on the many available trees was an obvious need in stabilization. Doing so immediately allowed a natural progression from body shots to meat preserving headshots (small game), which also enhanced the sporting experience. I now live out west where it's largely treeless on the plains/desert, or in the mountains where accessing a limbless tree is damn near impossible (predominantly fir/spruce/pinion/juniper); hence the dire need for some type of stabilization while afield. Shooting sticks became the obvious solution, but which one? ...which type? I know I speak for many when I say you've addressed that need very well, DD... and have done so with an excellent, thoroughly pertinent field trial. THIS is just one of the many reasons I subscribed to your channel a couple of years back. Thank You... Keep them rolling... !!

Thanks DD, it's always better seeing how something works instead of being told how it works. I appreciate the time and effort you put into this video 👍👍.

Love how well thought out this video is. Not just your personal opinion but a great comparison!

Excellent video.

As a guide one thing I would say to any hunter is to practice deploying your sticks . Nothing worse than someone fumbling around with sticks when the time comes

Ordered the BOG Death Grip, timely DD, thanks for all you do....

I bought a heavy duty chair bag off Amazon for my Gen 1 Bog Deathgrip Aluminum. I also use a backpack when I take my little folding chair to put both in.

When you said the sticks would not result in as good groupings as when prone - I tought "strange". Then you rigged up for prone shooting with the bipod and I went "aaaahhh". I have shot all my deer "freehand". Most often sitting with both elbows in front of the knees. I held my shot just last weekend at a red deer calf at 230m. I did not have the stability I wanted in my position for that shot. Afterwards I looked around for my old but never used Primos Triggerstick (2nd gen). It sure was much more stable from the seated position with that tripod than just seated. And very much better than prone without any support or bipods. I grew up shooting freehand running wild, shot a lot with all kind of weapons while serving, and have done all my hunting freehand. I am for sure embracing tripods now as I am well past 50 years and have finally seen the light after 40 years of hunting. Great video! Just what I needed during this transition.

Desert Dog, I've mainly hunted from stands and tripods over the years. I bought a monopod extended model years ago but it's so darned wobbly that I can actually hit much better using my rifle's sling, freestanding. Anyways, I thought the Quad Sticks looked like something I might like to try later this year. I've looked at a number of your videos over the past couple of years and you really do a good, easy to understand, fair assessment of whatever you're discussing with no holds barred. Yep, a set of quad sticks might be on the horizon. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and opinions. Always enjoy when you release new comparison videos. Take care and be well!

Another advantage of the quad sticks is that you can quickly make them yourself out of wooden rods.

I have a BOG tripod w/ lever locks. Use them of prairie dogs and ground squirrels. Couldn’t ask for much better.

Thanks for the time that you put in making these videos.

Cheers from Calgary Alberta. Thank you for the content, You have influenced my buying and hunting habits frequently over the years.

They sure have came a long ways over the years. The first one I ever got was a single adjustable pole with a saddle to cradle the fore end. It functioned better as a walking stick then it did a shooting aid. Great review always honest and to the point. Really enjoyed the real world range test.

Thanks for another great review.

Best shooting stick video on KZfaq. Honest review. Thank you !

I’m a Midwest deer hunter and I often hunt forest land and patches of woods bordering agricultural land. I make simple bipod shooting sticks out of wood dowels and heavy rubber bands. They’re very light and durable. Easy to pack in and out when I’m ground hunting.

Great job DD. Excellent presentation.

Used most of the shooting sticks over the years definitely quads sticks are the most popular in the UK for deer stalking I been Using viper flex for years best on the market by far 👍keep up the good work DD love the no BS videos

Hey DD, excellent test methodology.

I wish I had been able to have watched a video like yours before I went hunting. I used Vanguard shooting sticks and would have been better off shooting offhand. The Primos seem like they'd be the fastest to deploy but have read some negative reviews regarding quality. The quad sticks seem like they might be hard to deploy once the adrenaline starts pumping. Speaking of such, how about a video on dealing with buck fever when come across a trophy buck or bull in your sights. Thanks as always for some great videos!

I liked your comments on shooting prone, at 80, my neck makes it impossible, it's not a position I ever used hunting , as brush etc, always made it useless .

Great video. As always

Great video. Im new to the channel and am floored by how consistently you are putting out great quality content. I grew up taught that in the field you shot offhand/sitting or prone with a sling and if you had time and the grass wasnt too tall you threw down your pack and shot off that. I discovered shooting sticks on my first African hunt. Absolute game changer. Now that Im a dad teaching 3 kids to hunt the shooting sticks are a necessity. I actually prefer the old primos bipod trigger sticks for when im playing bwana for the kids. Not nearly as stable but less likely that we get tangled up and super fast to deploy. Their shots are all close if they are shooting off the sticks so the stability vs complexity thing is important. I cant see being able to flip out quad sticks and then having my 10yo set up on them on a steep rocky hill without some chaos. Thanks again for all your work on these videos

Right On Desert Dog👍

very informative and learn a lot. Turly a God send while i am looking to buy one.

Superb video and a lot of food for thought. I am a senior with health issues and having hunted all my life off hand shooting for me is now none existent particularly squirrel hunting. There never seems to be a tree to prop against when in a hot zone so am now looking at shooting sticks. Your video has given me great insight as what to expect and practice with. I am leaning towards the Primos Trigger Stick Gen 3 and find a hot spot with activity, set up then wait; no more stalking for miles at my age.

I enjoy your videos thanks. I hunt off the quad sticks here in the SA "bosveld". As you noted it take some practice to get used to shooting off of them. On gravely sand the feet may slip a bit but if you take care when planting them they work nicely.

Someday, I hope to be able to shoot a 0.3 MOA from prone and say "meh...not bad." Best that I've been able to do so far is 0.7 sitting at a rock solid bench! Great video! Much better pro/con comparison than any other shooting stick reviews that I've seen.

Great video as always keep an eye out for the next 10 vids next week on shooting sticks🍺

Very well done. Thank you

Great comparison with some actual measurable results. appreciate your efforts it will deff help people make an educated decision. I have also tried most of these but for me it was to put a small piece of arca plate at the balance point of the rifle. this way i carry one tripod which works for my binos, spotter and rifle and changes quickly between the three. even faster than the saddle plus you loose that weight of the carrying the saddle itself along with the tripod. Cheers!

Being a European (well, British) I do use quad sticks for all my deer hunting and with clients. If you practice with them they provide a very stable and usable platform. We lose much fewer deer with clients using them. I've used them effectively in Africa too. The Viper Flex sticks also pack up into an easily transportable bag. Another great video. Really enjoying you informative and well argued content.

Great review DD , honest and informative. Good shooting off hand sir. Interesting POI shift with the quad sticks. I have not invested in the types you showed, I use home made tripod, mostly for supporting my field glasses and a walking aid, In my woodland deer stalking here in the UK I tend to use a tree for cover and support when taking a shot.

Very good. In May I saw (and used )sticks for the first time in my 75 yrs. They were the quad variety. The first shot was from a steep side slope at game across a drainage significantly above where I was. I am 6'4" and the sticks were already let out as far as they would go ....and I could not get on the game. The PH and tracker stacked flat rocks under the legs until I could get the game in the field of view.

Jesus that rifle shoots well

Had to give thumbs up and trial subscription for that effort

I use quad sticks on my pcps English gun laws ,,, no recoil must admit there good very light and a added bonus a walking stick ,,, fantastic video to the point,, thank you

Dog, I have been using the Bog-Pod RLD-3 for many years and they have worked great. I have not missed prey yet. These are just a standard tripod and cost about $90.00

Very honest review

I don’t like peon position for shooting anymore either it was my favorite in younger days. Thanks for all the good video you do.

Great vidio.

Perfect review. I have the Primos trigger bipod, will change it for the gen 3 in tripod. Wish the V be softer

Thank you for the excellent information; especially the shooting test. I was considering changing from the Primos trigger sticks to a Bog Deathgrip but, doesn’t look like the bulk and weight disadvantages are worth it. I’ll keep using my Trigger sticks. They suit my hunting needs best.,

Excellent, excellent review. For what it's worth, the new Primos Apex Trigger Stick might be the best compromise (although not reviewed). It's a saddle type tripod with the quick adjustment ability of a trigger stick. Your thoughts?

Great comparison and fantastic shooting. Interesting to note you could probably shoot 300 yards ethically with most of them but then you're a great shot with a great rifle ammo combination. This video give us good goal for practice. Thanks. I'm wondering if when using the quad sticks if you shouldn't make sure you spread the legs to their limit. This would lock the rest areas for the rifle a little more solidly and prevent the tilting to one side or the other depending where the rifle rests on them.

Nice video sir👍

My wife needed a camera tripod so I bought her the primos gen3. I borrow it when I go hunting 😁

DD I watched this again because I have a hunt coming up and want to get one of these gizmos. This may be a hair brained idea (and I am bald no less) but what do you think of the idea of getting a mono shooting stick for the butt of the stock and the trigger sticks for the fore end? Maybe too unstable?

Hi Mr Dog. I tie a bungee tight below the handles on two walking sticks.(holding them tight parallel). I loop a tight rubber band down low. They are now used as a mono walking stick but can quickly be hinged, breaking the rubber band low and creating a fully adjustable bipod cradle with the two cork handles. After shooting the deer you’ve got two purpose built walking poles to walk back to the hilux. New Zealand!!

What caliber was the test rifle? I don't think you mentioned it here but I think it was mentioned in a previous video as a 7mm-08? Nice shooting from all angles either way. Thank you for the comparisons!

Do you know if you can change the legs on the primos trigger stick?

MAKE YOUR OWN WITH WOOD DOWELS AND A PRUSIK KNOT. BEEN USING THEM FOR YEARS. ADJUSTABLE AND CHEAP TO MAKE

What are your thoughts on the simpler wooden sticks like the ones from African Sporting Creations? I like mine, they’re reasonably light but still stable enough to be a big advantage over offhand. I believe they have a newer model that are a tripod with a rear support as well, haven’t tried them though.

Great video as was your previous one on slings. Hope you do a follow up on the Quad sticks after you get some more trigger time with them.

I’m using quad sticks (brand 4stable sticks) for years now in my hunts. And I’ve to say, I love them, they’re pretty lightweight, quick to operate, and pretty accurate for my distance shooting (100 yd max). But they’re pretty weak (standard version I do not give a try to carbon fiber version…) Perhaps I should try the brand you are showing. Do you think this quad stick is durable? Kind regards from south of France!

For my type of hunting in the mountains, most sticks are too heavy for my liking. There are a couple companies that produce a small apparatus that attaches two trekking poles together. Reduces redundancy as I have those already for longer pulls and packing meat. I have a set of Primos and Bog sticks for when I’m not working as hard though. Thanks for the great video!

DD, thanks for this review. If you think it hurts now to get into the prone position, wait until you get to be my age LOL. I would need help getting back up. This is the reason why hunters use these sticks - so they don't need to get onto their belly. I recently bought the swagger sticks but haven't tried them out yet. One advantage (so they claim) is their flexibility to maneuver and swivel both from a sitting or standing position. Was hoping you would include them, but no biggie. Great control group (prone) with that rifle. Did you mention the caliber? Also seems about 2 pounds heavier than optimal at 11 lbs.

Would the quad sticks work in steep uneven terrain?

I prefer a arca rail system. Really right stuff makes a good tripod that you can clip your optics to and then clip your rifle to with an integrated rail or rail attachment like AREA 419’s rail

As always very thorough and comprehensive. But to be honest I think a shooting sling is far superior and faster probably get just as good if not better groups. I can carry with the slang already attached to my arm quickly and accurately make an offhand shot also very quickly assume a prone or sitting position for even better accuracy and stability. I think with practice anybody could be faster and just as accurate with a sling. Let me know what you think? Thank you

I watch a lot of handicap hunters using tripods with motors. Even have a button to fire it.

learning how to shoot properly from field positions and not just practicing from a bench at the range: Weight 0oz. Cost $0. Setup time 0 seconds.

Kind of akward carrying such sticks along with your rifle when stalking, and in cover unless you hire a porter, if you have plenty time to settle down and arange them for open long range shooting before your game walks away, ok.

Excellent video.