Hog Hunting - Using Tripods

[oldhunter1954]

I have seen so many pictures Hog hunting and the Rifles are mounted on 60" Tripods ? Is this the norm?

Thanks for helping a new hunter,
jerry

[Double Naught Spy]

Norm? No. But not uncommon, either. Rifles mounted on tripods make for purdy pictures, don't they? Very dramatic.

The downside to many of those setups is lack of flexibility. So it will depend on your your situation and how you are hunting as to whether you want to go with a rifle mounted on a tripod. If you carry separate, then it can be time consuming when time is critical to get them mounted together (depending on the type of mount you are using). Carrying with them mounted together is cumbersome. However, folks make it work for them.

I prefer the tripod and rifle be separate for how I hunt that needs a bit more flexibility. The downside is that my setup isn't as steady as the setups with rifles mounted on top of tripods and sometimes it really shows.

Doing coyote sets, a tripod mounted rifle is a much sweeter deal. Or, doing any sort of overwatch setup waiting for hogs where you don't need to be highly mobile, the tripod mounted rifle is superior.

I will say this. Few people who go after hogs are shooting offhand. They are using some form of rest. Don't get me wrong. There are a few guys that are pretty amazing that don't need them, but most of us do. Monopods are a the lowest level of steady but are easiest to deploy and lightest. Bipods are much more steady and still offer a lot of flexibility, but do weigh more and are more complex. Tripods offer the most steadiest portable rest, are heavier by comparison, and are more complex to use. Rifles mounted on tripods are heavier still, more complex to deal with, and are the steadiest way to go.

Then you have things like the Caldwell Deadshot Field pod that are a sort of cross between mounted and not mounted rifles. The rifle is separate from the rest, but the rest will hold the rifle once inserted. I have only seen this used on one hunt. It was a pain in the but to use by a single person who needed mobility, but it worked very well. Again, this would be great for coyote stands and the like where quick mobility isn't paramount.

[HuntTXhogs]

Night goggles Night Stalker Tripod with a hog saddle attachment

Pricey but it allows me to shoot half as good as DoubleNaughtSpy

[imaguy3]

I don't hunt hogs... but do a lot of predator calling... I find these to be just as portable and easy to use as the bipod shooting sticks, yet they give me enough stability to easily hit a coyote within 250 while standing.. https://www.vanguardworld.com/collection...quest-t62u

I carry them just like the bipod style, and in a quick pull up they can be used as bipod style. Then if you have an extra 2 seconds you can swing the third leg out for a steady tripod.

Using a hog saddle and real tripod, coupled with the sticks on the rear, I can hold sub moa out past 400 yards. As has been said though it's slow. I use that setup for deer where I can't go prone. I already have the tripod out for glassing, a qd plate on binos and on hog saddle and I keep the saddle on the rifle. I can be setup on a deer within a minute or two of glassing it.

[FLshooter]

A tripod would be nice. But most of them weigh over 5 pounds. I have had a Vanguard shooting stick w/3 legged stand. It weighs 2 pounds. And it folds down to 24in, enough to easily fit in my backpack. Once I got the hang of it it’s stable enough To get off a good shot.

[1075 tech]

I picked up a Vortex Pro GT for cheap. Supposed to hold 10 lbs. We'll see. I have an adapter coming to mount to my M-Lok rail. Not for hogs here. I'm hoping to use it for woodchucks. I don't know. Last thing I shot off a tripod was an M2 and M60 and that's been a while.

[oyster]

The Primos Trigger Sticks are good for shooting and moving. Plenty stable for the first shot which is usually a nonmoving hog. After the first shot all bets are off and you're swinging with the hogs. If you have a lot of fields to cover and getting in and out of the truck constantly a mounted tripod to your gun would get old.

[oldhunter1954]

Thanks to all. I was very curious about how someone would lug a big tripod out in the middle of a field. I will research some or the ideas presented on here.

Jerry

[Wellbornpapa]

I use the Bog Pod Deathgrip (alum not carbon) It works for me.

[Double Naught Spy]

I use the Bog Pod Deathgrip (alum not carbon) It works for me.

That it works for you is what is critical. Lots of good products out there, there is only a narrow subset of those that will be what "works for you."

[oldhunter1954]

Just curious if you are allowed to use the Vanguard shooting stick at the private range.

[oldhunter1954]

A tripod would be nice. But most of them weigh over 5 pounds. I have had a Vanguard shooting stick w/3 legged stand. It weighs 2 pounds. And it folds down to 24in, enough to easily fit in my backpack. Once I got the hang of it it’s stable enough To get off a good shot.

Are you allowed to use the Vanguard shooting stick at the private range? I would love to be able to practice with one.