Ivar's Shooting-Stick Evolution (for amusement, rahter than edification)

[ivarhusa]

I must first disclaim that I have made more sets of shooting sticks than I have shot coyotes.  That ought to clear up my credentials, right there.

I will break this post into chunks.  Stay with me (or not).  More may come.  I started out with sticks described or designed by Varmint Al (you could look him up). Simple, crossed sticks with steel rod tips to dig into the soil.
My goal in all of these changes has been to make something that would let me adjust to an incoming yote with minimal sound and commotion.


As an engineer and woodworker, I couldn't leave well enough alone.  I've kept coming up with new features I simply had to try out. First, I didn't like that the vee was too narrow when the sticks were only slightly spread (for height). So, I modified the tips to flair into a wider perch for the rifle to rest in.

I still felt I was moving too much, and I hunted hilly country where I might be shooting above my elevation or below it.  I felt I needed a lot of 'dynamic range', so I put steps or 'perches' alnog the sides of the stick. I could simply move my rifle from the top perch to a lower one without having to pick up the legs and adjust the spread. (It seemed like a good idea at the time.)

To be continued...

[ivarhusa]

Part 2-
So then I got the idea that I shouldn't use a vee that changed shape at all.  I would create a simple arc of a cradle that would support the rifle through whatever tilts came through spreading the legs.

This was my favorite design for a while.  You can see I embellished the back side with trajectory data, a watch, and mouse squeaker.  Lots of steps to perch on. Then it occurred to me that maybe I could make the height simply adjustable.  I tried a couple of different mechanisms, but each suffered from "too much motion to change positions".  I wasn't really making any progress.

This was also my first 'pickle-fork' design. The thought was that I could pick up a single stick and reposition it more easily that farting around with two legs. This was too large and still too heavy. IT was also not easy to adjust height.  You could do it once before starting to call, but if the critter came from a different 'elevation', you'd be hard pressed to adjust it quickly and silently. (I was never busted by a coyote trying to make such an adjustment, but that was simply because I haven't been seeing many coyotes.)

Then I got to noticing that my rifle would slip occasionally when perched on the sticks.  The rest would snuggle up against the forward sling swivel, but occasionally pop over. Too much commotion.  So I decided to make an oarlock design. It would closely fit the forearm, with the surface beveled back to provide a snug fit that would be hard to pop out of. Such a close fit required that it be able to pivot to swing the muzzle left or right. Hence the "oar lock" mode.

Now the back o the stick also has some "sound numbers" for my e-caller.
To be continued....

[LittleJohn]

pretty interesting 

[boonerboy]

WOW!! you have alot of time.  I just bolted two old ski poles together, wrapped in cammo duct tape and called er' good.

[ivarhusa]

This brings me to the present. Jerry Malbeck suggested that my designs still needed some work ( ), So I ginned up a fresh one today.  It features a more compact mechanism for height adjustment, that I believe I can manage with one hand, and minimal movement.  It features the pickle fork design with feet only about 9" apart, and a ledge that one could put a foot upon.


This doesn't employ the oarlock feature, and I might miss that. Perhaps the next version? Simply squeezing the mechanism removes a pin from a detent (hole) in the stick. Holes are spaced about 1" apart, so there is lots of adjustment possible. Quietly and with little commotion?  I hope so.

Here is the full parade of sticks, including a tripod version (#4 below) not mentioned earlier in this writeup.

Sorry for the cluttered background. The snow was too deep outside to take them out for a simpler background.

There, are you amused?    

Ivar

[VarmintVentilator]

I like the ones in the first picture. 

[ivarhusa]

I like the ones in the first picture. 

Varmint Al was a good engineer!

[sisu]

I copied Ivar's multi-step one and used it for two seasons, then fired up the wall tent stove with it. I wanted a lighter one and like Ivar said, "More adjustment".

Thanks Ivar for your photos & write up. Very helpful for those that like to tinker.

[rasbo]

good work,hey what works best for you is the good one..cant go by what ya hear on here,hell they would drive ya nuts...ah, would that be a short drive Iver? I love your enthusiasm

[dscubame]

Damn dude.  Your are funny.

[trippledigitss]

Man - makes me feel lazy! I just bought a cheap little adjustable bipod made by stoney creek or someone for about $30 - then I went & got the Harris 25C swiveling bipod for like $125 and I dont really like it. Its doesnt swivel by the way, just rocks side to side. Heavy & bulky, like the cheap bipod better. But I'm not all crafty like you are!

[Bofire]

  and here I thught I had too much time
Carl

[Gutpile]

I must first disclaim that I have made mores sets of shooting sticks than I have shot coyotes.  That ought to clear up my credentials, right there.

 

 

That is really funny. What a great opening line. 

[Sidewinder]

Ivar, we need to get your coyote count up to at match your number of shooting sticks!