Post by: ivarhusa on November 28, 2010, 05:51:49 PM
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.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fpages.pocketinet.com%2F%7Eivar%2Fphotos%2FVarmintAl-myFirst.jpg&hash=a0ad31f67044f417acfe44563997ada6422d55bf)
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.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fpages.pocketinet.com%2F%7Eivar%2Fphotos%2FVersion2.jpg&hash=8be060afff3eee58f9fb33ad67ba5759827fca5e)
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...
Post by: ivarhusa on November 28, 2010, 06:08:29 PM
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.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fpages.pocketinet.com%2F%7Eivar%2Fphotos%2FMultiLevel.jpg&hash=791c17b6485c6688ad352494f4a3b9c6ab529ea6)
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.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fpages.pocketinet.com%2F%7Eivar%2Fphotos%2FAdjustableHeight.jpg&hash=99eabd720f8efb7fc4f5e48f6565e0b4a0672afa)
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.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fpages.pocketinet.com%2F%7Eivar%2Fphotos%2FTheOarLock.jpg&hash=45616d0c1a1818cc0ef84c089b3bb91c853774da)
Now the back o the stick also has some "sound numbers" for my e-caller.
To be continued....
Post by: LittleJohn on November 28, 2010, 06:12:37 PM
Post by: boonerboy on November 28, 2010, 06:15:02 PM
Post by: ivarhusa on November 28, 2010, 06:18:36 PM
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fpages.pocketinet.com%2F%7Eivar%2Fphotos%2FNov2010Version.jpg&hash=f4d8b95425288deb203cb916f8bed32d79e3c937)
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.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fpages.pocketinet.com%2F%7Eivar%2Fphotos%2FAllSticks.jpg&hash=f555f614482fe31efc61e66f6f44b73248d641cc)
Sorry for the cluttered background. The snow was too deep outside to take them out for a simpler background.
There, are you amused? :)
Ivar
Post by: VarmintVentilator on November 28, 2010, 06:24:17 PM
Post by: ivarhusa on November 28, 2010, 07:02:10 PM
I like the ones in the first picture. ;)Varmint Al was a good engineer!
Post by: sisu on November 28, 2010, 07:17:04 PM
Thanks Ivar for your photos & write up. Very helpful for those that like to tinker.
Post by: rasbo on November 28, 2010, 07:26:56 PM
Post by: dscubame on November 28, 2010, 07:31:00 PM
Post by: trippledigitss on November 29, 2010, 01:45:29 PM
Post by: Bofire on November 30, 2010, 05:15:30 PM
Carl
Post by: Gutpile on November 30, 2010, 05:18:01 PM
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.
:brew:
That is really funny. What a great opening line. :chuckle:
Post by: Sidewinder on November 30, 2010, 09:12:22 PM