Shooting Sticks

[K22]

If you followed any of my posts on this forum you would know that I am a huge fan of shooting sticks, specifically cross sticks, for hunting. I have taken over 2,000 eastern ground hogs and 100 predators with this them plus a few deer in open country.

The October 24, 2025, PA Outdoors News contains an article written by Ron Spomer who is also a big fan of cross sticks. If you have watched any of his videos on the Outdoor Channel, he demonstrates their effectiveness for long range big game hunting.

While I began using them long before I discovered Ron Spomer's videos, this article and his hunting videos provide excellent advice regarding their use and effectiveness from a somewhat celebrity hunting personality versus me, an unknown.

While it took me some dedicated practice to master them and experimentation / trial an error testing to find the ideal cross sticks for me, it was well worth the effort. After trying a few commercial brands, none of which suited me, I made my own of 1/2" diameter solid aluminum rod with 1/2" auto heater hose on one end to rest the rifle and provide a non-slip surface. I cut them to a length that best suited my frame and bound them with Velcro.

Their ease of portable in the field, the ability to rapidly deploy them on a stalk, their adaptability to virtually any terrain and their shot on target effectiveness allowed me considerable success hunting varmints and predators that have small vital areas.

 

[FeMan]

Would you mind posting a few pictures of your custom sticks?

 

[AWS]

I've been using cross sticks for close to forty years. I used to use Sniper Styks as I age I'm using s stool when calling coyotes, the Sniper Styks aren't long enough, I extended them but they got flimsier than I care for so started making my own with 3/8 tempered aluminum tent poles, the kind you flex to hold up dome tents. Strong and lightweight.

I drill out two connecting nuts to slide over the tent poles and drill a hole through and insert a pin(cut off nail) and peen the ends. Castration bands to give it a little tension. I wrap the pivot with a little camo vet wrap

 

[Rick Richard]

I use ski poles with the Wiser product that connects them in that “criss cross” configuration.

 

[Mike Casselton]

Quick Stix also makes a QD cross stick item.

It appears we were talking about the same product.

Quick-StiX® System

The Quick-StiX® System will make your trekking poles the most useful piece of gear in your pack. The System will turn your trekking poles into a pair of shooting sticks, a tall ultralight bipod, and finally a glassing tripod. This is the perfect setup for everyone from the serious ounce...

www.wiserprecision.com

 

[Lefty2506]

I started using a Stoney Point monopod (last I saw, Primos was making it, but that was years ago) a few decades ago and was shocked at how much it improved my shooting stability as I walked through the woods. I'm 6'2", so I got their longest length. I like it even as a walking stick. After a few years, I added a 2nd one and made my own version of the cross sticks. It was even more stable than the monopod. 150-200 yds standing on a whitetail was very doable. About 12 years ago, I dropped them in the snow one day while retrieving a deer. I went back on an ATV to get them, and accidently ran over them in the process and bend them. I replaced them with the old BOG pod tripod that had a yolk on top of it. For shooting distance, I really like it, but its not nearly as light and portable as the bipod/cross sticks configuration. With just the 2 legs, it was easy to hold them together in one hand and use it as a walking stick. If I need a walking stick to help me up a steep bank, my tripod is strong enough for the job, but its too bulky to use as a walking stick all the time. Thus, I think something like the cross sticks concept is a better option for most hunting applications. For prairie dogs, however, its tripod all day long...

 

[AWS]

Simple way to use your trekking/ski poles to make a shooting support. I used this for hunting off skis and snowshoes going back to the 1960. Nothing to buy and quick to use.

 

[K22]

Would you mind posting a few pictures of your custom sticks?

I have posted them on here before via another member since I cannot post pictures. However, if you PM me with your cell phone number, I will send you a picture and you can post if you wish or just retain for your own use.

However, there really isn't much to see. Just two 1/2" diameter aluminum solid rods with 12" in length 1/2" ID heater hose on each stick on one end bound together with 3 wraps of Velcro 3/4" wide strip. I cut mine to 44" length which fit my frame for shooting in the sitting position.

One innovation I made was I shoot off a portable light weight sportsman's chair which keeps me off the ground and give me an expanded field of view for shot opportunities. PA is second in the nation in Lyme Disease, so it is important for me to minimize exposure by not sitting on the ground.

 

[MTPaul]

I have posted them on here before via another member since I cannot post pictures. However, if you PM me with your cell phone number, I will send you a picture and you can post if you wish or just retain for your own use.

However, there really isn't much to see. Just two 1/2" diameter aluminum solid rods with 12" in length 1/2" ID heater hose on each stick on one end bound together with 3 wraps of Velcro 3/4" wide strip. I cut mine to 44" length which fit my frame for shooting in the sitting position.

One innovation I made was I shoot off a portable light weight sportsman's chair which keeps me off the ground and give me an expanded field of view for shot opportunities. PA is second in the nation in Lyme Disease, so it is important for me to minimize exposure by not sitting on the ground.

PM sent. Thanks in advance.

 

[Seamaster31]

I like to use the aluminum, 3 section sticks with a shock cord that are commercially available for big game in the USA. On my trips to hunt in African countries I always use the tall three stick setup to shoot over the brush while standing, or rarely sitting. Often those are just three wooden poles held together with a piece of truck tire innertube. Using sticks from the sitting position is fairly easy to master, but shooting well while standing takes a fair amount of practice.

 

[White Eagle]

I have been using them for years. I also like to be portable and mobile so I made mine out of 1/2" stainless tubing that was designed as extensions for lights. They have a threaded piece that joins them together so I can take them apart and reassemble them when I get them out of my pack and on stand. Have worked for years and use them on deer and predator hunts and actually prefer them over the tripods that are out, just easier to maneuver while hunting and getting ready for a shot