Definitely not intended for just a novice. Most people have little practical experience and even less skill shooting offhand. In fact, most American hunters going to Africa have relatively little experience shooting from anything but a deer stand. That is not a knock on anyone, it is just the case with most of us. Obviously, we have a lot of Western hunters in our forum who are exceptions to that generality.Are shooting sticks intended for novice shooters or folks who get 'excited'? I'm not interested much in adding a new wrinkle to my shooting. Of course, I have never used shooting sticks. Where can I get them to try out?
However, much terrain in Africa doesn’t lend itself to prone or sitting position regardless of our North American shooting experiences. And the perfectly placed tree limb seems a rarity as well. All that said, the sticks are an aid and one should be prepared to quickly take a shot using whatever is the appropriate support for the shot. I have killed a buffalo from my butt in the dirt (termite mound to be precise), a sable using a dead bush, and my best bushpig was free hand. On the other hand, I have taken waterbuck and black wildebeest way out there over sticks, and a buff really close in July with them. In each case, employing the rest is what was key. The sticks are merely the handiest and usually the best option. They just take a little practice.
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