never used a tripod for shooting
have used a hiking pole as an improvised rest to steady a kneeling shot that was a fair poke aways
do like using a tripod for glassing with a spotting scope, but have gone with and without it for hunting.
Phil is correct about lots of walking, therefore less gear is better, but a good spotting scope on a tripod have often helped me make the decision whether the game I spotted with binocs is worth the walk or not.
