Steady rifle support in a ladder stand - 08/31/15
I had a little buyer's remorse over the weekend. I snagged a couple of buddy stands off Sportsman's Guide last month. I finally got to put one up over the weekend. Yikes! If I had good sense, I'd ship them back. However, I'd lose a day getting it off the tree and getting it boxed back up. I'm trying to make the most of a bad situation.
The big problem with the stand is the size of the shooting rail. I did not realize it until I was sitting up there in it; this thing is tiny by comparison to all the other buddy-type ladder stands I've ever used. The shooting rail is about 6 inches lower and about six inches closer in. It is just too short and too close to use it as a good rest for a rifle. It might work if I was a 90 lb kid, but I'm a walking landform-- 6'4"/300 lbs.
My question to y'all is this as follows: In a few instances I have seen folks use an overhead rope to provide a steady rest for a rifle. If this is a viable alternative, I would like to investigate it. Has anyone ever seen or used such a rig? What is your experience?
The other possibility is using a monopod-type shooting stick. I've kind of done that before. I used to take a broomstick up the tree with me and use it to steady my shots. The quarters are so cramped, however, I'm not sure I could get it to work.
The big problem with the stand is the size of the shooting rail. I did not realize it until I was sitting up there in it; this thing is tiny by comparison to all the other buddy-type ladder stands I've ever used. The shooting rail is about 6 inches lower and about six inches closer in. It is just too short and too close to use it as a good rest for a rifle. It might work if I was a 90 lb kid, but I'm a walking landform-- 6'4"/300 lbs.
My question to y'all is this as follows: In a few instances I have seen folks use an overhead rope to provide a steady rest for a rifle. If this is a viable alternative, I would like to investigate it. Has anyone ever seen or used such a rig? What is your experience?
The other possibility is using a monopod-type shooting stick. I've kind of done that before. I used to take a broomstick up the tree with me and use it to steady my shots. The quarters are so cramped, however, I'm not sure I could get it to work.