When my first son was old enough to start deer hunting more than a quarter century ago, I made a rudimentary set of “shooting sticks” out of an old piece of 1x2 lumber I had left over from another project. I cut it in 2-foot lengths, laid them across each other about six inches down from the tops and used a wood screw to fasten them together. When he sat on the ground and spread them out, they made a perfect shooting bipod as long as the legs were spread the right distance apart for sitting, kneeling, etc.

We hauled those things with us all over the state of Oklahoma, and he shot several deer using the sticks for a rest. Later, I was introduced to more complex shooting sticks made of aluminum with extendable legs and a rubber V at the top. They were even better because of the adjustability, and we used them until we wore them out.

Not long ago, I had an opportunity at deer camp to use a top-quality Kopfjager tripod. Knowing it was pricey and seeing the lightweight carbon material in the legs, I was convinced it was overkill — that is until I actually used it. I killed two bucks off of it that year with a crossbow at distances I wouldn’t shoot without a perfect rest. It was rock steady and made shooting easy. Just get the crossbow on target, lock in the adjustment points and squeeze the trigger.

I was formerly somewhat of a naysayer, but that season completely changed my mind about tripods. Now I won’t head afield without one, whether toting a crossbow or rifle. The peace of mind I get knowing I have an extremely steady rest far makes up for the initial cash outlay I made to get my own hunting tripod.  

Still, there are plenty of naysayers. Selling a shooting tripod to a hunter who doesn’t think he needs one isn’t an easy task. He might be accustomed to propping his gun against the side of a tree or on the shooting rail of a stand. But once most hunters have used a top-quality tripod, they never want to go without one again.

If a customer buys an inferior-quality tripod, however, he’s likely to be disappointed. Some are heavy, shaky or hard to use. Let’s first explore a few factors that are necessary to a great hunting tripod.

The weight of a tripod is an important factor, as many who have one that is too bulky choose to leave it at home. The newest models made of carbon fiber are super light while still being quite stable — another critical factor in tripod selection. If adjustments to the tripod are too difficult, hunters won’t be able to utilize them to their best performance, so easy adjustment is another important consideration. Lastly, a carbon-fiber tripod is naturally quieter to transport, open and close than an aluminum model, along with being less shaky — a big advantage when taking a shot where pinpoint precision really matters. Carbon-fiber tripods do, however, come with a higher price tag that might not be palatable to some tripod shoppers.

Now, let’s take a look at three top-quality tripods that if marketed correctly might just boost your bottom line.

Kopfjager K800 Carbon Fiber Tripod with Reaper Grip 

Kopfjager, while tricky to spell, is a big name in hunting tripods and makes some of the lightest, most stable models on the market. The company’s carbon-fiber K800 certainly fits that description.

Made like a tank, the K800 still only weighs 2.5 pounds. The user-friendly offset grip features protective padding, and the reversible center column allows the tripod to fold up into a small, easily transportable package. The K800 also has a Smooth 360-degree pan, and the tilt range is 109 degrees (21 up and 87 down.)

Spec-wise, minimum operating height is 7.5 inches, with a maximum operating height of 65 inches. Maximum center column extension is 52.2 inches. Vice width adjusts from 1.57 to 2.78 inches, and the heavy-duty leg extensions are locked in place by the flip of a lever. Three-position angle locks allow the user to configure the tripod to their preferred angle, from low to off-hand. And boasting the ability to bear up to 20 pounds, it is as strong as many tripods weighing nearly twice as much.

Best of all, the K800 comes with the company’s high-quality Reaper grip, which is extremely versatile. And for photographers, the unit has a camera thread adapter. MSRP is $599. It can also be purchased without the grip for a lower price.

Primos Trigger Stick Apex 

A leader in the design and manufacturing of game calls for a number of different species, Primos also produces a number of other fine products for hunters. The Edge Carbon Fiber Tripod Shooting Stick is their top-of-the-line model with all the bells and whistles hunters need for taking a good, solid shot at game.

The Trigger Stick Apex’s super-strong yet lightweight carbon-fiber wrapped aluminum legs deploy fast and adjust on the fly for even the trickiest terrain just by squeezing the adjustment trigger. The rock-solid Apex-Frame design allows quick adjustment and smooth panning to keep heavier rifles on-target from low sitting positions to nearly 6-foot-high standing positions.

Somewhat heavier than the Kopfjager, the 7-pound Apex is still plenty easy to tote over the mountains or through the woods. And the removable mounting plate makes switching from spotting scope to gun yoke quick and easy in the field. Folded height to the base plate is 32 inches, and maximum height is 62 inches.  

The Apex includes a gun clamp and comes with a removable mounting plate. With an MSRP of $499, this is a good hunting tripod for hunters wanting to stay under the $500 threshold.

BOG DeathGrip Sherpa Backcountry 

For those who want a carbon-fiber shooting tripod with not quite as high a price tag, BOG makes one that should fit their needs and their budget. BOG says this model provides “incredible versatility at a fraction of the price of the competition.”

Designed as a multi-functional tripod platform, the DeathGrip Sherpa weighs just over 4 pounds and utilizes a quick-change Arca-Swiss mount system, making it great for switching between glassing and shooting regardless of the terrain. The smooth ball head features 360 degrees of rotation and 180 degree of tilt. 

This model also utilizes proprietary rubber feet with removable steel spikes for additional traction and twist-lock legs for quick, secure leg height adjustment. The proprietary DeathGrip clamping system allows for hands-free weapon securement, while the removable center post provides micro height adjustments. Along with the clamping system, an optics plate is included in the package.

The DeathGrip Sherpa Backcountry also features non-marring jaw insert to ensure a hunter’s favorite big-game rifle won’t be scratched or scuffed. Maximum height is 55.75 inches, and minimum height is 24.25 inches. MSRP is $399, and a padded carry case is included in the package.

Wrapping It Up

In the end, there are a lot of good hunting tripods on the market offered by several different manufacturers. But for serious hunters looking for a top-quality unit, these three should be on the list to check out next time they visit their favorite gun or sporting goods retailer.