Is anyone here using one of these Bog Pods for shooting? If so, what do you think of it? I'm considering one for varmint hunting.

www.boggear.com/

Aren't they just a tripod with fancy head on them?

If I want one, I would bend a piece of aluminum (or get an angle) file a section of the corner flat, drill and tap it 1/4 inch.
and then screw it onto my camera tripod...

But I am currently using something like Varmint Al's BiFurPod design.
Cheap and nasty and I could "lost" it without hurting much..

Here is the link..
www.varmintal.com/abifu.htm

PS,

I like the looks of the bi-pod. I think the third leg on the tri-pod could get in the way (occasionally), and be a fraction of a second longer to set up. I like the adjustable height. This would give you the flexibility to use the same piece of equipment either walking or setting. I use a forked stick (shooting stick) when I'm not hunting from a stand. If my plan is to sit, I've got one cut to that length and one for the length of standing. You would really be surprised how stable the stick is, so the bi-pod should be great. I've killed several deer with the forked stick method of hunting.

Once I took a friend to show him a spot to hunt at the edge of a small cliff. He was going to come back the next morning to hunt the spot. It had stair-step rocks that allowed one to sit (chair-like) to hunt. I had a forked hunting stick that I left in that spot. The area looked down a fence row with thick brush on the right side and about a 20 foot cleared right-of-way on my side. I had my rifle, so I sat down on the rock, propped up my shooting stick, laid my rifle in the fork and looked through the scope, to show him how handy the stick was. To my surprise, a large doe jumped the fence and was instantly standing in my cross-hairs. I was looking for a doe to mix with a hog I got the day before to make sausage, so I just pulled the trigger. My friend didn't see the doe jump the fence, so he was startled. I told him I shot a doe. He couldn't believe it. I think that was the shortest hunt I ever did.

If I were to make my own bi-pod, I think I would partially drive a nail in the foot pieces to give it traction on the ground, just to cut down on the tendency to slip or spread, when you put a little weight on it. Good luck with this hunting method. It works great for me.

Cary

OK, I guess I am cheap, I found a nice piece of old hickory from a tree and cut a "Y" branch out and laced up some leather on each side of the "Y" and walla! I got a brace.

I like the idea of the swivelling head on the Bog Pods, I think that would make it more user friendly. I have considered making a head to go on tripods I already have too.

I have some shooting sticks I made from 1/2" dowels that I've used with success in some "buffalo gun" matches. I just drilled a hole through both about 4" from one end and tied them together with a leather thong. I drilled a hole in the other end of one for another thong to tie them together for transport. Then I stained them with whatever it was I had laying around to darken them up.

gelandangan wrote:

Here is the link.. www.varmintal.com/abifu.htm

I'm all about low tech that really works. That is what Varmint Al developed. Two sticks a bolt and nut, four washers, two nails, some leather to pad the gun rest, some leather for a carry strap, and some fun time camo painting the sticks, oh and a tad of 5 minute epoxy to lock in the nails. Light, handy, and darn cheap but most of all it works and is very practical.

As for the commercial product your looking at it surely works and works well but probably a tad overpriced but not outrageous.

Either way you go the result is the same, a good solid rest that will improve your field accuracy.

Most of the models are a little high priced for me, also. Im not tight, just practical. The RLD2 Bipod Price:Price:$69.99 is probably the best buy for the dollar. The BOG-POD Camo Legged Devil Bipod Price:$109.99 is just re-designed with a curved gun rest and camo. I don't think the camo paint is worth $30 and the curved gun rest won't make much of a difference in stability. I'm not sure that the swivel top won't hurt stability. If it were fixed, you still have a certain amount of left to right movement, as I do with my homemade shooting stick. I can't see a reason that I would need more than a 15 to 20 degree side movement. If you are shooting at a running buck (while stalking or walking) and need more movement than that, you probably won't be using a gun rest anyway. The main advantage of these models over a single stick fixed height, homemade one, is the ability to adjust the height. The two stick (board) homemade model has the height advantage...The wider you place the legs, the lower it gets. I do recommend trying a shooting stick, homemade or store bought.

Cary

Thanks for the opinions and suggestions guys!

The PH in South Africa set up a similar device for me to use when trying to shoot Blazebuck. The shots were long and the yellow grass very tall. The only thing you could see was the very top of the back (about 2 inches) and the head with a very small portion of the neck, and only then if the critter was looking over the grass. With the critters in a herd, milling about, it was very frustrating.

They are not all that stable in a bent over position unless you have a stool to go with them. That is the problem with a high rest, you must also have a way to stabalize your body and eliminate the strain of bending over, unless you stand straight up or go down to kneeling.

I think a tree or limb picked for the purpose is just about as good and does not require toting around a bunch of stuff. These things seem to never be at the right place or height unless you can take 15 minutes to set up.
Best,
Ed