Welcome to the site.

I've been hunting about 45 yrs and have never owned one. Matter of fact, I've never shot a rifle with one on it. I'm not sure the reason why anyone want's one on a rifle, varmit and preditor rifles excluded. I think to many people have visions of that once in a lifetime shot at to far getting away from them. I've seen a lot of guy's with them on in the field and none of the ones I talked to had drop chart's, they just knew how high up to hold out to some very long ranges, amazing! I ran into a guy up on the Santiam this year using one in timber. I guess you need to be ready for everything. Proper shooting form and a good military sling will enable people to shoot well beyond any reasonable distence and they wouldn't have to carry those bi-pods. A year or so ago I did make me a set of shooting stix tho. Unfortunatelly about 99% of the time I forget them and 1/2 of 1% I just leave them in the truck. The other 1/2%, 1/4 of the time I forget to take them out of the truck. They are really good for setting your rifle on while your putting out the electric call. If I ever get anything called in, they'll also add a nice touch to the dead animal photo! They actually do work good but you have to remember to take them!

Where I hunt elk, it's steep and thick.

I've installed a Harris bipod on my .22-250 HB Varminter, which I'm very pleased with. In the elk woods, I've never had time to set up a shot like I can with prairie dogs. Offhand "snap shots" are the rule on elk for me, and if I'd had that same bipod installed on my elk gun, I'm sure I'd throw the balance off enough that the elk wouldn't have much to worry about.

I think it really depends on where you're hunting, though.

dont knock it til you try it boys ,) i keep my harris on my 300wsm for the whole 4 week deer season. ground blind hunting on hydrolines it works great all set up ready for him to cross. got a few over the yrs that i would of never gotten without it

In general I do not use one as they are just something to get in the way with most hunting, but they do have their place. I find them handy for antelope hunting and I have hunted deer in a few places where they were useful.

Can't say as I have ever hunted elk anywhere and came away wishing I had one...................but I guess there is always a first time for everything.

Not for elk though above tree line I'm sure it would be an advantage.
Great for barren ground caribou though.

Shooting stix helped me a lot. I made long shots on elk and antelope with confidence using them.

After several seasons the bungee cord thing that held the stix together wore out and I bought a stoney point polecat telescoping bipod.

It seems to be not much different than the stix, more sturdy, but I have yet to kill anything with it.

I think the bipods are a great tool if you are hunting long range, scoped rifles, open country, and so on. The bottom line is you still need to be able to shoot from every position, shoot offhand, be able to improvise with what is available at a moments notice.

If you do get one, practice with it. Go to an area like the one you plan to hunt and practice dropping that bipod, getting it level and focousing on obects. If you've got varmints in your area then practice with them. I've seen quite a few big game animals get away because some dummy who didn't know very much about his eqipment was fumbling around with his bipod trying tot get the perfect rest. Know how to use it or it will just get in the way.
Hank

Hank,

I have heard that the bi-pod is sensitive to the ground iy's sitting on also. My guess would be that because it is attached to the rifle the way it is, it actually becomes part of the rifle. Sort of the difference in shooting off sand bags and rocks? I am wondering if the same thing happen shooting off of stix? Those I have, home made set, but don't use them a lot. Usually forget them. But when I do remember, they work well.

i use my harris bipod when i am sighting in my 300 wsm and it dont seem to mind the ground much. groups very well. i usually pull the bipod legs fully open and sit on the foam from my gun case. i know the higher your bipod legs are the more movement your gonna have (which means not as accurate) but thats the way i sight in and i find it very affective. most around here are happy just to hit within the 7 or 8 ring leanin over the half ton truck

I wouldn't lean the ring on the truck. Could be hard on the truck if they miss!