I know these really don' t go hand and hand, but thought I would combine them. I was wondering how many of you guys carry shooting sticks? Being of the PA hunter type, we don' t have much call for them here. Leave next week for CO muzzleloader hunting and thought it would be a good idea for my thirteen year old. (Probably should have purchased two sets.) My other question was with having your animal processed. Does anyone have a general idea of the expense? Here in PA it cost on an average of about 40-50 for a deer, I think. We do all our own, but will be at the mercy of the processor while out there. I' ve learned a lot from this board in the past year. Thanks!!!!!!!!

I guided a feller who brung them fancy store bought stix with him one year. The mule adjusted the length of em on the trip into camp. He still thort he could use ' em from a sitting position, so he carried them. He ended up carryin' the stix in one hand an his rifle in the other. Just too much rattling against his plastic-stocked rifle. Shot his bull off a downed tree we were behind, so he never even got to use ' em for all his trouble. Didn' t bring ' em the next year. My suggestion to every hunter is learn to drop to a 3 point kneeling position, front arm resting its elbow on a knee. I shoot 99% of my game from that position. Dropped a lope at 306 yards last year from that position. No need for stix, bipods, or other fancy crutches.

I made apair of sticks a few years ago for hunting,pain in the a$$ to carry.I agree with BJ in the 3-point stance very stable and with practice you can shoot 200-300 yds,farther than that find a tree or get closer.

As for elk cut and wrap should be no more than.10-20cents/LB,some places charge a flat rate of $150/a head.Now thats here in Montana I can' t sat for anywhere else.I do most of my own unless we have more than my elk hanging on the meat pole.