What do you use to make sure you have as solid a shooting rest as possible???
 

Depending on the situation, I use shooting sticks that I made myself, I have what is called a "knee pod" (made by Horton Crossbows) that I use sometimes, a tree, a fence post, etc. etc. I also have a couple of tripods that have a rail built into the stand. But for the most part I use a portable shooting rail (made by API) that I carry to my stands. This is easy to attach and take down and gives an almost rock solid rest. When I get nervous and get a little bit of the shakes, this portable shooting rail really helps. I can usually have part of my body against one side of the rail while I am resting the forearm of the rifle on another part of the rail. So as long as my scope is on and I aim right, the deer is as good as dead. What do you guys use or do you just shoot off hand most of the time???? Good huntin, Scott Woody

I use everything you mentioned except for the knee pod and the shooting rail. Homemade sicks on the stand, and whatevers closest if i'm walking. I had one of those extendable walking stick/mono pod, but found it was jsut more to carry and keep up with.

I have a shooters sling (straps around upper left bicep then sling goes to the forend) and a telescoping shooting stick that I use for off hand standing shots. I also use sandbags for varmint hunting or bipods. I mount a bipod on all of my rifles before I go afield (a 13-27" bipod can be used both laying prone, or sitting) and I hang my shooters sling from my arm. I carry the telescoping shooting stick as I walk.

Even without a shooting stick, with a little practice, you can be VERY steady shooting off-hand just using a standard sling wrapped around your arm. Leaning on a fence post or tree is handy, but I never want to depend on them.

i use a sandbag. then wrap my hand around the back part of the stock. no problems yet