There are many accessories, pieces of kit and gadgets that you can take to accompany you on a shoot day. Whilst some are less important, others are absolutely essential. A stick is one of these essential items, in my opinion. I have never been out shooting without either my stick, or my seat stick, and I can’t imagine heading out without either one!
WHY USE A SHOOTING STICK FOR WALKING?
When we go shooting, it’s rough and often wet, waterlogged or boggy ground. We are laden down (unless you have the luxury of an assistant!) with our gun in a slip, a heavy cartridge bag and possibly carrying our coat if it becomes warm in the middle of the day. So trekking around between drives and to your peg is often a challenge without the stability of a shooting stick.
I also use my walking stick every time I take the dogs on a walk. I find it essential in the winter when the ground is wet, muddy and slippery, and it’s now become a bit of a ‘lucky charm’!
THE BENEFITS OF A WALKING STICK IN THE COUNTRYSIDE
- More stability on uneven ground
- A great leaning aid for quieter times
- Added steadiness in wet or boggy areas
- Makes for a great coat hanging peg for when the drive starts!
UK SHOOTING STICKS & WALKING STICKS AT FARLOWS
We have a wide selection of walking sticks at Farlows to compliment our shooting clothing and attire collection. Our wooden thumb sticks and stag antler thumb sticks are a great starting point and provide a useful grip for a walking stick. We also have a good selection of hand-carved head sticks that are made for us in a small one-man workshop in Ireland, these are truly special, and each is one of a kind. These also make for really great gifts for friends and family or for your shoot day host.
The carver forages the stick shanks and stick heads by hand, allowing the wood to dry out naturally before it’s made into a stick. He carves the heads by hand, stains the wood with gunstock oil and varnishes the shanks so they are ready to use. Some have coupled heads so the head can be removed for safety when travelling.
WHY IS A FARLOWS CARVED STICK SO SPECIAL?
- Carved by hand in Ireland using traditional techniques and materials
- Wood for shanks is foraged by hand in Ireland, dried out for over a year and finished with varnish
- Wood for stick heads foraged by hand and the position and shape of the animal depends specifically on the shape of the wood knuckle foraged
- Stick heads then painted using natural paints and finished with gunstock oil
- Most carved sticks have a spacer made from bone, horn or walnut to contrast wood
- Some carved sticks have couple heads that are removable for ease of travelling
WHY USE SHOOTING STICKS WITH SEATS?
A great alternative that can serve as a useful tool during a day’s shooting is a seat stick, also known as a shooting stick. In most cases, this is a fold away leather cushioned seat on the end of a stick with a spike on the base.
When folded away it turns into a nice handle, and there is generally a stopper a couple of inches up from the base spike to stop you sinking into the mud.
THE BENEFITS OF USING A SHOOTING SEAT STICK WHEN OUT IN THE FIELD
- A comfortable seat during slower drives or slower parts of the day
- Folds away so easy to transport
- Double up as a stick for stability when folded and walking to and from your peg
SHOOTING STICKS WITH SEATS AT FARLOWS
We have a variety of different seat sticks at Farlows from brands Classic Canes and Gamebird. Personally, I use the Gamebird Large Adjustable Seat Stick with polished handles, as I’m quite tall I need the adjustment for my height. The non-adjustable seat sticks are a little more solid if you are more of an average height.
We also have an unusual seat from Laksen that is a tripod style with a leather seat. These are more comfortable and sturdier, can also stand on their own but they are bulky to carry around with you so the standard style of shooting stick is often preferred.
What to Look for When Choosing a Shooting Stick Seat
When selecting a shooting stick seat, it’s worth considering a few key features to ensure it suits both your shooting style and the conditions you’ll face in the field:
- Comfort: The seat should provide stable and comfortable support, especially if you’ll be sitting for extended periods during drives or while waiting in the field. Look for well-shaped or padded tops to prevent discomfort.
- Weight: A lighter stick is easier to carry over long distances, but make sure it remains strong enough to provide reliable support on uneven ground.
- Adjustable or Fixed: Adjustable models allow you to alter the height to suit different terrain or personal preference, while fixed sticks often offer simplicity, strength, and traditional styling.
- Strength: Durability is essential - choose a stick made from robust materials such as aluminium, steel, or strong hardwood to ensure it withstands regular use and the rigours of the field.
WHAT STICKS AND SEATS DOES JACK USE?
Personally, I use both a tall walking stick and a seat stick (often referred to as a shooting stick). Often, I take both with me on a shoot day so I have the luxury of swapping if I’d like to. For example, on my syndicate shoot there is one drive where the beaters have to walk right around a field perimeter before entering a woodland at the far end to then push through towards the guns.
I know that this takes them a while to get around before there are any signs of shooting starting, so the guns are often stood on their pegs for a good 15 minutes before the drive starts. I always have my seat-stick here so I can sit comfortably in my warm men's shooting coat before there are any signs of early birds showing. If I’ve learned anything as I get older, it’s to take the comfort when I can.
For all the other drives I’m usually seen with my tall walking stick just to help give me some extra stability over the rough, wet and boggy terrain, and it’s a great thing to lean on during the between drives. A stick is also a useful clothes peg to hang things on during the drive, such as your cartridge bag, gun slip or coat to stop them getting we ton the ground.
