Why You Need a Shooting Rest:
As a mature eastern gobbler made its way down the steep hill and out into the lush green grass, I stood in my tree stand, trying to remain hidden as I tucked in behind the white oak tree. My mind quickly began racing with ideas of how to get my crossbow in position and make the shot without the gobbler catching sight of my movements. My crossbow is not particularly heavy, but the prospect of having to hold it in shooting position and be perfectly steady without any movement was already taxing my strength. I thought of the number of times this situation had happened in the white tail woods and realized I needed a good shooting rest.
The day had already proved to be one in which things had not played in my favor. Earlier that morning, well before sunrise, I quietly made my way along the edge of the massive CRP field that would connect to the timber edge of the adjacent field where my stand stood tall in an oak tree. After attaching my safety harness to the tree, I pulled my Horton Storm RDX crossbow up with a rope, only to realize that I had left the reel handle that aided in cocking the bow in my garage, seven or eight miles away from the area I was hunting. Because the crossbow was a reverse-limb style bow, there was no option of cocking, unless I made the trip back home for the reel attachment.
What shooting rest is the best?
For your convenience – the selections are as follows. Continue reading the article to see why:
- Best Overall – BOG CAMO DEATHGRIP (See Price at Amazon)
- Best New Shooting Rest – Ten Point Axis Tripod (See Price at Amazon)
- Best Quick Detach Crossbow Rest – Swagger Bipods QD 42 (See Price at Amazon)
- Best Treestand Model – BOG TREEPOD (see price on Amazon)
- Most Compact – SteddyEddy Crossbow Monopod System (See Price on Amazon)
- Most Affordable – TRUGLO HIP-SHOT CROSSBOW SHOOTING REST (See Price at Amazon)
- Lightest Crossbow Rest – Backcountry King: K800 Carbon Fiber Tripod with Reaper Grip by Kopfjagger (See Price on Optics Planet) or (See Price on Amazon).
- Best Crossbow Rest for the Mobile Hunter – Primos Trigger Stick Gen3 (See Price on Amazon)
After what seemed like hours of driving, I returned to my home, retrieved the reel, and was back in my stand, ready to hunt. After settling in the stand, I encountered a mature long beard sneaking behind my setup as I cautiously moved into position to make a shot. As my bad luck continued, I realized I would need to hold the crossbow up in a shooting position for an extended period as the tom made his way slowly through the field, slightly out of shooting range. Without shooting rails on the stand, I finally had to forfeit holding the bow and lowered it to rest on my knee. Unfortunately, the gobbler saw my movement and was gone, ending my hopes of having a turkey dinner.
After my less-than-ideal hunt concluded, I made a personal vow never to hunt with my crossbow without double-checking for the gear needed to cock the bow into position and ensuring I had a crossbow shooting rest to help hold it in the proper location until I was ready to shoot.
Using a shooting rest is vital in making an accurate shot and remaining in the proper position until the animal being hunted gives the right shot opportunity. Whether hunting high up in a tree, on the ground, or while sitting inside a blind, to help narrow down the choices when shopping for a suitable shooting rest, I have gathered five different models that each have a specific purpose that secures their place on the list of one of the five best crossbow shooting rests.
Best Overall – BOG CAMO DEATHGRIP (See Price at Amazon)
When taking a youngster hunting from the ground or inside a ground blind or elevated box blind, having a steady shooting rest that keeps the crossbow in the shooting position is a must. The BOG CAMO DEATHGRIP Aluminum Tripod is hands down the steadiest rest on the market. This product is a tripod-style shooting rest engineered to be one of the most stable precision rests available. The CAMO DEATHGRIP receives its name because of BOG’s patented clamp that safely secures any weapon, including a crossbow, to the top of the tripod, allowing the hunter to remain hands-free to use a call or some of the best compact binoculars while keeping the bow in the proper position.
Features
Price may vary, last seen for $145.49 at Amazon depending on color selections
See full Bog Death Grip Tripod Review.
Best New Shooting Rest – Ten Point Axis Tripod (See Price at Amazon)
The TenPoint Axis was designed for hunting primarily from a ground blind and uses significantly less floor space than many comparable shooting rests. When hunting from a ground blind, space is typically at a premium, and hunting in tight quarters is the norm. The Axis Tripod excels here. Being very light, one might think it is not durable, but the aluminum construction is both durable and noticeably lighter than many shooting rests. It was created to work with both crossbows and firearms, with a specifically designed clamp to accommodate both. Its adjustable height ranges from 25 to 40 inches tall, and a rotating head offers 360 degree flexibility, allowing shooters to adapt to different shooting positions and target movements. Built-in bubble levels assist in keeping your weapon level for more accurate shots. When folded, it is sized suitably to attach easily and securely to a pack for easy run and gun transport.
Features
- Sturdy Construction
- The Ten Point Axis Tripod boasts a robust aluminum frame, ensuring durability and stability during use. This solid construction minimizes vibrations, providing a steady platform for precise shooting.
- Adjustable Height
- With adjustable legs, the tripod can be customized to suit various shooting positions, whether you’re standing, sitting, or kneeling. This versatility makes it an excellent choice for different terrains and shooting scenarios.
- 360-Degree Rotation
- One of the standout features of the Ten Point Axis Tripod is its 360-degree rotating head. This allows shooters to track moving targets smoothly and effortlessly, enhancing accuracy and control.
- Universal Rest
- The tripod is equipped with a universal shooting rest clamp, compatible with a wide range of weapons. Whether you’re using a rifle, shotgun, or crossbow, the Ten Point Axis Tripod provides a secure and stable rest for consistent shooting performance.
- Lightweight and Portable
- Weighing only 4 pounds, this tripod is easy to carry and transport. Its compact design makes it ideal for hunters who need to move quickly and quietly through the woods.
Best Quick Detach Crossbow Rest – Swagger Bipods QD 42 (See Price at Amazon)
The QD system from Swagger is a hybrid design that takes Swaggers Quick Adapt Technology from their original Hunter Series of bipods and turns it into a versatile shooting system that can be used on shotguns, rifles, and crossbows. The QD42 is short for quick detachment and adjusts from 14″ to 42” in height, allowing you to shoot from a ground blind, standing position, or from a tree stand. When attaching the QD42 to a crossbow, the hunter uses an adapter that sits over a sling stud and features a small picatinny rail that the bipod quickly attaches and detaches from.
Features
- HUGE Flexibility: One of the best features of this crossbow rest is that it is without a doubt one of the most flexible units on the market. Now, usually having a bunch of flex in a rest wouldn’t be something to brag about, however Swagger has perfected what the right amount of flexibility is and where it’s needed the most. At the upper end of the legs, sit two spring-like pieces that allow the bipod to be useful, no matter how uneven the terrain is. This feature also always allows the shooter to have a level rest to shoot from.
- Attach and Shoot: Because this unit can clip onto a picatinny rail, it should be noted that it also means that it becomes literally one unit with your bow. After being locked into place, the rest is ready to get to work. Unlike other rests that aren’t fully connected with your crossbow, the QD42 will not give any sort of unsteady connection, resulting in always having a great shooting platform.
Best Treestand Model – BOG TREEPOD (see price on Amazon)
The BOG TREEPOD is engineered to give deer hunters benchrest accuracy from the top of the stand. The TREEPOD features a metal base that attaches to the stand’s platform and allows a full range of motion so that the hunter can follow the game, no matter which direction they approach. This rest also helps support a steady, accurate shot.
Features
The metal-swivel design in the BOG TREEPOD allows the hunter to safely secure their crossbow, even when twenty feet up in the air. The swivel design also allows the hunter to use their rattling antlers, deer call, or optics such as a rangefinder or binoculars while keeping the crossbow secured and ready to make a shot.
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Most Compact – SteddyEddy Crossbow Monopod System (See Price on Amazon)
TenPoint Crossbows has been the maker of top-notch crossbows for many years. With the ability to design some of the most innovative crossbows with unmatched technology, it is no surprise that they would develop accessories that meet the most crucial demands of hunters. TenPoint designed the SteddyEddy Crossbow Monopod System with its customers in mind. The SteddyEddy was meant for hunters to be as successful in the field as possible.
The telescoping two-section monopod ensures motion-free shooting, whether hunting in a treestand, blind or while standing. The monopod shooting stick can be used by supporting it against the hunter’s mid-section, a tree, or on the ground to give the hunter a steady shooting rest. The SteddyEddy adjusts from 25” to 36” simply by turning the extension pole to loosen or tighten in place.
Features
The versatility of the SteddyEddy is what makes this shooting rest shine. This rest is lightweight and compact enough to carry in one hand while walking, in a backpack (see best hunting backpacks), or with the included clamp; it can conveniently fold under a crossbow stock when not in use. The smaller SteddyEddy attaches to the crossbow using a 360-degree rapid-pivot tube equipped with a snap-on connection.
Most Affordable – TRUGLO HIP-SHOT CROSSBOW SHOOTING REST (See Price at Amazon)
A trophy deer hunter will often tackle the most challenging task to ensure they can harvest a mature buck. One difficult undertaking that many hunters must make is completing a successful spot and stalk.
One of the most affordable shooting rests I have found for spotting and stalking with a crossbow is the TRUGLO HIP-SHOT Crossbow Shooting Rest. It is no easy task to gain ground on a mature buck or a strutting gobbler when making the way through the heavy timber or along the edge of a field. Add the inconvenience of having an unsupported shot with a crossbow when the animal is finally within shooting range, and the hunt can be ruined in a split second.
The HIP-SHOT shooting rest provides a stable platform that can quickly go wherever the hunt leads. By bracing against the hip or the ground, the hunter can take advantage of the stable 3-point support that works while sitting, standing, or kneeling.
Features
The HIP-SHOT is made of lightweight aluminum and composite materials, weighing only 10 ounces. Hunters also can adjust the rest from 20”-29”, providing the ideal shooting rest for crossbow hunters to take along with them when hunting in a treestand, blind, or while etching their way into close range while on a spot and stalk pursuit of an animal.
Lightest Crossbow Rest – Backcountry King: K800 Carbon Fiber Tripod with Reaper Grip by Kopfjagger (See Price on Optics Planet) or (See Price on Amazon).
There’s no doubt that if you’re planning on getting out into the backcountry, then you’ve probably been weighing your gear and trying to cut ounces wherever you can. The K800 Carbon Fiber Tripod from Kopfjagger comes in at just over 6 pounds with the super stable Reaper grip attached.
Features
- From Small to Tall: When keeping your backcountry pack as streamlined as possible, having the widest range of adjustability is paramount. This tripod can be collapsed to 19 inches and will extend out to 64 inches when needed to provide you with a stable shooting platform, no matter what your position is on the mountain.
- Stability and Able: Mountains aren’t exactly known for providing level shooting positions. To counter this, the wide, locked-leg design ensures maximum stability, regardless of what kind of rough spot you’re shooting from.
- One Tough Cookie: The carbon fiber construction of this tripod is all-around weatherproof and extremely rugged, making it suitable for various environments, especially when in the backcountry.
Best Crossbow Rest for the Mobile Hunter – Primos Trigger Stick Gen3 (See Price on Amazon)
Designed for the hunter that’s always on the go, the Gen 3 Crossbow Tripod from Primos should definitely earn a spot in your pack. Right out of the box, this rest weighs a shocking 3.3lbs and when fully collapsed, is barely even noticeable in your pack.
Features:
- Rapid Deployment: One feature that makes this crossbow tripod stand out among the rest is its ability to be adjusted in literally seconds. Like many of Primos’ other shooting sticks, the Gen 3 tripod comes equipped with a trigger system that drops the legs out all at once. For quick setups, there simply is no beating this tripod’s adjustability system.
- V Yoke: Primos definitely had the run and gun hunter in mind when they equipped a simple V yolk grip to the top of the crossbow edition. It’s wide enough to accommodate some of the widest bows on the market and yet allows the shooter to instantly adjust and remove the bow without having to loosen any dials.
Remember, your rest is your silent partner in every shot. So, choose wisely, and unleash the full potential of your crossbow, whether traversing rugged mountains or navigating the unpredictable chaos of a run-and-gun turkey hunt. With the right rest, every bolt has the power to hit its mark in the 10 ring of your target. Hold steady and let it fly, friends!
*This article was written without bias or profit in mind. The affiliate links below found in the article were found after completion of the author’s submission. If you would like to support us, so we can create more of this content for you, then you can purchase the crossbow shooting rests from the affiliate links below. Thank you!
