Agreed. When to use or not use a tripod depends on the type of hunting being done and even the particular situation within the type of hunting. I most often use my camera tripods for still hunting.
For walk and stalk, I have tried various shooting sticks, but have settled on the Spartan bipods and tripods which attach with a strong magnet rather than a dovetail. Even though these solutions are more flexible (but less solid) than the camera tripod, there are instances where they don't make sense either. It's easy to not use them if the situation warrants.
Also agree that we should be thinking carefully about the first shot and the follow up shot(s). In some instances, the first shoot is particularly critical with one example being crocodiles. If the first shot doesn't instantly kill or at least paralyze the animal, there probably won't be a second shot as the croc will be underwater.
Well in Pa which is where ive always hunted, pretty much all of the long range hunters, of which there are plenty, use a bench to shoot from while hunting. Reason being that the steep terrain isnt very condusive to prone shooting, and beyond that, most of us can shoot better from a bench.
More and more the hunters are using a return to battery type rest as well, for the reasons i spoke of in my earlier post.
But, some of us over the past few years have taken to using larger tripods as opposed to using a bench.
We find that standing while shooting when hunting, has advantages over shooting prone or from a bench, unless the bench is elevated and braced for better stability.
Much depends on the weight of the gun, as the heavier ones do better from a bench.
Also remember that in Pa all LR hunting is done from fixed locations, walking about as is done in other parts of the country just wont work well there, again due mainly to the type terrain.
But thats a method that works in other parts of the country as well, but just not a preferred method by many in the other areas.
So weight of the gun and that of the shooting system isnt as critical in Pa for that reason.
But none of that affects things as far as the shooting part goes, and having the ability to stay on the animal following a shot.
How we prefer to go about the hunting part is one thing, but the shooting part is the same regardless as to where it takes place.
Which is what prompted my questioning this device.