“Don’t mess this up,” was the only thought that went through my head as I lowered my head to the rifle and took aim at a whitetail doe. I was in Oklahoma, hunting out of a blind with Greg Ray, owner of Outdoor Solutions, on a media trip. Suffering through airports, long drives, and zeroing in on the range all came down to this exact moment.
For all intents and purposes, this was a complete layup. The deer was standing broadside, less than 100 yards away. There was plenty of time, and it was a doe — not some shake-inducing Boone and Crocket buck.
But for me, hunting with someone I just met the day before always ups the ante. All I can think about is how embarrassing it would be to be the “professional hunting and fishing writer” who absolutely botches something that should be a gimme. That has real potential to become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
I stuck a shaky hand on the BOG Tripod, took a few breaths, and got a rock-steady sight picture. Time slowed, the world went quiet, and I squeezed the trigger. It was a perfect double lung shot, with no meat waste.
In short: When the pressure is on, the BOG Bantam DeathGrip Tripod ($130) comes through. It’s lightweight, compact, will grip any gun out there, and give you the stability you need. Due to its small size, you may need to jump up to its larger counterpart, but for hunters on the move, it can’t be beat.
- Shooting height: 20-42"
- Material: Aluminum
- Weight capacity: Up to 40 lbs.
- Head: 360-degree pan control, 120-degree tilt control.
Pros
- Full swivel and tilt capabilites are perfect for any situation
- Light and compact
- DeathGrip head holds rifles and shotguns securely
- Large rubberized feet
Cons
- Doesn't raise high enough for standing use
- Twist leg locks take time to use
Rock-Steady Grip of the Bantam DeathGrip Tripod
The magic of the BOG Bantam DeathGrip tripod comes down to the “DeathGrip” head. You can find it on most BOG shooting tripods.
It has a level base to place the fore stock in, and two wings on each side that you tighten down with a knob. When fully tightened around the rifle, it provides a complete grip. It’s so grippy that you can leave the rifle in it and walk away.
That eliminates almost all human error and input when it comes time to pull the trigger. You can get down on the gun, hardly touch it, and focus on sight picture and a good trigger squeeze.
While on the range in Oklahoma, I shot a group that I didn’t think I was capable of from a tripod. Through binoculars, it looked like I had only taken two overlapping shots, but I had, in fact, taken three. It was that good. I was able to achieve shooting table consistency on a tripod.
The DeathGrip head will grab just about any rifle you want it to. There was even a guy on the trip using it with a flintlock muzzleloader. It’s rated to hold up to 40 pounds, so unless you have guns that would put you on a government watch list, you’re good to go.
Lightweight and Compact
In the BOG lineup, the Bantam is the lightest tripod that packs the DeathGrip head. It weighs in at roughly 3 pounds, and when you strap it to your pack, it’s easy to forget it’s there.
With the legs collapsed, it’s small, and it easily fits on the side of a daypack. The compact size makes it perfect for quick whitetail missions or those who need a shooting platform in the backcountry.
There is a tradeoff, though. This tripod can be deployed only at shorter heights — 20 to 42 inches. That means you can only use it in sitting or kneeling positions.
Adjustability of the BOG Bantam DeathGrip Tripod
I already talked about how the DeathGrip mount is highly adjustable, but the entire head is, too. You can pan around a full 360 degrees with it, allowing you to smoothly adjust on the fly when an animal takes a few steps after you already took aim.
You can also adjust the pitch of the head and tilt it a total of 120 degrees. I’ve found that feature to be extremely handy when posted up in the hilly whitetail country of middle Tennessee with my wife. I can adjust it to where my sight level is perfectly balanced every time.
All of the adjustment knobs on the head are large and easy to use. You can tighten them down into a locked position or leave them slightly loose, which allows you flexibility.
There are two ways to adjust the height. The first is with the extendable legs. They work just like every extendable tripod leg on the earth.
The second way isn’t as clear-cut as you’d think. When I first took the BOG Bantam DeathGrip Tripod on a hunt, I fully extended the legs, and it was still too short for my wife to use while sitting in a camp chair. I thought it was a dud.
Then I realized you don’t have to fully “deploy” the legs. Yes, you can lock them out at the most extreme angle they’re capable of, but you can partially fold them in to gain extra height. It’s just as steady with them pushed in slightly, and makes the tripod more versatile.
What Could Be Better
The locking mechanisms for extending the tripod’s legs are time-consuming to use. They’re threaded, and it feels like it takes forever to twist them open. And, then you have to spend the same amount of time locking them in place once you set up the tripod. There are better ways to skin the cat.
I also wish this tripod were capable of a touch more height. Not much, but another 4 inches or so. I’ve used it hunting in blinds as well as while sitting or kneeling in the open woods.
I’ve found it’s tall enough for most compact hunting chairs, but if you’re in a taller chair, you’ll have to bend over a bit and get into a slightly awkward shooting position. That is the tradeoff you get with the compact design, though.
Final Thoughts on the BOG Bantam DeathGrip Tripod
For the types of hunting I do, the BOG Bantam DeathGrip Tripod is perfect. When rifle hunting, I most often hunt in a blind or lean up against a tree. I can get it set up and dialed when hunting from a seated position, and leave my rifle in it, ready to shoot at a moment’s notice.
The only type of hunting I do that doesn’t work is standing. It’s just not tall enough to use standing. For those situations, you’d need to jump up to the larger version, which I used in Oklahoma. But there’s a tradeoff to that. I packed one around for 3 days, and it’s heavy and bulky. If you don’t plan on ever shooting from a standing position, it’s probably not worth the extra weight in the field.
If you’re a mountain hunter, I’d also recommend this tripod. I spent years spot-and-stalking mule deer and elk in places where every ounce mattered. You can stick this thing on the side of your pack and get it set up once you get within shooting range. It’ll give you rock-solid steadiness when your hands are shaking and your heart is thumping.
