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A FAQ or Frequently Asked Questions page is usually in the form of questions and answers. This one is a little different in that it is in a descriptive or "plain text" form.
Unless you have the eyesight of an eagle, you will need some optics to help you see where your shots go on the target while shooting. When you first start out, you can use binoculars. As you get more involved (and have the funds), you will want to get a spotting scope.
When using binoculars, you hold them in your hands. But it is really hard to do that with a spotting scope (and awkward while shooting), so you need a stand. Even inexpensive scopes come with a short (think "table top") stand. But that stand is hard to use when standing. I've seen everything from expensive stands from Shooter's Choice (poles) to old surveyor's tripods to old music stands to combinations of multiple stands to good still/video photography tripods.
I have a philosophy of multiple use -- I try to avoid having equipment that I only use for one purpose. My wife uses the term cheap for this philosophy.
I used to use the cheap short stand that came with the scope for prone and a standard 35mm/video camera tripod for standing. With the help of another shooter in the same situation, we figured out how to use our tripods for all shooting positions -- instead of buying one of the expensive shooter poles ($100 is a "reasonable" price). My tripod is a SLIK 212A, the other shooter had a similar one. Now, not only is the tripod good while standing (easily raising the scope to eye height), it is also good while shooting prone.
The trick is in the setup!
By retracting all the legs to their shortest length and spreading two of them as far as they would go, the scope mounts at eye height while prone. And while set up like this, you do not need an offset eyepiece or fitting -- the scope is close while the tripod is off to the side.
The silly thing about this is that I picked the specific tripod based on its ability to do just this! But I had forgotten about it...
Photos and more description to be added to make this more understandable!
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