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Forum Index > Medium and large game hunting > Weak hand practice?

Weak hand practice?

05 Apr 2017
@ 05:10 pm (GMT)

Mike Neeson

On my hunt last year I found myself in an awkward spot trying to shoot across a valley. I'll try to explain and hope it makes sense. If you were to look down the valley, I was on the left slope, half way up and the deer were on the right, the shot was a diagonal shot across and I had a hell of a time trying to get into a decent shooting position - Legs uphill, head and neck cranked back as far as they would go - very awkward, deer was 265 yards away, wind (~20kts) was swirling mainly right to left with the odd change in the opposite direction. I was sighted in at 7cm high at 100m, held on the back of the animal forward of the front leg. They were grazing into wind. My thinking was the right drift would take the bullet into the vitals, if the wind switched, it would be a miss. Shot broke cleanly - good lung heart shot with the front leg raised and was a quick death. MY QUESTION after all that is, does anyone practice shooting on their weak side for shots like this? I can remember in that instance thinking, with my neck cranked past maximum, "I would so love to be a lefty right now". Legs would be downhill - or at least running along the slope and everything would have been more comfortable.
Funny thing was that once I stood up and looked down into the valley, a large group of deer scampered off down the valley - "Fish your feet first" rang in my ears...

Replies

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17 Jan 2018
@ 12:24 pm (GMT)

Warwick Marflitt

Re: Weak hand practice?
I think once you know your rig and with experience and knowledge of the process we just knuckle in and do whatever's required to achieve the desired result. I've never heard that fishing saying before. I've often wondered how many fish I've driven over going to the Spot!
17 Jan 2018
@ 05:48 pm (GMT)

Paul Leverman

Re: Weak hand practice?
With the synthetic stocks that are available, they are pretty well ambidextrous. I do practice off-side once in a while, not often enough. Always figured I had better know I could do it if I had to. Nothing like a poke in the eye with a sharp stick, or a broken finger to make you focus on the other side. It isn't that hard really, just really awkward, and it's more the "feeling" than any thing else. I also do this with archery and golf. I carry one lefty club as a rescue if I need it. Archery is a bit tougher, 'cause it forces you to use your weaker eye for aiming.
17 Jan 2018
@ 06:48 pm (GMT)

Warwick Marflitt

Re: Weak hand practice?
Try playing table tennis with your opposite side. Lol it takes about 5 minutes to get the hang of it. Really throws the other players when halfway through a set you change hands. Lol. Or serve off either side..... Try shooting upside down for a test. Shooting fish in the water is another survival skill good to master......
18 Jan 2018
@ 03:37 am (GMT)

mark korte

Re: Weak hand practice?
I'd have probably passed up that shot, but that's just me. Generally if I'm uncertain about the likely outcome I'll try to get a better shot. But if you practice that way and feel comfortable then more power to you.

Warwick - Given what you now know about your feet and fish, don't shoot yourself in the foot!
18 Jan 2018
@ 08:16 am (GMT)

Joshua Mayfield

Re: Weak hand practice?
Hunting on the move is my preferred style, but I hunt at least a few times a year with friends who invite me to their property as a guest. When I hunt as a guest, if the host tells me he's going to put me in a stand, I sit in the stand. One of the first things I do once I'm in the stand is mentally go through scenarios of how I will get off a shot if a deer shows up in a less than optimal place for me. Sometimes I check off a few places as "no-fire" spots. Often, I end up with a scenario or two where I will at least shoulder the rifle left handed, then evaluate. But by the time I've been in the stand for ten minutes I hope to have a plan for every foreseeable scenario. Naturally, game sometimes shows up in places I do not foresee. But part of the plan and mental rehearsal is the act of shouldering and firing the rifle and precisely how I'll move if I'm going to that left hand.

I've not spent time shooting my .30-06 left handed. I have shot .22 rifles and shotguns left handed and I think it's a valuable practice. Particularly in shooting moving targets with a shotgun, the act of thinking through the motions prior to the launch of the target is a revealing process. It highlights gaps in my normal shooting routine that I don't give enough thought.
18 Jan 2018
@ 09:22 am (GMT)

Bryan Webster

Re: Weak hand practice?
years ago I did a lot of shooting both my usual right handedness as well as left hand. To this day I have no issue doing it so long as I take my time for the shot. I did not actually do that for hunting so much as to do better in some freindly competions we had going on. Loads of fun.
18 Jan 2018
@ 04:25 pm (GMT)

Mike Neeson

Re: Weak hand practice?
Thanks for your thoughts gentlemen, I might make it part of my practice schedule from now on. I have taken some time off from shooting over the past 6 months or so and will be getting back into things very soon. I have been distracted with SCUBA diving... something I have found that brings me real joy. I must say, I'm quite hooked!
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