I never gave it much thought in the past but moving to Georgia and using tree stands has changed things. Last Saturday, while sitting in a tree stand, I wondered how I would shoot a deer on my right. I had the left and the front covered. The back wasn't much of a possibility, but a deer on the right would be difficult.

Have any of you practiced shooting from your off shoulder?

I don't think I've done it on deer but I switch shoulders somewhat often when varmint shooting.

I have to be real deliberate and mechanical when I shoot left handed, but it works ok.

Tom

Yes I had shoulder surgery a few years ago and had practice shooting from the opposite side I shot really well. I think it was cause I had to really concentrate on tour shot.

Only dry fire practice.

Have shot a couple of deer left handed.

Got one last year left handed. It's suprising how good your trigger control is with your off hand... The first good deer I saw that morning saw me turning to try to shoot him right handed. Next one didn't get that much time. I've never practiced off handed before, it's just come up a couple times. Got a couple woodchucks and crows left handed too.

I do practice that way a bit. I have shot two deer left handed.

Shot a doe left handed this year beyond correct alignment to anchor the rifle in my shoulder. I had the but plate in my left elbow basically and could just get a finger tip on the trigger lol.

It was very ugly, sight picture in the scope was hard to obtain, and I knew I was gonna catch some scope in my face when I touched it off.

It was the ugliest shot I've ever attempted, into tag alder brush on top of it all. Not proud of it but it worked.

It was the only shot opportunity on a deer for my whole camp this year. So it's a good thing I took it.

I've killed at least a half-dozen deer from the wrong shoulder and two turkey. Snapped a cap on a doe just 2 weeks ago off the wrong shoulder.

I never shoot left handed, unless I need to kill something that way.

I am left handed, growing up my dad did not want me to shoot left handed so he taught me how to shoot right handed it did not last I shoot left haned now but every now and then I shoot a deer right handed and I am glad I can

Pretty much each time I go to the range I take my 77/22 and I shoot offhand @ 50 yds at some orange target dots. I take turns shooting lefty for a clip then righty for a clip. Then I go shoot a group with my big gun and or a couple of groups and then go back to the .22 for the same drill.

I totally enjoy shooting the .22, 90% of the time I go offhand, occaisionally off sticks or sitting. Helps me to do this kind of work plus it's a ton load cheaper.

Dober

i have done it once or twice

bout 18 yrs ago i got a retinopothy in my rt eye. i am rt handed and rt eyed. had to learn to shoot left handed w/ rifle and shotgun. handgun still use my rt hand but aim w/ left eye. actually wasn't that hard to transition, just tell everyone that it got too easy to hit targets and game with my rt eye so for challange i went to my left. just extra effort to work rt handed bolt gun

In a pinch I will go to the off side, but it most definitely is not a hurry up deal.

I've never tried it. Seems like it would be hard to look through the scope with my left eye. I'll try shooting some targets this weekend wrong handed.

i have killed about a dozen deer righthanded in my life. i am a lefty but i always practice shooting righthanded . i think this comes alittle easier for us lefties because there are some things in life that are just set up for righthanded people so we must learn to do more with our right hands.

i shot a buck last season right handed with my crossbow for the first time.

As luck would have it, I'm right handed but definitely left eye dominant.

I've been wondering about this very thing. I've never tried it but wish I had. It might have been a valuable skill this past Monday. I had a buck come up from behind on my right side. I was tucked into a hardwood blow-down and couldn't see him coming. A left hand shot might have worked, but I'm not sure.

Just stand up in you tree stand and twist around, problem solved!
It is, after all, called a tree STAND!

Just kidding.

The first coyote I called ran in on my right side and there I was, sitting against a tree and unable to do anything. He stopped and we just stared at one another for a few seconds until he decided he didn't like the looks of things. I rolled up on one knee and took a running shot but no dice. Beautiful solid black dog too, the only black one I've ever called up.

I should practice some left hand shots. I've thought about it but never seem to remember when at the range.

It ain't nothing, if you can shoot, you can shoot. I'm not going to do any quick wing shooting wrong handed, otherwise it's nothing magical to switch hands and kill a critter.

Oh yeah, I've tried to shoot skeet and trap left handed, it's pretty ugly...

That is precisely what I did saturday morn to get my 10 pt, not twist-just turned facing the tree.

Didn't think about it with my first response but seriously, I shot a small buck back in early October ML season. He was over my right shoulder. I was sitting and slowly stood up, turned around facing the tree and shot him right handed. Never even occured to me to shoot left handed.

I've done it at close ranges, I feel like I concentrate more when shooting left handed. That said, never tried a longer shot left handed.

I got the same deal.

So, do you need to shoot with one eye closed to deal with that?

Much easier than shooting out the opposite side window of a truck.

THAT takes practice.


Travis

I've shot two deer left handed. Both were quick decisions and around 100 yards. I was surprised out how instinctive it was. I don't practice left handed but I wouldn't hesitate to do it again.

I've killed a few deer and missed one as a lefty.
Not much too it, but the shots were maybe 60 yards max.

The only time I've scoped myself was shooting lefty. And to add insult to injury, IIRC, it was the miss referenced above.

Yep.

It's not too bad if it's light out.

I'm left eye dominate, ambidextrous, write left, use handguns etc. either hand.

I usually shot right with bolt guns as it used to be a hassle to find what I wanted in left hand. Pumps or leverguns was no big deal, however I grabbed it.

After my perforated retina in my left eye I have shot right except for game to the right. Which is a PITA since the repair to my retina is in the main focus spot.

Right handed, eyes fight over which is dominant. Have shot several deer and turkeys left handed. Have to close one eye when I shoot.

I'm right handed with eyes that fight over dominance as well. Shooting a rifle right handed I shoot with both eyes open. Shooting a rifle left handed I do end up having to close my right eye. I have never taken an animal shooting left handed, but I don't think it would be a problem.

Pistol shooting is a different ball game. I have to pick an eye to use and concentrate on it the whole time otherwise I end up having to change sight picture over and over again.