Re-learning to shoot

[dilleytech]

Hey, no pro here. I actually had a similar problem several years back. I learned to shoot a rifle, 60+ years ago with my left eye closed. Other than a little trap shooting while in the Air Force 40 years ago and some duck and goose hunting over the next several years, I've used shotguns very little compared to rifles in my life. No matter what I do, as soon as a gun starts to my shoulder, my left eye closes. Quite a few years ago I started Chukar and Grouse hunting over dogs. As my bird dogs learned their craft, their expectations in my abilities with a shotgun grew. As the birds flew off leaving the dogs looking at me and me looking at my shotgun. Finally I had no choice but to start looking for help. I read books, watched instructional videos and then a close friend, who's spent hours on hours behind the butt of a shotgun said, listen, forget everything you've been told and read. The next time a bird gets up, start following it, swinging the barrel from behind the bird to the front. When the bead passes the beak, squeeze the trigger as you keep swinging. I said, how am I going to see the beak. He said that's the point. As you're focusing on the picture above barrel and looking for the beak, you don't think about whether your eyes are open or closed. You're looking past the bead and for the beak. As silly as that all sounds, I haven't missed a Blue Grouse since I started using his theory. One of these days I'll actually find a Chukar to shoot at. Like I said, not a pro, just a for what it's worth and it has worked for me.

That’s a great technique. I primarily waterfowl hunt. Ducks and geese fly in straight lines in any given direction. If flying over head I pull through just like you describe. If flying side to side I come up from below the bird and swing up infront of them to the necessary lead based on distance and punch the trigger. Shotgunning isn’t hard it’s mostly just learning how far to lead birds at given distances and executing the shot at the correct time.

I’ll look for the target with two eyes but focus with one. No idea what eye is dominant.

[hunter399]

To this day ,I can't shoot with both eyes open.
Rifle,shotgun, whatever.
But I can shoot with my one eye.
It's definitely a handicap, I think I could learn to do it.
With both eyes open,left eye tends to take over.

[JWBINX]

Hunter,
If you started shooting a lot of Trap, Skeet, or Sporting Clays you would learn to use both eyes.
It's like an acquired taste, It just happens or your scores will not improve.
Have a Merry Christmas everyone.

 

[metlhead]

Love to hunt these ducks that fly in these straight lines. Man that would save on ammo.

[dilleytech]

Love to hunt these ducks that fly in these straight lines. Man that would save on ammo.

lol they don’t fly in loops or zig zigs. Draw a line from the tail to beak. The bird is headed in that strait line. Watch a duck flying some time. They don’t zig zag. They are very predictable.

[hdshot]

When shooting a shotgun both eyes are to remain open.
It's not the same as rifle shooting.

Once you get the sight picture on the shotgun with both eyes open, you then won’t even think about closing an eye for rifle, pistol, and even with the bow.  Keeping your depth perception helps with no eye strain.

[fishngamereaper]

It's just practice and muscle memory
I'm cross eyed dominate to but in my old life shot enough that eventually both eye's where open no matter what I was shooting
I've also taught allot of people to shoot
The easy way to practice is dry fire .. just walk around your property or your house with your shotgun and acquire targets. Eventually your brain will overcome your handicap 

[str8meat]

Same boat, shoot rifles left handed close right eye, shoot bow right handed close left eye. Solved my problem. Bought left handed rifles and learned to shoot them using the left hand to work the bolt. Just takes practice. I actually got powder burns on my face from a right handed shot gun misfire , which lead to the switch. Started with a browning bps, bottom eject. Do what’s comfortable for you.

[Henrydog]

I used to shoot competitive trap.  I was pretty good.  AA singles and a 27yard Handicap shooter.  I shoot a shotgun with only 1 eye.  I have tried many, many times to shot with both eyes open.  I cannot do it, as in I am not even in the right zip code.  If that is the case with you, it might be easier (ii use that term lightly) to switch to your dominate side.

[SuperX]

Not sure what size bead you have but I noticed I shot better with one of those longer fiberoptic beads.  The bead was larger than stock and bright so I was always focused on it and my left eye never tried to cross over...  maybe worth trying

[metlhead]

I second those Hi-Viz fibre optic beads. Really focus your shooting eye

[The Gobble-stopper]

Love to hunt these ducks that fly in these straight lines. Man that would save on ammo.

lol they don’t fly in loops or zig zigs. Draw a line from the tail to beak. The bird is headed in that strait line. Watch a duck flying some time. They don’t zig zag. They are very predictable.

Unless you are hunting green wing teal. They do more then zig zag and loop and instantly turn that into a dive or sky rocket straight up. Far from a straight line! And last time I checked, they were still considered a duck. Other ducks do the same. Yea, rarely do I find a duck that flies straight.