Left Handed success

[coonhound]

Last year during the 1st week of elk season I was blessed with a rare eye condition that left me partially blind in my right eye.  To say the least I was devastated, however I realized it didn't have to be the end. I borrowed a LH bow from my hunting partner and started shooting, wow, I'm not naturally ambidextrous.  In January I bought a new LH Hoyt and made my mind up that I was going to master using the off hand.

I got to a point where I was shooting almost as good as I did RH but still fought the years of instinct built into me from shooting RH.  My big fear was what was going to happen in the heat of the moment.  I really hoped I could break the ice this year and build my confidence.

My usual hunting grounds were pretty tough this year and I was down to my last day so decided to hunt some of the local elk.  It was a good choice, right at daylight the bulls started screaming, I snuck out onto a dry river bed and spotted a huge 6 point with a couple cows.  I started cow calling and he just moved off into the brush with his cows.  I decided I would try to pressure him, so I snuck up closer, still no reaction. Then I heard a different bull and he was close.  I let out a long estrus moan and in he came.  He stopped at 25 yds and turned broadside.  I drew my bow, settled the pin and put it right where I wanted it, he ran 20 yards, stopped and fell over without even leaving the river bed.  The 1st picture is actually the exit hole, I had to hold tight in the shoulder because he was quartering toward me slightly.  He's not a big bull by any means but I'm thrilled and happy to break the ice.

Coon

[257 Wby Mag]

Nice work. Kinda funny, today a guy at work told me you killed one. Hellava feat mastering left handed archery. Congrats

[runningboard]

congrats on what I would venture a guess will be a nice eating bull. 

[deerslyr]

I cant imagine shooting left handed congrats

[carpsniperg2]

Congrats

[BowBender87]

nice job makin the switch.  Couldnt have been easy.  Congrats!

[300UltraMagShooter]

the hardest part is getting use to putting the arrow on the string....  the years of muscle memory makes you want to use the wrong hand...

congrats on nice critter

[Michelle_Nelson]

Thats Awsome!

[mossy8352]

Makes me feel better I woke up during spring turkey season with no vision in my right eye (I don't bow hunt) so I am learning to shoot with my left eye but holding the shotgun right handed. Adapting has been trying but doable. I can not imagine shooting a bow now left handed kudos to you!!! Mike

[Instinct]

That is awsome congrats

[kglacken]

That is an awesome story! congrats and nothing wrong with a bull like that for sure!

[bwhntr2819]

Great job.  Welcome to the club - being a lefty is where it's at!

[coonhound]

Makes me feel better I woke up during spring turkey season with no vision in my right eye (I don't bow hunt) so I am learning to shoot with my left eye but holding the shotgun right handed. Adapting has been trying but doable. I can not imagine shooting a bow now left handed kudos to you!!! Mike

To be honest the gun is a bigger challenge than the bow for me.  I think the firm mechanics of the bow make it easier to lock in than the gun.  Or maybe it's because I only have 10 years with a RH bow and 40 years with a RH gun.  Either way the gun has been much more challenging for me.  I'm sure you'll master it, you can't let something like that get in the way of what you love.

Coon

[archery288]

Nice job Jeff!! Congrats!! And way to step over to the world of left handed people like my ol'man, John, Jennifer, and myself! 

[Dirty Mike]

Nice work any bull is a good bull