Author Topic: Left Handed success (Read 6274 times)

coonhound · « **on:** September 20, 2011, 09:02:45 PM »

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 · « **Reply #1 on:** September 20, 2011, 09:07:43 PM »

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

runningboard · « **Reply #2 on:** September 20, 2011, 09:25:43 PM »

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

deerslyr · « **Reply #3 on:** September 20, 2011, 09:25:57 PM »

I cant imagine shooting left handed congrats

carpsniperg2 · « **Reply #4 on:** September 20, 2011, 09:28:57 PM »

Congrats

BowBender87 · « **Reply #5 on:** September 20, 2011, 09:30:52 PM »

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

300UltraMagShooter · « **Reply #6 on:** September 20, 2011, 09:36:22 PM »

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 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 20, 2011, 09:41:26 PM »

Thats Awsome!

mossy8352 · « **Reply #8 on:** September 20, 2011, 09:59:02 PM »

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 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 20, 2011, 10:23:13 PM »

That is awsome congrats

kglacken · « **Reply #10 on:** September 20, 2011, 10:37:41 PM »

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

bwhntr2819 · « **Reply #11 on:** September 21, 2011, 05:39:33 PM »

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

coonhound · « **Reply #12 on:** September 21, 2011, 06:12:44 PM »

Quote from: mossy8352 on September 20, 2011, 09:59:02 PM

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 · « **Reply #13 on:** September 21, 2011, 06:15:58 PM »

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 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 21, 2011, 06:25:19 PM »

Nice work any bull is a good bull

bullcanyon · « **Reply #15 on:** September 22, 2011, 08:39:37 AM »

Nice job Jeff!! Time practicing paid off. Curtis said you had gotten one but wasnt sure which one you'd gotten.

Huntbear · « **Reply #16 on:** September 22, 2011, 09:22:02 AM »

Congrats on the hard work to re learn everything.

Nice bull!

blackveltbowhunter · « **Reply #17 on:** September 22, 2011, 10:20:38 AM »

Nice Bull!!! Hard work pays off! Congrats!

250savage · « **Reply #18 on:** September 22, 2011, 12:10:53 PM »

congratulations, that's a nice elk and a true trophy (as any animal harvested with any weapon) but even more so because of all the time and patients it took to learn to shoot left handed, way to go.

jackmaster · « **Reply #19 on:** September 22, 2011, 12:24:23 PM »

ATTA BOY, great bull and way to go. way to stick at it and not let a little difficulty keep ya from huntn, even though if you had there would be one less dead bull...

coonhound · « **Reply #20 on:** September 22, 2011, 06:25:33 PM »

Quote from: bullcanyon on September 22, 2011, 08:39:37 AM

Nice job Jeff!! Time practicing paid off. Curtis said you had gotten one but wasnt sure which one you'd gotten.

I heard you were successful, do you have a story?

bullcanyon · « **Reply #21 on:** September 22, 2011, 08:09:30 PM »

Mine is not near as good as yours:) Hunted our normal spot and there were a few too many guys in there so I went up to another wilderness area and found a lil guy that I ended up calling in 3 times before I had a clear shot at him. I was raking trees, bugling, chuckling, and all that good stuff. He was pretty brave to come into what he thought was there:) Put one right above the heart at 28 yds. He went down the hill just a lil ways and piled up. We ended up being less than 3/4 of a mile from the trailhead. So it was a nice easy pack out. Glad I built that new cooler.

coonhound · « **Reply #22 on:** September 22, 2011, 08:56:15 PM »

Quote from: bullcanyon on September 22, 2011, 08:09:30 PM

Mine is not near as good as yours:) Hunted our normal spot and there were a few too many guys in there so I went up to another wilderness area and found a lil guy that I ended up calling in 3 times before I had a clear shot at him. I was raking trees, bugling, chuckling, and all that good stuff. He was pretty brave to come into what he thought was there:) Put one right above the heart at 28 yds. He went down the hill just a lil ways and piled up. We ended up being less than 3/4 of a mile from the trailhead. So it was a nice easy pack out. Glad I built that new cooler.

Awesome, you're getting pretty consistent at this game...

BOWHUNTER45 · « **Reply #23 on:** September 24, 2011, 10:33:48 PM »

nice bull ...

bearhunter99 · « **Reply #24 on:** September 26, 2011, 09:11:31 AM »

Congratulations, I had thought about switching to left handed after I found out I was left eye dominant but decided it was just easier to close my left eye when I shoot. Way to keep dedicated and make the change!

jollyskwala · « **Reply #25 on:** September 26, 2011, 11:25:42 AM »

Wow. That is a inspirational story. really. Way to stay determined. That is a heck of bull considering what you overcame. Thanks for sharing.

gonehuntin68 · « **Reply #26 on:** September 26, 2011, 11:52:42 AM »

that is an awesome story good job

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Author Topic: Left Handed success (Read 6274 times)

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