What is the RIGHT way to carry a rifle.....

[2rocky]

Here is a topic that I've been avoiding....but it is sure to come up.


How do you carry your rifle on horse or mule back and why is it the right way?

let the fire works begin....I'll hold off until later...

[saddlesore]

Butt rearward on the near side fr me, with butt under saddle bag to protect it from dings and keepo the weather out.

If you carry butt forward, it makes steering difficult should a bad situation arise and if your horse/mule decides to get to oclose to a tree, there is more lilelyhood that the scabbard goes on one side and the horse on the other, which is not condusive to stock survival

This past year, I broke my own rule because the muzzle end of the scababrd was rubbing a raw place on my mule's front shoulder during muzzle loader season.

I had turned it around and one morning in the dark, I had just got off and didn't even have time to pull the rifle when for some reason the mule lurched forward and an aspen tree about 6" in diameter went between the mule and scabbbard . End result was a cracked stock at the wrist. I had spent the winter before carving that stock froma good blank of wlanut

Some guys say that it is faster to get the rifle out if it is butt forward. It might be, but I have seen a lot of horses spook when guys bale off and then yank the rifle out past the horses head.

A lot of guys also say you have e to carry the rifle with scope up, or it will go off zero.

I have carried everything from $18 Bushnells to $400 Leupolds and never had any problems, andI have a few years under in my belt doing it. Remember when Bushnell scopes sold for $18 and they did not have self centering reticles in the 60's, or Weaver V-7's sold for $45. I still have one of them with no bluing on it form scabbard wear.

Mostly it is matter of preference though. Probably not right or wrong way. Just my experience from 40+ years in the saddle of my preference. YMMV

[Arrowslinger]

Guys, to expand on this, what's the right way to pack a bow on a horse/mule? This fall i'll have a 6+ hour ride in and in the past, i've used a Primos Bow Sling across my shoulders. By the end of the ride, my back is bruised and my bow's camo is rubbed off in places. I'm very hesitant to use a hard case as i've seen some pack critters get western on the trail.

What do you guys think?

[huntsman22]

'slinger, Things can get 'western' in a hurry with your saddle hoss, too. It's not a condition that is limited to pack stock....... If , say, you were to ride my steed, rigged up like in your pic, you'd come home busted up (or dead). Why, with the hiking boots jammed to the heel in the stirrups and the quiver maybe goosin' him in the azz, while looking away(not paying attention), he would almost surely buck your butt off. The bucking off deal ain't so bad, in and of, it's ownself. But when you get hung up in a stirrup and your boot don't fall off, AND he gets a hind foot entangled in that contraption of pulleys and strings, and goes to kicking, too....... You see where I am going with this, dontcha?.



Strap the damn thing to a packhorse. It is only gear............Don

[Arrowslinger]

Don...after needing to get off that horse in a hurry, i learned a quick lesson on why it's better to ride in western boots. That was the first and last time i rode in those Meindls.....i was bruised for weeks and lucky it wasn't worse.

But you're right, i'll put the bow in a case come this september. Thanks for your input.

[saddlesore]

Arrowslinger and Don. I give the same advice to guys who sling a rifle over thier back while riding. Don't do it. A good outfitter can pack a hard case bow with out damage if they are worth thier salt. This is something I would discuss with the outfitter prior to booking the hunt.If it were me doing the packing I would insure the client that I would get his gear to camp undamaged, or pay for it .

As for the boots and stirrups, there is a better answer for the problem than wearing western boots or having larger stirrups or just stickng your toes in. It' s expensive, and no outfiter will provide them, but there are good break away stirrups on the market. Go to Google and search for STI. They are in Montana.

NO one who has ever not been hung up will advise them and some guys wil tell you to just suck it up or you are paranoid for using them. However,if you have ever been hanging upside down on a horse or mle with just your shoulder touching the ground, and the animals back feet are 6" away from your head, you will reconsidered. Heck, just watch thier video and it will convince you

I have done a lot of riding in rough country by myself and now I would not be without them. I don't wear a helmet , but I use breakaway stirrups. With my worst hang up, I would be dead by now, if my hunting partner had not been with me to lift me up.

I really reccomend them for novice riders

[huntsman22]

Kirk, There is nothing the matter with riding in hiking boots. As long as oversized or breakaway stirrups are used. AND your foot ain't too far in....
Get your own, as most outfitters get by with standard or cheap stuff.

The whole thing is, you wanna be safe. Hedge THAT, every chance YOU get. Some bad stuff can be prevented with a bit of common sense.

As to hunting with a bow, if you are going in and coming out in daylight, and the country is purty open, just carry it in front of you. Most fellers hunt with compounds that are short and easy to just let ride in front of you. You can guide it thru the brush, and bail off quicklike. But, if you ride in or out, in the dark, I would recommend letting a packhorse carry it, as sharp, pointy things, and stuff you can get tangled in, tend to make me nervous if a wreck starts. When I guided, my outfitter had a couple of wooden bow boxes, that affixed to a packsaddle with a quickrelease lash/sling deallie. Maybe not as fast as carrying it with you, but much safer/better. Some of the more modern plastic hardcases would be real adaptable to pack. Some guys don't have an extry horse to drag around, and you have to carry it on your saddle hoss anyway, so get that straight up front. Another option is a 'boot'. Kinda like the thing that carries the flagpole during the Grand Entry at the rodeo. A leather fitting that attaches to the stirrup, to carry the bottom of the bow. You still need one hand to handle the top. I sure don't think these methods are the best for most hunters, as most need both hands just to ride. You can also have the guide /packer 'pony' (lead) your horse. This allows you to focus on your gear more. Just keep your own reins in case of wrecks. Good luck on the hunt this fall. There's enuff good memories coming up, that you don't have to have some bad ones throwed in. Be safe, fella.


As to the original title of the post, I carry butt forward offside. Yeah, it maybe harder to stear/get out, sometimes, but I can guide the stock if needed, AND I can see the gun. After a hunting pard lost a rifle when rigged near/butt rearward and never felt it leave, I'll stick with what works for me......Don

[saddlesore]

I lke near side because I am usually dragging pack stock and want the off side clear of the lead rope, and I want the horn area clear in case I have to undo or take up more lead rope in the dally quickly.
A quick tie of the rifle butt with a saddle string wil keep a rifle from slipping out of the scababrd if one is carrying butt rearward. Most of the time the rifle wil slip out if the scabbard is not placed properly.

Not trying to change anyone's mind,but if it is bad and happened on a horse , it has probably happened to me at one time or another.

A lot of things have to be considered differently if one is leading a pack stirng

[WW]

Here is the best way I have found to carry a bow on a horse:

Take an old soft bowcase and cut it off just below the fletchings on your arrows. Put a rope on it and let it dangle off the saddle horn right in front of you. When riding through the brush it is easy to reach down and guide your bow so it won't get hung up.

[2rocky]

Good to see some discussion on this topic.

Seems like all the scoped rifle scabbards are made to be slung butt forward on the Left side or butt to the rear on the right side. (assuming that you want the scope to be on top). I've packed my scabbard both these ways, and have to say the least draw backs have been butt rearward for me. There is less bulk under my knee, and my horses neck is not interfered with. Also with the flap over the back side of the scope any snow is kept out of the scabbard. .

I always remove my shoulder sling so that it doesn't snag on brush and pull my rifle out.


AS I,ve packed my bow in a bow sling that way but held it on my right side. the strap wa over my left shoulder but under my right arm. it really is the best way I've found for packing my bow when we ride out of camp looking for critters. .

I have avoided the bow scabbard on sadle horses because i am worried my horse will hit the tree that I got my knee just by, withhis hip and the bow. At least in the bow sling I can manuever it.

[huntem]

This is a really good topic, I've learned a lot..thank you.

[steelyeyes]

Rifle-near side muzzle forward scope up. That way I can dismount and get my rifle out right away and there isn't anyting to snag a lead rope on.

Bow-Pretty much the same thing. I have a scabbard made for my bow. It's pretty stout and made of leather. That's for the times I'm going somewhere to hunt on horseback. If I'm packing into a hunting camp I pack it in my top pack.