How do you carry?

W

Wag

New member
You're hunting, out in the brush or the prairie; how do you carry your rifle? Shoulder strap? Gun case? Other?

Not to mention, your spare ammo and other gear. Backpack?

Mostly just curious. Some rifles are heavier than others and may not be conducive to shoulder strap carry.

Also, do you carry same-side over the shoulder or across your chest.

Protection of the rifle and scope seems like it would be important as well.

--Wag--
 
I carry my rifle muzzle down over my left shoulder (aka jungle carry, very fast to deploy the rifle) or in my hands. I carry tags, knife, spare ammo, 1st aid kit, etc, in a fanny pack (that way I always know where my stuff is, just grab and go).
 
I'm about the same way. I'm not sure what you mean by fanny pack, but I tend to prefer the fanny packs that have the shoulder straps as well. They're kind of a low-slung backpack. That goes with me on all my small game hunts. I need to get another for big game that is made of a quieter material.
 
Everything carried in a 4X4 to base camp. From base camp rifle is hand carried or sling over left sholder (right handed) barrel up chamber empty. Water (canteen), extra ammo, knife, pistol all on belt. Binocs on strap around neck. Energy bars, scents, and book in pockets of jacket. Generally I have a blind setup two or three days before with heater, first aid kit, fuel and cooler waiting off from the base camp. If you can afford it, setup two or three blinds at different locations, hunt one in the morring and another in the afternoon or just before dark.

If you feel you need to snap shoot and have the chamber loaded at all times, you are more likely to shoot another hunter instead of the game you are hunting. Learn to track and read signs otherwise take up an advantage point and wait for your prey to comethrough.
 
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If I'm hunting praire or woods, I carry my rifle with a sling over my shoulder. If I'm transporting my rifle in a vehicle, I carry it in a case.

Spare ammo goes in my pocket and any gear goes in a back pack if needed.
 
In the late 90's I saw my uncle using a Safari Rifle sling and thought it looked like it a good idea so I got one. The only issue I have with it is you can't shed your day pack/pack frame in a timely fashion. I have gotten used to using the butt of the rifle to push the pack strap out of the way though, so it is really no longer an issue. I really like having the gun in front of me at all times and think it helps with always knowing where the muzzle is pointed. To often I have seen someone bend over with a slung rifle only to be able see just how clean the first 1" of their bore is :eek:

Ammo is carried in a case on my belt, usually 18-20 rounds depending on which cartridge is in it.
 
I carry my rifle in my hands, cradled in my arm. Spare ammo is in a buttstock cuff. I carry a small backpack with coffee, geedunk, GPS, camera, other essentials. If I'm walking, the rifle has an empty chamber with ammo in the magazine.
 
If I have a long walk to the stand, my rifle is slung over my right shoulder most of the time. If it is a short walk/stalk it is in my hands. The magazine and the chamber are full with 5-6 rounds in a buttstock cuff. Binos, water, range finder, grunt tube, knife, tags, etc are in a backpack.
 
across the chest muzzle down left side scope up right,fanny pack with all the goodies clips loaded chamber empty.
Big bolt gun over the left shoulder muzzle up,fanny pack range finder knife,rope etc. clip loaded pipe empty. works for me:D
 
Going for point A to point B. If I'm not expecting to see Bambi, it's over my shoulder barrel up. If I'm hoping to see Bambi then it's port arms or muzzle down.
 
carry

The gear is the easy part. I have a bunch of packs and am always foolng around for a better one. A small day pack holds any accessories, and I try not to over do it. My favorite pack right now is made of wool, leather straps and a leather bottom, no kidding. It is absolutely silent and far superior to any synthetic rig as far as noise goes. Not water proof, but I can put stuff I want dry in a ziplock and its pretty muffled.

The rifles go to and from ususally in soft cases. Hard cases are so dang big, you need a Humvee to haul them. Once afoot , carry varies according to circumstances and terrain. All my rifles have sling swivels and wear a sling, but most are detachable and I do that often if still hunting in thick cover. I either cradle carry in the crook of my left elbow, or trail carry in my right hand at the balance point. I sling a rifle only if going to or from a spot darkness, down an open road back to the truck, etc. Too, I deer hunt from climbing stands a good bit, so hand carry is really the only way I can go. +If I'm carrying a stand, , I have a climbing vest that holds accessories and the pack stays in the truck. I might add that most of my woods/climbing deer rifles are all light and short by the standard of the day. Ruger .44, Mini-30, a Savage scout, etc.

I do some hunting from shooting houses or quickie hunts on ROWs not far from the home or truck. I use std size 22" bbl rifles for those hunts, the sling stays on, and I boogie down to the house or vantage point to sit and watch. One accessory I have come to like for the grab and hunt rifles is a butt cuff. I buy the cheap elastic ones, on sale. I can come in from work, grab the rifle, w/ ammo on board and get in a hunt the last 45 minutes of light, and not worry about where the ammo is. Its on the rifle. But I do not put a cuff on any rifle I intend to walk or carry any distance.

I have never hunted praire or praire game. I have a hvy. barrel varmint rig with a fixed 12x that used to kill groundhogs 'till the coyotes came, now it kills coyotes. It wears a padded sling and ususally gets toted that way cause that rifle weighs a ton.
 
How do you carry?
Click to expand...

I don't :)

Pete.JPG
 
Usually I sling my rifle on my right shoulder, unless I'm looking for a critter to interupt my travel to my hide, the I carry it cradling the rifle in my arms with the muzzle in the air opposite my hunting partners! As for gear I carry a Buck 110 in my right front trouser pocket and a cartridge in my left pocket, until I get to my hide, then I load my rifle. Extra goodies I bring goes in one of the kids packs.;) Also Captain Stewart, does your scope every get goofed up when in that scabbard?:)
 
I must say that I've never gone out into the bush with my gun in a case:eek:
for my guns that have slings I normally rotate strong side(right side muzzle up) and weak side(left shoulder muzzle down) throughout the day.
if my gun doesn't have a sling I normally trail carry on level ground or downhill and switch the cradle carry when moving uphill.
 
Thanks for the comments, guys. I asked mostly out of curiosity but partly out of a desire to get out there again which I haven't done since I was a teenager. Back then, we could hunt within walking distance of the house. We were also dirt poor so carrying everything in our hands and pockets worked just fine.

kraigwy, I have that same saddle scabbard that I use for my 94. Now I just need the saddle, the bridle, the reins and the horse and I'm all set. :D

--Wag--
 
I carry my marlin with this for short hikes. http://www.eberlestock.com/H1 Mini-Me.htm. I find that having anything with two shoulder straps is much more comfortable then a sling even though its a very light rifle. I also have a scabbard for my snowmobile. If i am taking my 700 .308 i use a sling because i cant take it out of the back back scabbard easy enough.
 
I wear a fanny pack with shoulder straps with all my stuff for the day in it until I get to my blind. I always have a round chambered, except when climing my ladder to my blind, in case I jump one on the way in. I hunt on a large tract of private land and am not worried about bumping in to another hunter. I carry it on my strong side shoulder until I get in the hunting zone or go into sneak mode for the last 200 yards to my blind. Then I carry it ready with left hand on the forestock and right hand around the grip with finger outside the trigger assembly ready to go. Most of my walk is across a large open farm field so it has been thoroughly glassed before I start hoofing it.
 
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