shooting with both eyes open

[huntncoach]

Read a thread a while back about this and tried it today. I am not going to say that I shot a lot better - maybe I will as I get more comfortable with it - but I can say that at least I can see the flight path of my arrow. That seems to be helpful in allowing me to see where I hit a deer when I get a shot.

 

[infoman jr.]

It's definitely the way to go for all shooting. You just have to trust your dominant eye and practice that way.

 

[tree_ghost]

It takes practice to learn to be ok with the lack of focus in the sight picture especially if your used to aiming with one eye like me.

IMO There are a couple of advantages that I've found so far using both eyes.

1. Your expand your range of vision by having the other eye open which could allow you to see something that you would have otherwise missed.

2. Which I think is the biggest advantage for me, is when I have both eyes opened to aim, the sight picture through the peep and scope housing aren't nearly as crisp in focus as when I use one eye. Don't get me wrong I can see the pin clearly, and the target clearly, just not the peep and scope housing. It might sound counterintuitive but is not, at least for me it isn't because it allows me to relax and let the fin float on target. Which in turn gives me the ability to work through my release and increases my accuracy. instead of having laser like focus on my peep and scope alignment I'm focusing on my firing engine.

I'm still no expert but I'm really trying to become more natural with both eyes open.


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[Jcalder]

I shoot a rifle a lot with both eyes open. I'm sure I've shot my bow the same way but definitely need to practice more with it


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[fairchaser]

I can't imagine shooting any other way. When I have to shoot on my non dominant side, I have to squint and it seems so awkward. Another huge advantage is the ease at acquiring an image in the scope like a small piece of deer. As you are looking at the object, you simply move the scope up in front of your eye and you never take your eye off the target. It takes a little practice but you can see through the scope with one eye and the object you are sighting in the other. Try it.

 

[Mike Belt]

I used to shoot with only my dominant eye open. What was happening for me was that I was missing seeing possible other deer approaching just out of the sight window, I wasn't able to follow the flight path of an arrow quite as crisply, and most of all I was missing some of a deer's reaction to the hit. I finally tried shooting with both eyes open and I'd never go back to my former style of shooting. It works better for me no matter what weapon I'm hunting with.

 

[Hunter 257W]

I've always kept both eyes open. I guess it's because I used to shoot shotguns so much when I 1st started. It's unnatural for me to squint one eye the way many shooters do especially when shooting with a scope.

 

[poorhunter]

I've always shot with dominant eye open only. Tried a few times with both open, and liked it, but just need to practice more. I think it would be the better way to go.

 

[WTM]

something to think about. some shooters are cross eye dominant and probably dont even realize it. 1/3 of the population are cross eye dominant. i guess im one of those confused shooters, lol. with scoped rifles i can shoot either handed with both eyes open. with a bow i have to close the left eye as i dont know if i can shoot left handed. with a pistol i find myself lining the sight with my left eye.