One eye or two

[sjohnnie26]

I was pheasant hunting this weekend and one of the guys there gave me some pointers about shotgun shooting.  First I always have shot birds with one eye closed and used the bead but after missing a few too many the first day this guy told me to try shooting with both eyes open.  To that I said "I can't see the bead then".  He explained that if you are using both eyes to focus on the target your hands and the gun will follow.  And you dont need a bead, in fact he takes his off of is gun.
Much like catching a baseball that is thrown at you, you don't think about where to put your glove, it goes to where the ball is because your eyes tell it to.

Anyways I tried it and had some success and I'm wondering how many of you use this method and if it's worth trying to master this "new" technique or stick with my old ways?

[Joe]

He may be onto something, but I'd have to try it at the trap range to see if it works. I have always heard that it is better to have both eyes open while shooting, but eye dominance also plays a role. I shoot right handed and am left eye dominant.

[beeker]

I shoot with both eyes open. the best way to master this is going to the trap range and just sit at the middle station and start drilling targets until it's an instictive movement for you. once you get used to it you won't relalize your doing it.

[Spinach]

I shoot with both eyes open. the best way to master this is going to the trap range and just sit at the middle station and start drilling targets until it's an instictive movement for you. once you get used to it you won't relalize your doing it.

Exactly, after a while you won't even have to think about it.

[thunderpout]

Yep, ya shouldnt aim a shotgun unless yer slug hunting... a good reason is if your aiming at a flying target, youll always be shooting behind it,(unless it was comming straight at you or away...) there's all kinds of different techniques for wingshooting, but basically, you shouldnt be looking at the barrel at all.  Your eyes are always on the target... your swing catches up to meet the target... you move the barrel through that target, to a certain degree,depending on the speed and angle of it, then pull the trigger with out stopping the swing(following through).  Th e whole eye dominance thing is another can of worms... I have friends that have to deal with those issues... Im just glad that I dont!  SJonnie, definatly try to learn with both eyes... youll become a much better wingshooter in the long run... like beeker said, it needs to become instinctive, and after practicing with both eyes open, and looking at the target and beyond that, where you want to place the shot it will all come together for you.

[Bobby Bass]

 Lot easier to see when you miss to! then you can see where that bird heads to for the seconds go around.. Been there done that a few times.. I to shoot with both eyes open   

[Cody Gruchow]

tryed teaching me that for sporting clays but i cant help it, i do shoot with one eye closed(left) but i swing and follow through most of the time, most of the miss's come because i dont follow through

[sjohnnie26]

I guess I'll be heading to the trap range.  thanks for the input fellas

[lenny7]

Both eyes open, looking at the target.  Two years ago I tried putting on one of those Hi-Viz shotgun sights and that's when I realized I never even look at the bead or the sight.  The only reason I leave it on is so I can tell the difference between my gun (green sight) and my brothers (orange sight).

Prior to going out practice your mount at home and swing at the line where the ceiling meets the wall.  If this is new to you, or if you're trying to correct a bad habit, do this slowly and deliberately, making sure initially that when your shotgun is mounted, you have a perfect sight picture down the barrel to ensure that what you're looking at, you'll hit.

As you do this more and more, increase the speed as much as you can and still do it perfectly.  When you're speed is up to where you want it, and your mount and swing are still smooth, have someone stand behind you and say "Rooster!" at random times and you mount and swing as before.

This will all build muscle memory which, I think, is key to a good, solid mount.  When a rooster jumps up you don't have time to think about the mount, it must be instinctive.  I finally worked on this before this season and I'm doing the best shooting of my life this year.