Here's the skinny. I have a bit of a bum leg on the left, broken at the age of 55, now 58. It has no stamina for long or rough walking. I always thought of myself as reduced to tree stands or blinds. Lately I have been target shooting with the range set up close to my horses for desensitising purposes. Occurs to me that since the handle centerfire blasts so well, I may be able to hunt horseback. I am told that deer, (we have a rifle season here now) are not spooked by riders at medium distance, as the only consider the horse. Indeed, riding with my daughter we have gotten very close to wild animals on the trail. Anybody have any experience trying to shoot offhand on a horse? And how hard is it to get a horse to that point? Right now, I can fire a .270 and it won't bring a head up out of the feeder anymore. I doubt I would get time to dismount to brace a shot. Any thoughts?

Why risk another broken leg? Let the horse take you close to where you want to hunt, then take a stand, or a slow stalk. Are you talking about Iowa? An ATV might be a better option to get you to where you want to hunt.

Wouldn't go there if I were you. A feller could get his ass bucked off and then you would have 2 bum legs It is hard on the horses hearing as well. I have hunted off of horses and mules for many years and like to tie up to a tree and move away at least 40 yard prior to any shooting. Or you can have your partner hold the horses while you do the shooting. I once had a partner that decided to help me shoot instead of holding our mounts and the horses ran away. Long walk back to camp. I have a new partner now. Another option is to dismount and sit on the ground. Have your partner ride away leading your horse. The deer watch the departing rider and when they are sufficiently far away, you can shoot your deer. It doesn't always work but I have been successful with this in the past. Good luck with your hunting.

ATVs are wonderful toys/tools. Just not my cup of tea. I ride for pleasure, and find myself pleased with suggestions that I ride to the hunting area. I'm trying to still be somewhat physical, not dependent upon machinery.

I enjoy riding very much and agree that it seems better than an ATV for your needs. However I would agree that shooting from the back of the horse is not the best thing to do. Some horses get to where they tolerate it fine but it is not steady enough. You should be able to step off and walk at least a few yards before shooting and will have better accuracy.

I have hunted all my life horseback, hunt util you see a deer, step off and shoot..teach him to ground tie and be sure he is up to the noise..All this can be taught.

Hello Guys

Longer ago than I care to think about I hunted extensively with my horse(s). Its a good way to walk up on game, just don't shoe with metal shoes.

Most (not all) horses can be trained pretty good to handle rifle fire, but shooting from their back with any certainty is for the movies. I used to start my horses with a .22, then something with a nice long barrel to minimise muzzle blast. Their ears are very sensitive and directional, I shifted cattle in very heavy cover quite a bit using a shotgun to scare em out and it was easy to hurt a horses ears.

You have to watch them a bit because they will very soon learn that the click of the action closing is followed by the bang and then they'll start to flinch. I got quite a few deer by riding up on them, dismounting and firing from reins end. I also missed a couple when the dammed horse gave a jerk as I snicked the bolt down.

Cheers - Foster

One thing hasn't been mentioned. SOme states don't allow hunting using horses. Ky says " A person shall NOT pursue, chase or take a deer, elk, bear, or turkey during the spring turkey season, with the aid of dogs; while on horseback..." In other words get off before you shoot.

We have idiots that ride horses around the woods during the KY deer season insisting they don't need to wear orange. THey figure it's the hunter's responsibility to not shoot them. I, being disabled and in constant pain, ask them if they thought of what if they meet up with someone that shoots at movement and they wind up like me. Every year I offer them orange outfits and get chewed out for thinking like an old woman.

Iowa is much more open than the area of Kentucky I hunt in so it isn't nearly the big deal I make it out to be ("thinking like an old woman"). But there are idiots all over.

I had a horse when I was a kid that I hunted off constantly. I shot squirrels with a shotgun. For some reason the squirrels couldn't connect me on a horse being a danger. I'd ride right up to them. We'd get my dad or brother to chase pigeons out of the silo and blast them with the shotgun and then ride around and around the barn trying to get a shot as the pigeons circled. Shot lots of blackbirds, too. And pheasants. The lab would flush them out of the swamp and I'd shoot them. In the summer we'd lead the horses in a crisscross pattern right up to grazing deer and shoot near them with slingshots and watch them jump when the rocks would land really close.

I never shot more than a 20 gauge or 22 rifle and NEVER shot near his head. When I'd rest a rifle across his back he'd stand as still as if he'd been stuffed. When he'd see the gun held in my hands he knew I'd be shooting.

I trained him by constant gunfire, daily, fired all around the yard. He and the SHetland figured out pretty quick gunfire was normal. The next step was firing the rifle nearer and nearer to them until I'd stand next to them and blast away always letting them sniff the smoky barrel. Then got on with the rifle and threw fire crackers around. Finally shooting off his back.

Keep in mind I was a little kid wanting to be a character in a Louis Lamour book. I was made out of rubber so when I got knocked off, or fell off, I'd laugh and get back on. The problem is horses can shy at the goofiest stuff dismounting the rider at the most inopportune moments. Keep that in mind if you intend to shoot off your horse.

TED

Dad used to die a little death every time I got on the horses (he told me that 20 years later). He especially didn't like the stunts we were always pulling. ONe of the best was riding off the side of running horses like indians did when the nasty cowboys shot at them. Another was hanging off the main of a running horse bouncing off our feet on the ground over the top landing on the other side bouncing off the ground and over the top again. One day he looked out and a neighbor kid flashed by the barn door standing on the back of his cantering horse. We never used saddles either.

Never hunt on a unshod horse, you will probably walk home if you do. A very few horses can be hunted off of barefooted especially in the Pacific NW or Southwestern desert. I understand shod horses make some noise, but I have riden right up on big bucks and does without seeing any signs of fear many many times. They are used to horses where I hunt.

I have owned horses that you could shoot off of but you can't hit anything, 1200 pounds of pulsing blood, and muscle with 2.5 foot of lung area is not a benchrest and then add your nervous system to that and its a waste of time, and you could get your butt stuck in the dirt also.....

I carry a 21 foot old calf rope with a trap drag or just a 3 foot loop tied off over my saddle horn or on my rope tie. If I see a good mulie I just toss it, grab my rifle and step off, run a little out in front of the horse, find a rest or squat and shoot. He may run off a little ways but the rope loop or drag will hang up in the Sagebrush or cactus, whatever...My horses usually just wonder off about 20 yards and go to grazing...A good horse will stay ground tied with the reins on the ground, but the rope is good insurance for you not to take a long hike home or back to camp.

If you have time then tie him.