Big Game Hunting

Positioning your rifle scabbard on your hunting horse

What location do you prefer to position your rifle scabbard on your horse? I always place my chap leather lined scabbards on the near side butt forward, scope up at a moderately steep angle. This allows me to dismount, hold the horse with one hand, and withdraw the rifle with the other. The rifle is not bouncing on the scope when in the scabbard plus the high butt end means the barrel end is low under my leg and in front of the horse's rear leg. This keeps my left leg from feeling the gun and prevents sores on the horse's left rear due to constantly rubbing the scabbard with each step. At a glance I can always see the rifle so it will not get lost. I do have to be careful in timber making sure a small tree does not wedge between the rifle stock and the horse. I don't have to tie up the horse and run around one end of the animal or the other to get to the weapon thus avoiding making him maybe set back on the lead rope or possibly kick me. On the other hand this position causes the rifle to be in the way when you want to pull the cinch tighter. I have seen rifles fall out of scabbards when mounted on the off side butt to the rear. Not pretty especially if the next horse in line happens to step on it although most will avoid objects in the trail.