Rifles and shotguns can be a real pain when you're toting them around. A sling can help you carry and control your gun, and can also help you shoot it more accurately. Some folks call them straps, but they're always slings to me... and I very rarely head into the woods with a hunting rifle that isn't wearing one.
Read About Using a Rifle Sling
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I have been using slings to carry guns since my 2 tours in Vietnam in the Army infantry in the mid ’60’s and ever since then deer, turkey and squirrel hunting.
About 5+ years ago some guy was on TV selling rubber slings and gave quiet a good demo. It is one of the few items I have ever bought off a TV infommercial and it’s my favoritenow. Plain black and 100% rubber. Sticks to your shoulder like glue! I can carry it in a variety of positions as you mentioned in your article and often do so when I want total use of both hands and no rifle issues like climbing hand over hand up a mountain elk hunting in Colorado. However, most of the time when deer hunting in Georgia, I carry it as I did my M-16 in Vietnam (due to constant rain), barrel down and butt up over my right shoulder, thumb in my right pocket and 4 ringers around the barrel for complete stability. I don’t care to carry it in a more ready position on the way to my deer stands since I am not “hunting” yet and won’t shoot at a deer if it ran out in front of me or standing on a trail as I round the corner.
Also, this sling and technique puts the butt below head highth, no barrel to hit limbs I walk under which is helpful since I am 6′3″. So plain jane black rubber slings ends my
search for perfection. Just no fancy leather or engraved bucks.