I've never been to Europe much less hunted there, but from pictures I've seen those guys use their slings to shoulder their guns with the barrels pointing down at each other's feet instead of safely pointed up in the air. I've tried it and it just doesn't feel right to me and people look at me as if I were nuts...Geo
p.s.: Ok, I'll admit that may not be the only reason they're looking at me that way.
George, in our country when a shooter is using a sling and the barrel is pointing up I politely ask him to point it down. I don't like to be following him in the brush and have the muzzle swinging past my face every few steps! Besides, if a quick shot is needed its much faster to mount a gun that is pointed down than up, IMO.