As above wheaton,try it,i was shown it by an old timer whose handled prob going on thousands that way n never been bit,obviously put your foot on it before you go for a hold but once you've got it you can hold it that way no probs,i only scruff em if i wanted to put it in a bag or box which as you know you cant do anymore.Think about it why would you want hold of the end that your gona shoot? Plus topper obviously had nothing with him to knock it with so if you hold that way you can knock it on a tree etc,you cant do that if you've got hold of its head.Im not saying i always handle em that way