I'm firmly in the "lots to learn" phase of wing shooting, but I genuinely feel that #2 is the best piece of advice that can be given. Remembering that little rule has radically changed wing shooting for me.

I also think a great piece of advice for the field is to remember that things happen fast - but it's not THAT fast and you can, in fact, take your time.

yrs-
Evan!

I hung out for a few years at the Peterson AFB gun club and the US olympic trainer would hang out there as well, between him and a few other champion shooters, gun mounting consistency was the catalyst that got my game into shape. Also, positioning your body to where you are going to take the shot helps, but that works best of you know how the birds are going to fly.

I have been shooting skeet every Wednesday evening for the past couple months. The range master and other shooters are more than willing to offer advice. The range master even held me up for 1 hour after closing to offer a lesson which included an hours worth of birds. He refused payment. Station 8 is still killing me.

I've never taken a lesson, but I know that I don't pick a bird out, I just shoot into the flocks of ducks. I also don't take my time when mounting my shotgun to my shoulder, I just start shooting willy-nilly, sometimes I even forget to look down the barrel completely.

Shooting on station is one thing. Practice is part of the overall result, good or bad. My instructor told me, "you have developed a few bad habits." Seems my skeet game is like my golf game...until you are videotaped by the instructor, you create a nuance or two that is detrimental. When the tape was played back of how I brought the 12ga to shoulder, well it was plain as day. I didn't believe him at first, now I know better.

Sort of, when I was in Boy Scouts we went to a big trap association and camped out every year. The "pro's" at the place gave us lessons and basics on shooting trap, then you got to shoot about a dozen rounds over the weekend, competing with other troops for a big trophy. Must've helped, I won the trophy the last year I went.

Learned about rifle shooting from my Dad and Grandpa. No pro, but I fill my freezer every year, and I don't leave a bunch of wounded animals in the woods doing it.

I agree with Mr. Petzel about practice.

Oh man do I ever need a lesson! Look folks, 16 years ago I was a good wing shot, good not great. Back then I had a male Brittany who gave me the evil eye everytime I missed and so I practiced and got better. Then two low life scum stole him for cosmetic research purposes (a long story)and I just couldn't go and buy another bird dog. This was a big mistake on my part. I took up deer and turkey hunting,both with a bow and gun. I got bird dogs out of mind if not out of my blood, but not my wife. She loved bird dogs and badgered me to buy another...I refused and well she did what most women do that really want something, she went a bought bird dog last year. 16 years ago I could shoot...16 years ago I didn't wear bifocals, my back wasn't as stiff and broke down, and my arms were fluid. Today....I need a lessons again. If her Brittany gives me the evil eye when I miss I am going to have to go to Nashville for a clays lesson. Until then I am using the Do-All trap to try to get better. Try is a kind word for how bad I am.

Putnam,Orange,Sulfolk,and Nassau counties have great hunting opportunities for any wing shooter.Cottontails,
pheasant,ruffed grouse,bobwhite quail,woodcock,crow,snipe rail,gallinule,varying hare,and too many species of ducks
and geese to list.All of this is very close to NYC.They say the average hunter hits one out of ten grouse and woodcock that are flushed.I bought a clay pigeon thrower many years ago and put it to good use on every shotgun I own many hours and hours of practice.A box of 90 clays was 4.00 and trap loads were 3.00 a box.For $10.00 a great way to spend part of a day with 2 boxes of skeet loads.A lot of practice for three totally different guns Condor Supreme 12 over under with select Brazilian walnut,an Uplander 20 side by side great for dense grouse,woodcock cover maybe quail some day and Ultra MAG 12 pump turkeys,and soon ducks and geese.Two barrels one rifled for deer with open sights and 3-9 but both ported.Spend many hours with the Weatherby topped with my favorite Leupold,world class mounts,etc..and too dont leave deer in the woods.Many years of tournament archery Vegas,350,and 3D and clubs and still learn new lessons all the time but remember its a great time.Time to pack the fastest winged game in the woods is open Woodcock 2nd time out for this season hope to see large flights coming down great practice for the dog and I.PULL AWAY,SUSTAINED LEAD,SWING THROUGH,SPOT SHOOTING. UK SPANIEL

Jerry A. Rifles and pistol shooting is a detriment to wingshooting, and how most wingshooters started out shooting...aiming a rifle, or a pistol.

sayfu, That's some solid wingshooting advice right there. -d

I see a lot of people try too shoot without checking eye dominance first.I have been asked for years why I shoot right handed when I am left.My answer is eye dominance. There are many ways to correct cross dominance issues.For those that have never checked this can also cause lots of misses.

Jerry A.

Next time your training or visiting either at a military or Law Enforcement range, notice how many bullet holes the facility has in every direction except down range your at.

SCARY!