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Bourjaily: How to Shoot From Station 8
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August 31, 2009
Bourjaily: How to Shoot From Station 8
By Philip Bourjaily
Now is the time of year when a lot of hunters shoot their annual round of skeet to tune up. When they get to station 8, the last shots on the field, they encounter birds thrown seemingly right at them at a million miles an hour. They miss, then grumble that station 8 replicates no shot you would ever take in the field. I used to say the same thing until I learned how to make the shot. Now I love station 8. The video below is of me shooting from it.
Station 8 is nowhere near as fast and scary as it appears. There are two keys to breaking it: first, hold your gun on the lower outside corner of the square opening in the house. That puts your barrels ahead of the bird, giving you a little head start. By holding on the lower corner, you keep the gun below the line of the target where it doesn’t block your view of bird coming out of the house.
Then, move your eyes to look into the house. Focus underneath the stack of the targets on the spot where you will first see the bird emerge. If you can pick the target up as it comes off the trap, and your gun is already ahead of it, the bird won’t seem to be going so fast. You just swing and shoot right at it. You have more time than you think to shoot station 8. Notice in the clip (courtesy of my brother-in-law Roger and his new camera) my gun isn’t moving all that quickly and the target still blows up into a ball of white dust.
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Comments (14)
That does happen in the field. I've had kamikaze ducks come in like that and make me look stupid. I don't need a lot of help in that department (looking stupid, that is). You on the other hand made it look easy. How long did it take you getting to that result on station 8???
love the skeet tips. keep'em coming!
I used to hate station 8. Luckily I had only been to the local clays cubs a few times before an older gentleman told me the same tip. It is seriously the easiest bird on the course now.
I have had woodcock and grouse do that ... but I really don't like to gut them in midair. But I do appreciate the tip!
The shot happens quite frequently in duck hunting as birds decoy and suddenly don't like the looks of the place and turn on the burners. It also happens on the dove field with low birds that skim the field then climb like a banshee as they leave the field. Good practice that shot. Thanks for the tip Phil!
I was fortunate enough to run into the US olympic skeet training(few years back) and have shot with some world champs. The way they explain the game will make anyone shoot good. 8 was my nemesis until I was shown a similar trick, awesome advice.
Good tip Phil. Note the follow through after the shot.
I second everything that was said above. Anyone that claims that shot never happens in the field is NOT a birdhunter. I've had scores of grouse and ducks do exactly that to me over the years. (Lol! I rarely ever connect with them though.)
That's a shot I'll hit about 1/10 times. Good tip. Maybe I'll nail it more now.
O” I love station 8 especially when beginners shoot for the first time.
Clue, DON’T STAND BEHIND THEM!
Nice shot, Phil...
I am terribly inconsistant at skeet, however station 8 is my favorite. I have to get on the bird quickly out of the house. I shoot when the barrel covers up the target and follow through. Works for me. I'm with Clay, never stand behind a rookie.How about some pointers on station 4? I can't seem to get a single out of the high house. I usually shoot doubles better, no time to out think the shot.
That tip works.
I was told to hold the mounted gun on the spot where the clay passes the outside corner of the house. That gives you about an eight-foot head start.
Shooting low gun is a different stance though.
If I miss this station it's because I wasn't set/ready prior to calling for the bird.
Clay, I remember my first station 8 experience, yep, I did it, and was quite proud of that busted bird but I got heckled pretty bad.
Koldkut
LMAO!!!
Really nice to see the way you exagerate the follow through. Thanks for the good tip.
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I second everything that was said above. Anyone that claims that shot never happens in the field is NOT a birdhunter. I've had scores of grouse and ducks do exactly that to me over the years. (Lol! I rarely ever connect with them though.)
That does happen in the field. I've had kamikaze ducks come in like that and make me look stupid. I don't need a lot of help in that department (looking stupid, that is). You on the other hand made it look easy. How long did it take you getting to that result on station 8???
love the skeet tips. keep'em coming!
I used to hate station 8. Luckily I had only been to the local clays cubs a few times before an older gentleman told me the same tip. It is seriously the easiest bird on the course now.
I have had woodcock and grouse do that ... but I really don't like to gut them in midair. But I do appreciate the tip!
The shot happens quite frequently in duck hunting as birds decoy and suddenly don't like the looks of the place and turn on the burners. It also happens on the dove field with low birds that skim the field then climb like a banshee as they leave the field. Good practice that shot. Thanks for the tip Phil!
I was fortunate enough to run into the US olympic skeet training(few years back) and have shot with some world champs. The way they explain the game will make anyone shoot good. 8 was my nemesis until I was shown a similar trick, awesome advice.
Good tip Phil. Note the follow through after the shot.
That's a shot I'll hit about 1/10 times. Good tip. Maybe I'll nail it more now.
O” I love station 8 especially when beginners shoot for the first time.
Clue, DON’T STAND BEHIND THEM!
Nice shot, Phil...
I am terribly inconsistant at skeet, however station 8 is my favorite. I have to get on the bird quickly out of the house. I shoot when the barrel covers up the target and follow through. Works for me. I'm with Clay, never stand behind a rookie.How about some pointers on station 4? I can't seem to get a single out of the high house. I usually shoot doubles better, no time to out think the shot.
That tip works.
I was told to hold the mounted gun on the spot where the clay passes the outside corner of the house. That gives you about an eight-foot head start.
Shooting low gun is a different stance though.
If I miss this station it's because I wasn't set/ready prior to calling for the bird.
Clay, I remember my first station 8 experience, yep, I did it, and was quite proud of that busted bird but I got heckled pretty bad.
Koldkut
LMAO!!!
Really nice to see the way you exagerate the follow through. Thanks for the good tip.
Post a Comment