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I've always understood my limitations as a shooter of birds, until this year. I feel like I have really regressed as a wing shooter. Do you consider yourself to be a good shot and if so, what are some tips of the trade to help a fella out that is in a shooting funk?

Lots and lots of practice... but make sure the gun fits you and it shoots where you are looking. Then keep your eye on the target!

a good gun with proper fit helps alot, but to semi quote ole uncle Shugg, "it ain't the guns fault son, its the cheeseburger behind the trigger"

in my opinion, there are two main catagories of wing shooters, 1.) naturals 2.) self made

i fall in the self made catagory, my dad was in the natural.

after time and time again, being out done at the range and in the field with him (he was really competitive about shooting prowess), i bought 2 cases of shells (started with, had to reload them alot before it was over), and several cases of skeet, rigged my old skeet thrower to hook up to a reciever hitch, attached a long rope. and the practice began, i have since gotten a electric chunker, with remote (this is a wonderful aid and anyone that wants to bring shells and skeet is welcome to come out and practice with me)

i practiced alot, and i practiced left to right, and right to left shots until i could go 25 for 25 on each, then went to head on shots until i could do the same. when practicing, correct and consistent repetition is key. proper mounting(of the gun) comes first, and it will help if you do this and get your muscle memory right before you ever go to the range. a good stance is also very important. once the basics are mastered, you will be able to adjust to hunting situations much better. i am still not a great wing shot, but i can generally keep from being humiliated in the field ( i still have my days when i couldn't hit the broad side of a barn, but they are few and far between. i have managed to teach serveral guys how to do it right, and realized that a few of them once given some instruction, were actually very natural shooters.


JMHO

Eye dominance was my issue. My family joined a gun club when I was in high school and I kinda sucked at shooting skeet till we noticed that I was left eye dominant. I learned to shoot left handed and won a world championship in skeet 2 years later. Might want to check that out.

Other than that I agree with everything bonecollector said...

shoot often dont overthink it and keep your eye on the target, it will all fall into place after that, I know this because i was like bonecollecter I took a summer and went to the range and would shoot several rounds per week and noticed a difference by summers end and by hunting season it was game on. i continued this for 2 years after but have since fell off with kids and other things

Yes. I'd say as good as they come. I've shot the same shells for the last ten years. It's night night ninja when the ol super x sends a 3.5 down range.

Turcotte Shooting Range has a nice skeet setup and the prices are reasonable. Also check out the classes offered by MDWFP:

http://www.mdwfp.com/education-outreach ... asses.aspx

I had a good teacher when I was in college. I had been "ok" before, but then worked with a guy who was a shooting instructor and he made me alot better. Dont "grip" the fore arm of the gun, "point" it. Leave a finger or two on the side of the forearm. Also, once I learned how to shoot with both eyes open, that helped me tremendously.

A lot of guys mis choke a gun. I shoot I/C and Mod on my over and under and smoke ducks.

Pattern your gun at different ranges, different loads, different chokes. All of my shotguns shoot a little different due to fit, chokes, and loads...I feel I can hold my own

torch wrote:A lot of guys mis choke a gun. I shoot I/C and Mod on my over and under and smoke ducks.

Also I think the majority of people use BBs and #2 when 4s and 6s will kill them just as dead...I shot Wingmaster HD 4s and 6s with IM and IC and had one of my best years as far as number of ducks killed and shots fired. JMO

Jimbob wrote:

torch wrote:A lot of guys mis choke a gun. I shoot I/C and Mod on my over and under and smoke ducks.

Also I think the majority of people use BBs and #2 when 4s and 6s will kill them just as dead...I shot Wingmaster HD 4s and 6s with IM and IC and had one of my best years as far as number of ducks killed and shots fired. JMO

I shot 3" # 4's all year

crackhead wrote:Yes. I'd say as good as they come. I've shot the same shells for the last ten years. It's night night ninja when the ol super x sends a 3.5 down range.

Yep that is gospel right there

No.

Practice makes perfect? No, perfect practice makes perfect. Learn it right, then you will get confidence. 90% of shooting is confidence.

Same with golf.