| The fundamentals of shooting a shotgun are vital | | | | barrel is at the correct angle, which in turn |
| to becoming a successful wing or target shooter. | | | | increases accuracy and consistency. The bottom |
| There are many things that contribute to actually | | | | line is it's worth the extra split second to get it |
| hitting the target. In the next article we will talk | | | | right. |
| about avoiding mental breakdowns. First things, | | | | - Eyes. Pretty self explanatory, you would think |
| first, we must look in depth at what the | | | | anyway. Most shotgunners say to shoot with |
| fundamentals shooting a shotgun are. | | | | both eyes open. Unlike rifles and pistols where you |
| - Stance. Your stance when shooting a shotgun is | | | | are seldomly shooting a moving target, all of your |
| different from shooting other guns. The | | | | shots on dove will be moving. I'm going to give |
| placement of your feet is critical in having a | | | | you what some would call bad advice, but it |
| smooth motion when taking a shot. For right | | | | works for me. I close one eye on shots that are |
| handed shooters, stand with your left foot in | | | | straight on, either going away or coming at me. |
| front of your right, about shoulder width apart or | | | | These shots require little barrel movement and |
| just under. Shift your weight slightly toward your | | | | usually require a straight shot at the bird, so |
| lead foot to help brace yourself for the recoil of | | | | basically aim and shoot, that's why I close one |
| the shotgun. If the bird is coming directly at you, | | | | eye. I'll admit though, these type of shots are |
| or going away, this is the perfect stance. | | | | very rare when hunting dove. When shooting |
| Unfortunately, in the real world birds come from | | | | crossing shots (and all others), I leave both eyes |
| every angle possible. Remember to shift your | | | | open. I find with one eye closed on a crossing |
| feet and open your shoulders in the direction the | | | | shot I'm almost always behind the bird. A good |
| bird is coming from. By doing this you will gain a | | | | way to find out what works best for you is |
| greater kill zone and have a more fluid swing. For | | | | shooting skeet. Shoot a round leaving both eyes |
| left handed shooters the stance is exactly | | | | open on all the stations, then closing one eye on |
| opposite. Remember, if you pull the trigger with | | | | all stations and evalute your successes and |
| your right hand, the right foot goes back and if | | | | failures. Whatever you decide works best, don't |
| you pull the trigger left handed, the left foot goes | | | | change it. Consistency is key, do the same thing |
| back. A good stance and good footwork are the | | | | everytime. |
| first steps to shooting a shotgun accurately. It is | | | | - Swing. Imagine, you've spotted a bird, you've |
| inevitable that during a dove hunt there will times | | | | got your feet right, shouldered the gun and have |
| when your stance is off because of dove | | | | your eyes right, now all you have to do is shoot |
| surprising you. They will come from all angles and | | | | right, wrong. What you have to do is get your |
| sometimes you won't see them until you are | | | | swing right. Here muzzle speed and finding the |
| already behind the eight ball, it's okay. If you have | | | | right line is vital and is different on virtually every |
| the time to get your feet right, do it. In the times | | | | shot. If a dove is crossing but going away your |
| you don't, your other mechanics will be more | | | | muzzle speed will be slower than a dove just |
| critical in making the shot. | | | | crossing. Finding the right line simply means |
| - Mount. This is simply how you place the shotgun | | | | following the line the dove is on. The last thing in |
| against you shoulder and prepare to shoot the | | | | your swing is your follow through. Just like a good |
| bird. The stance and the mount go hand in hand | | | | golfer, basketball player, or bowler you must |
| and are done almost simultaneously.,especially | | | | follow through your shot. Do not stop on the |
| when dove hunting. The stock of the shotgun | | | | target, keep the swing and line even after you |
| goes in the pocket of your shoulder slightly on the | | | | shoot. Doing this will keep you from stopping on |
| pectoral muscle. Keep it very tight as this will limit | | | | the target and shooting behind it. The mechanics |
| the amount of bruising from the recoil. Tilt your | | | | of your swing is something that must be |
| head slightly so that your eyes are looking down | | | | practiced, once again shooting skeet is a great |
| the barrel of the shotgun. The top of the stock | | | | way to practice your mechanics. |
| should be touching the side of your jaw bone. | | | | There seems to be alot to shooting a shotgun, |
| Your off hand ( the one not pulling the trigger) | | | | but all these things happen in a blink of an eye. |
| supports the forend of the gun. Again, it easy to | | | | Practice, practice, practice. There are tons of |
| get a good mount when target shooting, but | | | | articles on the different types of shotgunners, |
| when dove hunting it's real easy to have a bad | | | | find out what works for you and stay consistent. |
| mount when you are hurrying to get a shot off. I | | | | The last thing you want to do is try to change |
| can't tell you how many times I've ended up with | | | | your form in the middle of a hunt. Don't let |
| a bruised cheeked bone or shoulder because of a | | | | negativity set in. It can destroy everything you've |
| bad mount. By doing this it increases the difficulty | | | | practiced and turn a fun time into an aggravating |
| of the shot dramatically. When you begin to take | | | | experience. Stick to your fundamentals, be |
| a shot getting your mount right ensures you are | | | | consistent, and always have fun. |
| seeing the bird from the right perspective and the | | | | |