Shooting Woes - Help Needed

walk213

walk213

Active member
This has been the worst shooting season in my 14 + years of hunting wild birds. I've had slumps, but I eventually got it right.

I am committed to fixing this this off-season. If anyone knows a good and patient Shooting Woes shotgun instructor around Denver, please let me know.

Here are my failures from my last trip.

 
The hope you don't mind some viewer feedback. Please don't interpret that I am a better shooter or I don't ever get the "yips", because I do and I have to remember to go back to the fundamentals.
From what I see in your video is you led one bird too far and another you shot behind it. The last one looked like you shot to the left of it 3 feet. I would recommend practicing taking one more step so you're standing in a balanced, natural shooting position, and slow down your quick reaction shots. Every miss looked rushed on the first shot, and frustration on the second shot. I'm sure you'll not have these same issues when with a shooting instructor as the surprise element will be absent. Patience, pared with a calm, consistent gun mount with a solid base is my best advice. Good luck and keep hunting and shooting!
 
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Got to a trap and skeet field and shoot clays but carry gun like you do in the field then call for the target. The other thing to think or consider is how you lead the bird. Do you use a sustained lead or pass-thru lead, continue your swing regardless of what technique you use.
 
Carguy2Banker said:
The hope you don't mind some viewer feedback. Please don't interpret that I am a better shooter or I don't ever get the "yips", because I do and I have to remember to go back to the fundamentals.
From what I see in your video is you led one bird too far and another you shot behind it. The last one looked like you shot to the left of it 3 feet. I would recommend practicing taking one more step so you're standing in a balanced, natural addition position, and slow down your quick reaction shots. Every miss looked rushed on the first shot, and frustration on the second shot. I'm sure you'll not have these same issues when with a shooting instructor as the surprise element will be absent. Patience, pared with a calm, consistent gun mount with a solid base is my best advice. Good luck and keep hunting and shooting!
Click to expand...
Mind....I am begging for help. Thank you for offering guidance.

Yes, I have the shooting yips. I have had some really poor mounts this season. I have tried to work on correctly mounting my shotgun.

Every shot is rushed. You nailed the core issue. I sense that is the problem, but I still react poorly to the flushing bird.

I will take your advice to heart. It is appreciated.
 
Be ready all the time, always be expecting a flush, it won't seem like a rush if you are ready. Often the people I hunt with are looking at the ground, holding the gun like a suitcase or over their shoulder, most folks are not successful doing those things when a bird flushes. Get that gun mounted and shoot a pattern. See if gun is shooting where you expect it to be with an acceptable pattern...if not, time to change some things. Good luck with that.
 
When the dog shows any sign of being birdy try telling your self to slow down and look down the barrel. If I'm not constantly reminding myself I end up pinching rounds off before I'm even on the bird. Mount the gun and follow a proper shooting routine on hens. JUST don't squeeze the trigger
 
Bad mount probably equals gun is too long or too short. Varies with clothing. I spent more money on thinner warmer clothes this year to always have a fairly consistent thickness where my gun goes. Baggy stuff will cause snags while mounting as well. Everyone makes a mistake now and then but having to constantly adjust while the gun is mounted will make you miss a lot.
 
Believe it or not, I utilized this practice technique prior to opening day, and then soon afterwards. I was pretty decent on trip #2 to the sporting clays range. I have always tried to finish my shot through the bird. I noticed that I felt stuck this season. An inability to swing smoothly. My wife told me to hit the range today. She is tired of me moping around.

Thank you for responding.
 
remy3424 said:
Be ready all the time, always be expecting a flush, it won't seem like a rush if you are ready. Often the people I hunt with are looking at the ground, holding the gun like a suitcase or over their shoulder, most folks are not successful doing those things when a bird flushes. Get that gun mounted and shoot a pattern. See if gun is shooting where you expect it to be with an acceptable pattern...if not, time to change some things. Good luck with that.
Click to expand...
Thank you. I had 2 situations this season when I was completely startled that a rooster jumped up. I was fixing my GOPRO both times. Idiotic move. Echo (9) always gives me time. Josey (5) doesn't. I carry my shotgun the way you would want me to carry it. My mounts have been horrific. I need to practice and practice with hunting garb on. Thank you.
 
if you really want to know why you are missing, post this on shotgunworld forum. otherwise practice, and let your emotional support dogs ride up front on the way home, i guarantee all they want is some good cheek and ear scratching, and the promise of getting to go again.
 
This is my dry fire training exercise. Once a week. I like the 15 minute limit. Keeps from getting worn out which can create bad habits. Also it is pretty easy to block out 15 minutes during a weeks time. Besides my shotgun dry fire I also do 20 minutes a week with my F-Class set up for competition.
Pick up a copy of “Instictive Shooting” by Buz Fawcett to read in the off season. He has some great pointers. The Wing Shooters Handbook from Orvis is another great read. Not everything fits but you can glean some great info.


Training Exercise

1.) Slow mount; No Swing/Movement. 3 minutes; 10 reps then break / repeat

2.) Slow mount; Swing Left No rise 3 minutes
10 reps then break / repeat

3.) Slow mount; Swing Right No Rise 3 Minutes
10 reps then break / repeat

4.) Slow Mount; Swing Left Slight Rise 3 minutes
10 reps then break / repeat

5.) Slow mount; Swing Right Slight Rise 3 minutes
10 reps then break / repeat

I believe that the mount is one of the most important skills. Proper mount gives proper rib alignment so that the shotgun points where you want it to.
 
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The easiest way to determine if your gun mount has issues, close your eyes and mount your gun into a corner in the room. See where your landing, repeat repeat again. If it's consistently off your gun doesn't fit you right.
You can help yourself if this is a problem by finding what feels right with eyes open, start the muscle memory than go back to closing your eyes. I spent lots of time years ago and it helps.
 
Another point is shotgun fit. If the shotgun doesn’t fit you it won’t shoot for you and unless you have it fitted you can’t make it work. I spent months finding the perfect LOP on my Beretta A400.
Also what fits in early season might not work when you’re donning layers to ward off the cold. Sometimes that’s when you use a thinner recoil pad.
Another hint if you can find a plastic straw tape it on the rib. Mount the gun like you normally would. If you can see the bead though the straw that’s good. If you can’t you’ll need to adjust drop, cast, or LOP
 
Uplandhunter67 said:
Another point is shotgun fit. If the shotgun doesn’t fit you it won’t shoot for you and unless you have it fitted you can’t make it work. I spent months finding the perfect LOP on my Beretta A400.
Also what fits in early season might not work when you’re donning layers to ward off the cold. Sometimes that’s when you use a thinner recoil pad.
Another hint if you can find a plastic straw tape it on the rib. Mount the gun like you normally would. If you can see the bead though the straw that’s good. If you can’t you’ll need to adjust drop, cast, or LOP
Click to expand...
This straw tip is great. I coach our high school trap team and it's so hard to see what the kids see. This may help with some of that.
 
Just have to find a plastic straw. LOL. I used to grab a handful of McD’s straws when they had them out.
 
lonejackfool said:
if you really want to know why you are missing, post this on shotgunworld forum. otherwise practice, and let your emotional support dogs ride up front on the way home, i guarantee all they want is some good cheek and ear scratching, and the promise of getting to go again.
Click to expand...
They refused to ride in their crates. They sit the back seat of the truck despite my efforts to put them in their crates. I will give that post a go. Thank you.
 
Uplandhunter67 said:
This is my dry fire training exercise. Once a week. I like the 15 minute limit. Keeps from getting worn out which can create bad habits. Also it is pretty easy to block out 15 minutes during a weeks time. Besides my shotgun dry fire I also do 20 minutes a week with my F-Class set up for competition.
Pick up a copy of “Instictive Shooting” by Buz Fawcett to read in the off season. He has some great pointers. The Wing Shooters Handbook from Orvis is another great read. Not everything fits but you can glean some great info.


Training Exercise

1.) Slow mount; No Swing/Movement. 3 minutes; 10 reps then break / repeat

2.) Slow mount; Swing Left No rise 3 minutes
10 reps then break / repeat

3.) Slow mount; Swing Right No Rise 3 Minutes
10 reps then break / repeat

4.) Slow Mount; Swing Left Slight Rise 3 minutes
10 reps then break / repeat

5.) Slow mount; Swing Right Slight Rise 3 minutes
10 reps then break / repeat

I believe that the mount is one of the most important skills. Proper mount gives proper rib alignment so that the shotgun points where you want it to.
Click to expand...
Thank you for posting this exercise. I need to employ good habits. I was not raised with a shotgun in my hands. I will use this training process immeidately. I will also buy "Instinctive Shooting". I appreciate the insights.
 
3goldens said:
The easiest way to determine if your gun mount has issues, close your eyes and mount your gun into a corner in the room. See where your landing, repeat repeat again. If it's consistently off your gun doesn't fit you right.
You can help yourself if this is a problem by finding what feels right with eyes open, start the muscle memory than go back to closing your eyes. I spent lots of time years ago and it helps.
Click to expand...
I will do try this over the weekend. I have shot this Benelli Ethos for 10 years. I did change chokes a few years back, but I shot very well for a while. Last year was not ideal. This year was horrendous.
 
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