When you were younger, you were a good shot in the field. You shot dove, quail, ducks, and geese with ease. Then you had to go to work and raise a family, among other things. You put the shotgun up and all that is left are memories.
Then one day the phone rings and one of your suppliers asks you to go on a dove hunt. You accept with enthusiasm. You get out that old shotgun (after you find it) and as you mount and swing it, memories of sunrises and sunsets and skies filled with birds become ever more real. If you had forgotten to clean it, then take it to Briley or another gunsmith and get it cleaned. Don’t wait.
You decide to go out to American Shooting Center to “brush up on your technique” so you won’t be embarrassed. After hitting 6 birds out of 25 on a round of skeet, you can hear your name being announced over a loudspeaker as the leading candidate for the Clay Pigeon Preservation Society Award. Excitement turns to utter despair. Memories of full limits and successful hunts turn into thoughts of “How can I get out of this hunt?”
Don’t worry, we see people like you every day. Just don’t wait until the last minute to get help. Go take a shooting lesson – quick!
Every August we give dove clinics, which are four hours long and include targets and ammunition. You are in a group of 4 people. We cover the basic flight paths of doves – incoming, passing, and outgoing overhead. We teach you how to shoot sitting down, standing up, on a bucket, etc. Every way that you would shoot at a dove you will shoot in the clinic.
It is always a surprise to see the number of people who wait until the last minute to get ready for dove season. They think they can come out and have a lesson and go directly into the field and be successful at shooting the most challenging game bird on the planet.
We do see marked improvement during the clinics. However, it is what the student does after the clinic that makes the biggest difference. We correct the bad habits and get the shooter back on the right road. But if they don’t practice at least 3 times after the lesson and prior to the hunt, they have not gotten the full benefit of the time and money they spent for the clinic.
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