Twenty-five years ago, I hunted ducks and geese on the Katy-Hockley prairie with my neighbor David Jones. We would meet in my driveway and drink coffee, and if it was overcast, we would go hunting. If it was a clear morning, we would both go to work and try it again the next day. I had some Red Ball chest waders that were so stiff they would pass for medieval full-body armor. To say they were hot would be an understatement.
We would set out some rags and duck decoys and lay on a levee facing each other. If the geese were coming, David would call and if the ducks were coming, I would call.
Birds were plentiful and limits were liberal. Man, did we have fun. Times have changed. There are subdivisions where we once hunted. Where there used to be 80,000 acres of rice and soybeans, it has dwindled to 8,000 to 10,000 acres. The birds have moved farther west and south following the food.
My waders now are made of breathable Gore-Tex and are much more comfortable. High tech fabrics have replaced quilted long underwear, and non-toxic shot has replaced lead. Instead of just being a humming nuisance, the mosquitoes now carry the threat of West Nile Virus. But I still love to get up and go hunt ducks.
Another big change for hunters is the availability of places to practice their wing shooting. All that was available 25 years ago was an occasional skeet or trap range. Now there are sporting clays ranges popping up everywhere. There are instructors like Vicki and I who have the experience and expertise to help the occasional hunter become a super hunter and better harvester.
We are seeing more and more hunters at the sporting clays ranges, not only learning how to shoot but making a commitment to practice to become a better shot. With the price of non-toxic ammunition being what it is, it pays to become a better shot!
We are still baffled, however, at the number of people who still try to aim a shotgun. A shotgun is to be pointed, not aimed. Shooting a shotgun is more about focusing on the target (painted or feathered) then any other thing. The more intent the focus, the better the point.
When we teach hunters to shoot clays, we teach them to look at the front of the target, not the whole target. When they finally begin to focus on the front, before they move and mount the gun, their success ratio goes up immediately! They become less aware of the gun, and the gun moves smoothly in front of the target and the clays break.
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