doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Shotgun technique: sustained lead or pass through

Re skeet station 8 as practice for hunting: That's the one bird I shoot premounted, even when I shoot everything else low gun. That's mainly because it's not a shot I'd ever take in a hunting situation. You have a bird that close when hunting, if you want it edible, you should pivot and take it going away. I'll occasionally do that--turning away from the rest of the squad--if there's a bunch of guys who don't mind. Or, you can simply call for the high while facing the low, and vice versa.

Larry, The turn around shot you are describing where an incoming bird, such as a ruffed grouse, goes sailing by you and one must turn around to shoot is, at least for me, the toughest shot on earth. My percentage on that particular shot has to be less than any other shot and I have been confronted with it on more than several occasions. I don't know of any way to really practice it and swinging around on station 8 is a poor substitute since one knows where the target is going, but I guess it is better than nothing.

Yes, that is a hard shot--as is a grouse launching from a tree. Some guys compensate by shooting them in the "pre-flight" position.

My method....shoot alot...you'll figure it out.

Buzz, I too think Ruffed Grouse, especially early in the season while leaves are still on the trees are very challenging targets. But I do hit them with some small success. What I have never hit has been a Gambel Quail or a Chukar which flushed from high above on a very steep slope and is following the contour downhill wings half folded, appearing just a few yards above me and passing down and around within just few yards of me. Can't see them in time to take them as an incoming nor swing fast enough to get on them before the hill conceals them again. First couple times I wasn't even sure they weren't imaginary. Probably the best strategy would be to save the shotshells. Some have buzzed me so close a tennis racquet may have been a better choice of weapon. I know if it were setup at sporting clays there sure wouldn't be any clean runs on that station.