There are a few conservations in the sporting and wing-shooting worlds that are guaranteed to get heated and fast.
One, chokes and the proper one for the task at hand. You’ll hear lots of opinions and not all are correct.
Another is shot loads and BB sizes for a particular target; again, lots of opinions.
Finally, the age-old question of whether clays are appropriate or even helpful for prepping for feathered birds. There are TONS of opinions on this topic and most are incorrect.
This month we examine the pros and cons of clays for hunt prep. Spoiler alert; clays are SUPER helpful. Shooting is all about muzzle management and shooter confidence. Being able to consistently mount correctly and read your target are paramount to your success.
Mount
I wish I had a nickel for every time a shooter has told me that they don’t shoot from a mounted position because they only shoot feathers and so they don’t want to shoot from mounted in the lesson. Those cumulative nickels could’ve paid for a section in SoDak twice over.
The reason a student is standing in front of me is because they are struggling somewhere in their shooting. I must remove as many variables as possible in their shooting and to do that, I need the gun to quiet down and be in the proper alignment. Once the shooter has dialed in their correct sight picture and is able to keep the muzzle quiet, I have them move to a mid-mount and then finally down to low gun or a walk-up hunting stance. This all happens fairly quickly if the shooter remembers that slow is smooth and smooth is fast.
Clays will allow a shooter to perfect their mount and practice it over and over and build a flawless muscle memory that will kick in at the flush, keeping the muzzle quiet and in the flight line of the bird.
Stance
As a certified instructor from the Paragon School of Sporting, I subscribe to the teachings of Percy Stanbury. His slightly forward stance allows for far greater rotation in the hips and ease of movement regardless of the elevation of the gun. Remember if you are upright, you are uptight and you will not be able to reach your bird cleanly.
Standing in the box, practice keeping both feet shoulder width apart and lean slightly forward at the beltline keeping the front knee almost straight. This forward stance also allows the shooter to fully engage their cheek onto the comb putting their eye flat down the center of the rib where it belongs.
Clays will allow a shooter to perfect their stance and practice it over and over and build a flawless muscle memory that will kick in at the flush, keeping the upper torso in a position of mobility and in the flight line of the bird.
Shot Inventory
Clays will help you build your shot inventory. They give you the confidence to engage feathered birds that you may not normally pursue because they are at distance, offering a short window or zip quickly past your barrel. Clays will let you employ different methods like swing through and straight-line intercept along with pull away and Churchill. Standing in the box, you can perfect your swing and your methodologies.
The hunt season is officially here and there’s plenty of time to engage your gun and perfect your shooting prowess. Clays will help you cement a proper mount and stance while building your shot inventory. Be sure to share the fun with a friend or family member and get them engaged in this incredible sport!
Kate Ahnstrom, owner of Virginia Shooting Sports is a certified, professional instructor of the Paragon School of Sporting, pro staff Syren/Caesar Guerini, resident pro Orapax Hunting Preserve, Artemis ambassador for Virginia and field staff member of the Sisterhood of the Outdoors. Her tireless dedication to her students’ success is obvious in each and every lesson.
