We are in the middle of the competitive shooting season. The Virginia state shoot is June 5-8 at Brushy Mountain Club in Hurt. Be sure to stop by the VSS booth and take a Syren, Fabarm or Caesar Guerini for a test shoot! I’ll be there with regional representative, Greg Royse and of course, Egon and Gunner will be happy to act as your emotional support team.
Everyone wants to know how to keep an edge over the rest of the competition. With so many shoots on the schedule, it seems pretty easy to “punch up” in classes, right? Eh, not really. You need to be on your game and ready for any situation. This is where excellence in training and practicing separates the “shooters” from the competitors.
Build a Bigger Toolbox
I love to see students out on the course shooting. Anytime you can get behind the barrel, it’s a great day.
The problem is that shooting a round of 100 is NOT training and barely practicing. In training, we are learning a new skill. We are committing that skill to our repertoire, adding another tool to the toolbox. We need to then practice that skill. That doesn’t mean shoot the course. That means find two or three presentations that allow you to focus on that new skill and truly work on it. Maybe it’s crossers at distance or rabbits or perhaps using swing-through on a presentation.
Put a couple 100 rounds through the barrel on that one skill instead of a bunch of random things shooting the whole course. When it comes time to proof that skill, you’ll go into the shot way more confident and capable of achieving X’s.
Love the Limitations
All of us complain about limitations. Truth be told, we actually relish the restrictions. It gives us focus and understanding and makes everything mean so much more. Competitive shooting is no different.
Limit your diet a day or two before the shoot particularly on caffeine, sugar and alcohol. A clear mind is a quiet mind. The last thing you need is eye twitching from that third cup of coffee or sugar crashes from the free donuts they had in the clubhouse.
Stick to cleaner, whole foods. Take a protein bar or two and be sure to eat it before the halfway point. Drink plenty of water, even add in an energy powder, especially on a hot day.
While we’re considering restrictions, restrict screen time. You should be focused on the tournament not another funny GSP meme. I get it, those are super hilarious, and I even go down that rabbit hole, but you can’t! Focus on the task at hand.
There are two things you should NOT limit and that’s paying attention so you can see as many birds as possible before you get in the box and taking your time to shoot the event. Racing around from station to station creates anxiety and that causes you to make small, avoidable mistakes. Take your time.
Embrace the Suck
Practice in bad weather, within reason. Chances are you will shoot a tournament in rain, extreme heat, even extreme cold. You need to be comfortable with dealing with all-weather situations. Also, build up your tolerance for shooting. It does no good to only be able to shoot 100. In a multi-day tournament, you’ll fall apart by the end of the second day. You need the same mindset as a prize fighter! Condition yourself.
Failing to Plan, Planning to Fail
Being able to see all that hard work payoff is the ultimate goal. Make sure each and every time you get in the box, you understand where you want to break the bird. At that break point, is the bird fast or slow, rising or falling and can you shoot at it, or do you need to lead it? Finally, where is your hold point?
Always have a plan as part of your pre-shot routine. Be sure to take a friend or family member with you to the course. They can help keep you honest in the box and assist you in sticking to quality time behind the barrel.
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.
