Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Trumbo demonstrates proper form here as he leans into the gun, preparing to swing through the bird, flying left to right, away from the other hunter in the distance.
Even from behind, you can identify an appropriate shooting posture. Here, the shooter is leaning forward into the gun. His face is tight to the stock, evidenced by his ear aligning with his right trigger hand.
What not to do: In this image, Trumbo is leaning back, away from the gun, with his right leg slightly forward. His weight is on the left leg as it should have been, but his weight distribution is entirely off. Do you think he hit that bird?
This shooter demonstrates proper form, left foot forward, leaning into the gun, face tight to the stock, and sighting directly down the barrel.
Various media outlets present "how-to" articles on wing shooting each year, offering either the basics or pontificating an undergraduate-level analysis and techniques. It's a rite of passage for the bird hunting openers.
Truthfully, there are few consistent gems across the outlets. The vast considerations affecting how a gunner connects with a flying target range from shooting posture to choice of choke tubes and everything in between. But how does the reader, particularly those new to wing shooting, know what to focus on as a starting point or to improve their skills?
Upon scouring dozens of articles from the past two decades and listening to world-renown competition shooters expound via podcasts, posture, mount, sighting, and leading the target are the common mechanics everyone discusses - the "final four" of wing shooting prowess.
Posture is critical to properly shouldering and sighting down the barrel. A proper stance will distribute body weight and firm the upper body for controlled gun handling. Stepping forward with the foot opposite the gun shoulder (i.e., if you are right-handed, your left foot should lead), shift your weight to the front foot, pointing the toes at the target and "leaning into the gun." Your feet will serve as your anchor while your hips remain fluid, allowing the upper body to rotate and maintain control.
Next is gun mounting and sighting, which are more complicated than they seem to be for a shotgun. Take it from a guy who has mastered the art of head-lifting and shooting over birds. Proper mount and face alignment on the stock is the foundation of successful wing shooting.
Gun "mount" refers to how the gun arrives at the shouldered position. A repeatable fluid motion from the carry to the shouldered position is essential, as poor or inconsistent mount is touted as one of the most common causes for missing a flying target.
The gun should come quickly and cleanly to the face and shoulder in natural motion with posture, which takes time to master. Since the butt of the gun ultimately rests against the shoulder, it seems natural to plant the butt comfortably into the shoulder, then lower the cheekbone onto the stock. However, this creates an unnatural posture with your head, neck, and shoulders. An alternative approach is to bring the gun to your eye first, then settle the butt into the crease between the pectoral muscle and upper arm. Bringing the gun straight up to your face first levels the eyes, keeping them fixed directly down the barrel.
Sighting is another seemingly obvious facet of shotgunning because shotguns are meant to be pointed, not aimed. Assuming the gun fits the shooter and is correctly mounted, the gun should shoot exactly where the shooter is looking. Unlike a rifle with a fork sight or scope, shotgun sighting focuses on the target, allowing the gun to instinctively follow the eye rather than using the bead at the tip of the barrel as the aiming point.
Keeping both eyes open will aid in focusing on the bird or clay and sighting properly. With a proper mount and eye aligned down the rib, sighting past the bead with a focus on the target will ensure the correct vertical alignment of the shot pattern.
While many shooters develop an individual technique for leading a flying target over time, "swinging through" the target is essentially the most reliable method, instead of immediately pointing the barrel ahead of the target.
"Swinging through" refers to the process of mounting the gun, pointing it toward the target, swinging from behind across the target, passing the target, and establishing an appropriate lead consistent with the speed of the moving target. For close-range shooting, squeeze the trigger as the muzzle passes the clay or the bird's beak. For longer shots, the trigger pull comes after the muzzle has passed the target by a distance that is one, two, or three times the length of the target, depending upon target distance and travel velocity. Fortunately, our large human brains can instinctively calculate this trajectory and velocity in motion, and practice does make it near perfect. Trust your instincts. When the lead "feels right," squeeze the trigger.
When swinging on a flying bird, it's natural to stop the swing just a nanosecond before pulling the trigger when the bead reaches a comfortable lead. This behavior ultimately results in shooting too far back or behind the bird. Continuing the swing and squeezing the trigger as you track ahead of the target will often result in a solid connection.
One final piece of advice: always keep your head in the game. Body language and sighting are never more instinctual than when anticipating the flush. The eyes immediately lock on the target, and the gun mounts perfectly with a seamless swing. You know it when it happens. It feels like external power takes control of your body as you glide through the motions with confidence and perfection.
I recall my setters running for pheasant one prime October opener. We were into birds immediately, my oldest pup putting two in the vest in 15 minutes. Scrambling to swap dogs before limiting out, I released my middle pup only to witness her slam onto point within 100 yards of the truck.
Circling wide, I pinched the cock bird between the dog and I. I knew it was there. The point was too staunch to be a running bird. A slight rustle to my right caused me to swivel, sending the rooster airborne. My 20-gauge double rose quickly to eye and shoulder. Upon the report, our limiting bird tumbled - three birds with three shells in 30 minutes, all because I anticipated every flush and shot.
If you're an adult just getting into wing shooting, a pump shotgun with a 2-3/4-inch to 3-inch chamber and 14-1/2-inch "length of pull" (a standard measurement) is a can't-miss, cost-effective place to start. Pairing it with shells #6 to #7-1/2 and a modified choke will handle most bird hunting situations. For stress-free coaching, contact Blue Mountain Pheasants Forever at bmpf@bmpf258.org or the Walla Walla Gun Club at info@wallawallagunclub.com.
With practice and focus, anyone can master versatile wing shooting. Train yourself first. Technical aspects, such as different loads and chokes, are tools for honing accuracy and versatility, which will develop over time.
As you wipe down your beloved scattergun at the end of the day, ensure that you store it safely. Safety is paramount to enjoying shooting sports. The National Shooting Sports Foundation reminds us to "make sure it's secure" with Gun Storage Check Week, June 1 through 7. For more information, visit https://gunstoragecheck.org or https://projectchildsafe.org.
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