“I’ve pursued winged game for most of my life from ducks in the farmland ponds near home in my teens, to an ever expanding interest in game birds further afield. I relied upon natural ability early on but later realized that shooting proficiency is a skill that benefits greatly from guidance. Similar to a martial art or advanced education, its far better to pursue insight from those before us rather than a path of single-minded trial and error that often limits growth.
My own shooting path has included several formal shooting mentors over the years, while the coaching provided by David Radulovich has, and continues to be particularly insightful.
I’m an NSCA certified shooting instructor and, as a life-long learner, couple this with a deep passion to help others embrace learning through all phases in life. I’m also an avid conservationist and serve as Senior Scientist and Wildlife Program Manager for a large conservation organization in Western Canada. ”
Foundation
Progressing as a shot and developing consistency begins with a solid foundation, so it’s important to address several key mechanical factors early on including posture, balance, stance and foot work, as well as a repeatable gun mount. Learning to establish harmony with the bird through our movement and vision makes the application of lead more straightforward.
“We all have days when we’re ‘off our game’ and, if dwelled upon, can lead to the dreaded slump!
A solid shooting foundation helps us understand why misses occur, and when combined with self reflection, provides a reliable path to get back on track and shooting with trust. Without developing these skills, and the insight to apply them consistently, we have nothing to fall back upon when doubt creeps in. And, it will creep in! ”
Learning to self diagnose
“Rarely is it helpful to tell a person where they miss a bird as a means of helping them to become a better shot. Instead, it’s more effective to show them how to evaluate their own mechanics and vision to heighten their understanding of what a good shot is. With guidance, anyone can learn to diagnose why misses occur with a deeper understanding that goes well beyond the naive explanation of where, i.e. ‘a foot low.” Learning why is far more important than where, and its a vital step toward becoming a better Gun. ”
“We use vision continually in daily life and its easy to assume you simply look at the bird to shoot it. However, it’s more refined than that when it comes to connecting visually. How we use our eyes to initially pick up the bird differs from the way we finish the shot, and the process itself is a learned skill that needs a foundation and practice. ”
“As a coach, David (Radulovich) has had a profound impact on my own shooting. Developing the mechanics to move in harmony with the bird is a deliberate art, and he helped refine my understanding of how to control the movement of the body and dovetail this with vision. David is a world class competitor, but much more than that, he has a passion for the very art of shotgunning itself! ”
Check out David’s site here
Chat with Doug
If you’re interested in pursuing clay shooting lessons go ahead and schedule a chat
Developing new skills takes a bit of courage, a willingness to make mistakes, and the awareness to use both to improve a bit more each day - that’s the journey
Face behind the lens
“Behind every good photo there’s someone packing a lens, and if you’re lucky like me, she’s ready for that unique shot. Karen is often behind the lens with me and many of the pictures on this site belong to her! ”
