A little warm-up before dove season is always a good idea.
A short online video demonstrates three everyday exercises that can help you improve your shotgun skills:
• The flashlight drill—teaches proper mount, point and swing
• The 3-bullet drill—improves focus while mounting shotgun
• Mounting—teaches fluid gun mount from different positions
Heidi Rao, a hunter education specialist with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, hosts the video. Rao learned the tried-and-true tips from Gil and Vicki Ash of OSP Shooting School in Houston.
Hunter education programs across the country and the National Shooting Sports Foundation are adopting the exercises.
This will be the longest dove season in 80 years, and one of the most important skills while hunting dove is staying within your safe zone-of-fire. Always be aware of your surroundings and wary of birds that fly low or fly between you and your fellow hunters.
Practice your shotgun skills, including shooting within a safe zone-of-fire, and you’ll be ready for a successful and safe season.
Click here to watch the video.