How to stop a slump?

[riverrat56]

I'm in a shooting slump latly, 1 for 6 on the last 6 roosters I've shot at, had good shots at 5 of them and only got 1 of those, the other one was flying through trees. I'm usually a pretty good shot, I didn't miss on my first 10 birds last year, but I don't have any confidence right now when a bird gets up all I do is worry about missing, whats a good solution?

The seasons running short and I don't have alot more times to get out, I'd like to put a few more birds on the ground.

[mitch]

I haven't shot a bird in the last year and a half until today and I have had plenty of chances . My problem was I was rushing my shots. My advice is to take your time and follow through on the shot. Good luck.

[Tippman]

And try to ignore that big ol tail in the back, many people shoot behind them estimating it into the size of the bird.

[gspman]

Butt...beak...BANG!!!

[rundrave]

dont think about it, just go out there and keep going at it.

I will often put less shells in the gun knowing it will force me to slow down and dont rush my shot.

[tealitup]

I had this problem two years ago. I switched to a single shot twenty gauge for 2 hunts. The gun I learned to hunt with - now I am back on track.

[OUTDOORNUT]

Focus on the white ring on the neck or even look for the eyes, I'm 99% sure your behind your shots because your looking at the bird or the tailfeathers. I try and shot the bills off of my ducks, that keeps my gun in front of the bird.

Try shooting some clays, but don't just look at the orange clay target, try and look at the rings on the target that are created by the tiers of the clay itself. If you are looking for the rings, that target is dust. Easier said than done, but it works.

[OUTDOORNUT]

Too many Shells will do that to a guy also. ha ha

In your case riverrat being a h.s. student, too many 1919's!

[riverrat56]

Thanks for the help guys, I'll be back out on saterday, giving her heck for another day.

I'm trying to find time in the next few days to shoot a round or 2 of trap but I think I'll be flipping burgers every night. Loading only 2 shells might be the solution.

Looking back I am sure I am shooting behind them, most birds I have shot have had broken legs.

[Eric Wettschreck]

Dude, shoot em in the lips.

[verg]

i go through slumps too, mostly when i had to take a week or so off of hunting. My number one problem is not keeping my head down. I get excited and look up at the bird instead of putting face down and looking down the barrel. try that--bet that may be your problem.

[grab the net]

I can sympathize with ya, I went through a similar slump not to long ago. Had gone 5 for 5, then went 0-4 shots on 2 birds that sure seemed easy. I shoot an O/U so I don't have the shoot fast as I can mentality. I figured out I wasn't keeping my cheek on the stock. I was looking over the barrel at the bird. Got a real good look at roodie as he flew away, just not that up close and personal look I was hoping for as the dog retrieved it to me. Cheek on stock, look down the barrel, butt-beak-bang!! Bird in the bag. Concentrate on those things, you will be back in to the one up, one down mode.

[Rooster Chaser]

Relax and don't think about it too much. I (try to) make myself count one one thousand b/4 I squeeze off a shot. We hunt roosters for the thrill of the flush...just can't let that thrill get you too excited.

[CodyDawg]

I would suggest you only load one shell. You have no backup if you miss, therefore it will force you to slow down. If you load 2 shells, you will always have that mental thought that you can miss the first cuz you have another shell.

I have been shooting well this year and please, nobody touch me, I dont want any of that slump business on my hands...In fact, I shouldnt have even read this post.

[pcguide27]

Obviously getting proper lead and following through on our shot is key.... Also, practice bringing your gun up to the shooting position several times each day... even if you are not hunting. Be sure you get the gun settled in and you are looking properly down the barrel and not over the top. Mounting the gun over & over will build proper muscle memory, much like shooting baskets,,,

Good luck.... HAve fun

PC

[lawdog]

Shoot clay pigeons until you get "it" back. Back when I was shooting league and really had that gun in my hand a lot, I almost never missed, in fact I once went an entire season without missing a single rooster (that won't ever happen again...HA!). Pheasants are not a tough bird to shoot if you are calm (the flush rattles you so take your time) and you make the shot in your head. They are big and not that fast, really they should be easy to kill but I would bet 90% of misses are caused by rushed shots due to excitement of the flush.

[Mr.Seaguar]

I saw the funniest thing recently. My good buddy had his pointer out and she made her first perfect point. This bird went up about 15 feet from him. He missed it clean 3 times. I saw him slam his SBE into the weeds HARD and use every word he could think of. I told him I could have nailed it in crossing but didnt feel like cleaning it.

Hitting comes from between your ears, so missing must also. I dont think its about practice shooting, but maybe practice mounting your gun. I practice mounting my gun every single day. When the bird comes up its pretty natural. I NEVER shoot clays, just too lazy and rather shoot my rifle. Like the other guys say, take your time, and dont pressure yourself, in reality its just a dumb pheasant. Shoot the bird calmly and matter of factly. Good Luck.

[Sartell Angler]

Quote:

---

Hitting comes from between your ears, so missing must also. I dont think its about practice shooting, but maybe practice mounting your gun. I practice mounting my gun every single day. When the bird comes up its pretty natural. I NEVER shoot clays, just too lazy and rather shoot my rifle. Like the other guys say, take your time, and dont pressure yourself, in reality its just a dumb pheasant. Shoot the bird calmly and matter of factly. Good Luck.

---

EXACTLY! Clay pigeon shooting obviously helps but I too agree that practice-mounting is the most helpful thing you can do.

I consider myself to be a good shot and with all the dove, duck, and goose hunting I do usually a pheasant is a piece of cake. Nerves can be an issue especially if you don't shoot many roosters but as time goes on you will get less and less anxious I think...however the excitement will always be there.

All this pheasant talk has me excited for Saturday!