My game shooting isn’t as good as it should be!

I would like to improve my game shooting, but how do I go about it? Surely the two can’t be so different, can they?

GAME SHOOTING
John Bidwell
If your basic gun handling skills and shooting technique are good enough for Sporting, which it seems they are, then you should be able to cope with game, too.

Chances are the problem’s down to nothing more than not shooting game on a regular enough basis.

Remember, practice makes perfect – that’s how some folk get their name in the listings for The Field’s Top 50 Game Shots and others don’t.

I know it’s stating the obvious, but game birds, unlike clays, don’t start slowing just as you are about to pull the trigger, nor might they change direction (however subtly) as they come within range.

Just to add to the problems game might be rising, curling, speeding up or even gliding downward at full throttle.

All these, and a few more permutations besides, need to be watched for and taken into account.

Innumerable pheasants and partridge each season live to fly another day because the Gun below hasn’t watched their flight closely enough.

And even more owe their lives to the fact the Gun hasn’t moved his feet to take account of their flight, or change of direction.

The best advice I can give here is to say “stay on your toes” as a bird comes toward you and keep them moving even as you start to mount the gun and swing with the bird.

Don’t commit too early by standing there, feet firmly planted on the plough. Keep mobile.