My daughter-in-law Elizabeth told me that she wanted to try pheasant hunting. To set her up for a successful hunt, and because she was new to shotgun shooting, we started with the basics and then proceeded from there.
First Things First
Elizabeth had a brand new shotgun to work with, and as with many new break action shotguns that have tight tolerances, the Ladies Country shotgun from Akkar USA was a little difficult to open out of the box. The first thing I did was grease the bearing surface – from the forend to receiver, trunnion pin and ejector cam. Then I oiled the action and added a little to the top lever latch and lever axle.
The break-in process will take a while, so I told Elizabeth to open and close it while she watched TV.
Practice Makes Perfect
To begin, my friend Rick, who coaches shotgun shooting, came over to check how the Ladies Country shotgun fit Elizabeth. He also gave her a quick lesson on stance and how to mount the shotgun. After seeing where her cheek rested on the comb and how her pupil lined up with the rib, Rick decided no changes were needed. He said he might adjust it later when she feels more comfortable, but for now, it looked great.
Next, Elizabeth used dummy rounds to practice loading, mounting, using the safety and unloading the shotgun. Practicing at home is a great way to teach someone how to handle a firearm. With no one else around, it’s easier to learn, ask questions and make mistakes.
I made sure she had enough space to swing the shotgun, and yes, shells flew across the living room because the Ladies Country has automatic ejectors. If you prefer extractors, you can easily switch them by changing one part. Watch this video to see how.
Shooting Clays
When we arrived at the hunt club, I showed her how to carry her shotgun when broken open.
Then we grabbed the B&P Competition One shotgun shells, our shooting glasses and hearing protection.
Since this was just a practice for pheasant hunting, we walked around to the different stations and picked the targets that best represented flushing pheasants. After trial and error, Elizabeth found the best way for her to break open the shotgun.
I also reinforced that she can only load the shells when she is in position to shoot from the stand. She quickly began creating a motor program for loading the shotgun and working the safety (since hers engages automatically when she closes the breech). Then, to best mimic an upland hunt, she tried shooting from a low gun position. For a little more fun, we even added in a few rabbits and other targets to change things up.
Parting Shots
Don’t just throw a brand new hunter into a field and expect her (or him) to have an good time. Set that person up for success and take the anxiety out of trying something new. An afternoon of sporting clays is a great way to prepare for a pheasant hunt.
Not only does it offer practice shooting targets, but it also gives the new hunter time on task, manipulating the shotgun.