 Refreshers: Shooting Technique
Nothing is more important to hunting success than the final act that seals the deal; shooting the pheasants.
Every hunter knows how frustrating it can be to put in all the work to plan and prepare, then build toward the excitement of flushing some ringnecks and after all that, you miss the shot.
The easiest way to avoid this frustration is practice, practice, practice.
While there is no substitute for practicing with live birds, that's not always an option.
Often the most practical way to practice is with clay pigeons. Shooting clays is better than not shooting at all.
If it's been awhile since you've fired your shotgun or if you're just getting started with this wonderful sport, it's important to start with the basics.
Proper Stance: (right-handed) Step slightly toward your target with your left foot, keeping your feet about shoulder's length apart and pointed at a 45-degree angle to the target. With your knees slightly bent, bend slightly at the waist and lean toward the target. Reverse for left-handed shooting.
Here are the three of the most common ring necked pheasant shooting techniques:
Snap-Shooting: This technique is recommended only for close-range shooting in thick cover, when you don't have time to carefully aim before the bird disappears (more common while hunting grouse than pheasants). If for example a pheasant explodes from thick brush, quickly assess the direction of flight and point the barrel at the spot where you think the bird will be when the shot arrives and pull the trigger. Remember, you're not far from the pheasant, so don't lead them too much.
Swing-Through: The swing-through is the technique pheasant hunters use more than any other. It is ideal for midrange crossing shots in open fields where dense cover is not an issue.
Start by pointing the barrel of your shotgun behind the rooster, then smoothly swing through the bird and pull the trigger when the barrel is just ahead of the pheasant. This will automatically give you the proper lead, because you are following the speed of the pheasant's flight. But keep in mind; you can still make the mistake of shooting behind the pheasant if you don't keep swinging with the bird until after you have fired the shot. In other words, if you stop your swing to pull the trigger, you will probably shoot behind the pheasant.
Why does this happen? An important point to remember here is that it takes time for your eyes to send the message to your brain about what you're seeing, and then even more time for your brain to send the message to your finger to pull the trigger. If you stop the motion of your gun barrel, then this time lag is often just enough time to miss the shot.
Sustaining Lead: this technique is used less often for pheasant hunting because it relates to high-flying birds that are passing through. Success with this method involves taking a lead on the target, then smoothly sustaining that lead as you squeeze the trigger. The trick to this method is to properly estimate the lead of birds flying at different speeds and ranges. This technique will, however, give you a better chance of success when it comes to long-range shooting.
A Few Things To Keep In Mind:
 - Especially if you're just starting out, be patient. It is very rare for a novice to pick up a shotgun and immediately start downing birds. It's something that takes touch, technique and most of all experience. It takes awhile to get the hang of quickly shouldering your gun and swinging it smoothly.
- When you're walking, be sure to walk with your gun in a way that will allow you to get you gun into the shooting position quickly. In other words, if you walk with your gun over your shoulder, you will have to take it off your shoulder, get your hands into position, raise your gun back up and shoulder it. By then, the bird might be out of range.
- When your gun is properly shouldered, your cheek should rest comfortably against the part of the gun stock called the comb. With both eyes open, use your dominant eye (usually the right eye for right handed shooters) to sight straight down the barrel. If you're a right handed shooter but your left eye is dominant, try squinting with your left eye, while sighting with your right eye.
| How do you tell which eye is your dominant eye? Here's a quick trick. Pick a single, easily recognized point in the distance. It can be a tree on a hill or a photo on the wall, the exact distance isn't important. Hold your arm out at full length with one finger extended upwards. Focus your eyes on the distant object and line your finger up with that object. Now close your left eye and then your right eye. One eye should line up perfectly; that's your dominant eye. As a note, you'll actually see 2 fingers, but one will be less prominent than the other. more about dominant eye shooting
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- It is very common for hunters to shoot behind crossing birds and underneath rising birds. The problem is they fail to realize that in the time it takes to pull the trigger and for the shot to arrive, the bird has already moved enough to avoid the shot. The key is to keep smoothly moving with the bird as you squeeze the trigger.
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