A deadly method for flushing birds, and the one distance it can't handle.First, believe me when I say this: this shooting method flat out works! And then it doesn't. And when it doesn't, the reason why is worth knowing. I learned this the hard way.In my wingshooting lessons on "flushing" game over our favorite dogs, I teach the Churchill method. Named after the English gunmaker Robert Churchill, it's an instinctive method: eyes locked on the bird, the gun comes up to where you're looking, and you shoot.Folks, it's pure magic on quail, chukar, grouse and early-season pheasants. My students love it because it's simple to learn and downright deadly. It's been proven successful countless ...

 The Consistency Blueprint — Part IIThe Mental Game Starts Before the First ShotFour tractor trailers pull up to a vacant building site carrying twenty-one tons of lumber, supplies and tools.Great.Now where’s the blueprint? What’s Step 1?Good questions, yes?Everywhere we go, we’re told the Mental Game comes later, right after shooting skill development gets a foothold.Sorry, that’s backwards.Here’s why.With all my students, the Mental Game starts at our first handshake. We take the time to make absolutely sure my student is mentally prepared long before the first shell goes into a chamber…not after.Seated in the clubhouse, we discuss specific ...

The Consistency Blueprint — Part IThe #1 question I hear in my lessons? Why am I inconsistent? Thursday, Station 4, XXOXXXXX. Saturday, same station, same targets, OXXOXOOX?Another serious question: is your shooting method dependable? Can it? Will it break targets reliably? Consistently? No? Same target, same equipment, same method, XOXOOXOO.If you are OK with that, if breaking the target “sometimes” works for you, BE HAPPY; there’s no need to change anything. If, however, “sometimes X’s” are leading you to frustration and worse, unless a few changes are made, count on it, XOOXOX will only continue.A common example in my lessons.71 years old, Jim ...

Before every lesson, I ask the shooter sitting in front of me one simple question:“What is the most important thing you want to accomplish today?”Usually, the answers are pretty predictable.Break more targets.Become more consistent.Figure out why I keep missing that presentation.Shoot higher scores.Then, every once in a while, a lesson takes an unexpected turn.To improve their shooting, three ladies traveled from Florida to spend time with me at my home club, River Bend.Well into lesson #1, we moved to a rabbit presentation.Nicely dressed and experienced, she looked at me and said, “No.”No? Politely, I asked why?Quietly, she replied, “I’ve shot at dozens ...