Shooting Clays

Shooting clay pigeons is one of my favorite activities. I would say it’s not the same thrill as hunting. But it is a great feeling hearing the gun go off and watching the clay bust into a million pieces.

          The only thing that can sometimes make it less fun is you do actually notice the gun going off. When you are shooting at an animal you really don’t hear the gun go off or feel it kick at all. I guess your focus is just so zoned in that it feels like the gun didn’t even fire. But when you shoot clays you definitely hear the booming and feel your shoulder taking a bit of a beating.

          I like shooting clays because it is like practice for bird hunting. It still hasn’t made me a great shot on doves but quail I’m pretty good. I think it more transfers to quail hunting where you know a bird is about to flush so you have time to prepare and make a good shot.

          When I was in college me and some friends would go to an outdoor shooting range and shoot clays fairly often. I bought a hand clay thrower that is still in the back seat of my truck. That thing works better than any of the fancy high priced throwers you can find and it’s a 12 dollar piece of plastic.

          But when I was in college I became a much better shot on clays. Some of it was definitely that I was practicing more and practice just makes you better. But it was also a realization I had.

          When it comes to shooting you always have more time than you think. I learned to slow my mind down and always take my time whenever I am making a shot. And what happened was counterintuitively I got way faster at shooting. I would line up next to my friends and one person would throw and I could always quick draw them and shoot accurately.

          I guess once you learn to slow down mentally, you speed up physically. Then you have learned to take your time and think through making a good shot. And even though you feel like you are taking your time you are doing it way faster.

          The military has a phrase slow is smooth, smooth is fast. This definitely applies to my clay shooting realization. So not to keep tooting my own horn but I got pretty good by slowing my mind down.

          The other thing I like about clay shooting is it does not take a lot of equipment or set up. Like I said that 12 dollar plastic thrower is better than anything fancy. Then all you need is someone to throw, a box of clays, a box of shells, and your shotgun.

          I have learned I can go out there by myself and shoot. It requires a being a little nimble and a good setup. But I usually try and have the space to throw the clay high. Then I quickly drop the thrower and usually have my shotgun in my left hand with my hand on the stock. Then throw it up to my shoulder and look down the barrel. I get the bead on the orange clay flying through the air. Then remember my lessons from earlier that I have more time than I think, I take my time and make sure I’m on it and squeeze the trigger. And more times then not see the clay target explode into a million pieces.

          I’m not saying I never miss. But if I do it is usually because I rushed for some reason. I also am not ashamed of missing because if you’ve never missed you’ve never really shot. And everyone thinks shooting accurately is a lot easier than it is.

          Most people would actually struggle to hit a still target if they haven’t shot much. Depending on what gun your shooting it can be extremely hard for different reasons. But a small clay target that is flying through the air is even tougher. While you do have more time than you think you do have to get on it and make the shot before it falls all the way out of the air. So there is an added since of adrenaline which naturally makes anyone less accurate.

          But shooting clays is a lot of fun as is almost anything that is a bit challenging. I would do it almost every day if things were more cost effective. Again all you need is the cheapest plastic clay thrower you can find, your shotgun, a box of clays, and a box of shells.

          It’s always good to practice before dove season. It is also always fun to hear the gun go boom, to feel the power of it, and to see that orange target explode in the sky.