Wayne Doyle, retired Hunter Education Program coordinator, and I just finished a basic wingshooting program at the Pratt Gun Club. We worked with six youngsters and three adults one night a week through July. The program was Wayne’s brainchild four years ago. He wanted to provide more instruction than beginning shooters get during a hunter education field day or a one-day outdoor skills event. The multiple sessions allow the shooters to learn basics and then apply those skills to different target presentations. Even though this July’s extremely hot weather made the evening sessions uncomfortable, the shooters showed up each night eager to learn. Everyone made great progress and learned that wingshooting is truly a blast. All participants raised their hands at the close of the last evening when I asked them if they planned on hunting this fall. I truly hope they all get the chance.
I know the hot weather has made this summer seem to last forever, but it will be over before we know it. But it’s not too late to get involved in a shooting program. Many 4-H Shooting Sports programs are gearing up for youth events that will take place over the next month. Check with your local extension office or local gun club. Many of the youth programs conducted at gun clubs provide several practice sessions before a final competition day. These events are great fun, and can help prepare young hunters for the fall hunting seasons, improving not only their shooting skills, but their safe gun handling skills as well.
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