Safe & Savvy - Become the best wing shooter you can be
Who is it for?
Women who want to learn the fundamental skills to become a safe and confident bird-hunter.
Why this course?
In a situation charged with excitement and danger, it can be very stressful to take to the field with a loaded gun for the first time. So the more you can learn beforehand, and practice, the more you can you free yourself up to enjoy the hunt.
What you will gain:
You will gain the fundamental skills needed to hunt safely and confidently, and inspire others' confidence in you.
You will understand what is going on during the hunt, what your role is and how to be part of the "team".
You will learn the "do's and don't's" around hunting etiquette, and how to handle typical scenarios that arise during a hunt.
You will be able to find your own places to hunt.
How long is the course:
The course is 3 days. Day 1 will consist of a comprehensive and practical safety briefing, gun-mount practice, clays-to-birds target drills and gun-empty drills, while days 2 and 3 will include bird hunting over dogs as well as other modules. The timetable will be influenced by weather, daylight hours and your own interests.
Women who want to learn the fundamental skills to become a safe and confident bird-hunter.
Why this course?
In a situation charged with excitement and danger, it can be very stressful to take to the field with a loaded gun for the first time. So the more you can learn beforehand, and practice, the more you can you free yourself up to enjoy the hunt.
What you will gain:
You will gain the fundamental skills needed to hunt safely and confidently, and inspire others' confidence in you.
You will understand what is going on during the hunt, what your role is and how to be part of the "team".
You will learn the "do's and don't's" around hunting etiquette, and how to handle typical scenarios that arise during a hunt.
You will be able to find your own places to hunt.
How long is the course:
The course is 3 days. Day 1 will consist of a comprehensive and practical safety briefing, gun-mount practice, clays-to-birds target drills and gun-empty drills, while days 2 and 3 will include bird hunting over dogs as well as other modules. The timetable will be influenced by weather, daylight hours and your own interests.
Course Modules.
The Shotgun.
Walk-up hunting. Skills and strategies for hunting pheasants (mainly) and other upland birds..
The Joy of Hunting with Dogs. Some people hunt more for their dogs than themselves.
Actual bird hunt. Two pheasant hunts are included in your course.
Resources. A review of some of the resources available to continue your progress and become an instinctive hunter.
Waterfowl hunting (Level 2).
More Information.
The Shotgun.
- Gun safety. A comprehensive safety briefing, that you will see, hear, read and experience.
- Practical gun-safety experience in hunting terrain.
- Understanding the shotgun. How is it different from a rifle or hand gun?
- What comes out at the business end (shot, patterns). What are the different gauges and which one is for you?
- Basic gun-fit check, eye dominance assessment, fundamentals of sound shooting technique.
- Clay target practice on simulated hunting presentations in hunting terrain ("Gun Down, Safety On" hunting drills).
- Choosing the right ammunition and chokes for each type of hunt.
- Gun cleaning.
Walk-up hunting. Skills and strategies for hunting pheasants (mainly) and other upland birds..
- Specific gun safety for the field. When do I take my safety off and a million other considerations.
- The different species of upland birds and their habitats.
- The wily Mr Rooster - what to expect from this amazingly intelligent bird.
- Different strategies for hunting pheasants and other birds.
- Identifying roosters and hens, getting the feel of a pheasant flush.
- Mark the bird! What to do when a bird goes down, yours or someone else's.
- Regulatory framework, permits, management, etiquette.
- What to wear - hunting clothing, footwear, and accessories. Make-up and jewelry. Or not.
- Scouting for places to hunt, approaching landowners.
- How to acknowledge your host and get invited back!
- Dealing with the mind-games: strategies for not letting our emotions get in our way, when we miss, for example.
The Joy of Hunting with Dogs. Some people hunt more for their dogs than themselves.
- Pointing dogs.
- Flushing retrievers.
- Your chance to work with both.
Actual bird hunt. Two pheasant hunts are included in your course.
Resources. A review of some of the resources available to continue your progress and become an instinctive hunter.
- Fish and Game resources and other materials.
Waterfowl hunting (Level 2).
- Hunting from a blind: safety and etiquette, constraints,
- Creature comforts: how to best avoid being cold, wet and hungry.
- Gear in general. Comprehensive checklist.
- Decoying and calling ducks and geese: experience it working and learn basic strategies to call them in.
- Decoying over water; over land.
- Pass-shooting and jump-shooting.
- How to find the birds - early and late season hunts.
- Target practice from a simulated blind.
- Lore, resources.
- If possible, a goose hunt (separate license needed).
More Information.
- Minimum of 2 people, maximum of 4.
- Pre-requisites: Hunter Safety (if required). More info....
- A reasonable level of fitness is required. If in doubt, please ask!
- We will send you a list of equipment to bring.
- You are encouraged to bring your own gun. Non-toxic ammunition (steel shot) is provided in your gauge of choice.