I just focus on the bird, very rarely can I actually see the bead or rib on the barrel.

 

I don't get a lot of shots at birds but I do shoot trap. First thing I was told is keep both eyes open. It was very hard for me to adjust from 1 eye to 2, but it definitely helps you see the bird better and get on it faster. Next thing was they told me to just focus on the bird, the gun will follow your eyes. Then depending how it's flying, the lead on it.

 

I focus on the bird and when I bring the gun up and the
bead meets the bird I shoot. It's how I practice and shoot
in the field. Practice shooting clays and you will get much
better at shooting flying game.

 

another Pilgrim,
Let me help you just a little, 1st your double gun must fit you correctly both cast and drop, and you must know how your gun patterns. Then you must learn to set up correctly as you approach your dogs point. Learning to walk the woods or fields and set up for actual bird gunning is not like shooting trap or skeet. If you shoot clays for practice, start gun down safe on, and have the puller launch at will, then you have a more realistic practice for actual bird gunning.
3rd you must learn to remove your safe and mount your gun in one smooth flawless action, it becomes instinctive after a while. You should shoot with both eyes open, concentrating on the bird, you must always lead the bird
as you shoot, so the bird flies into your shot pattern. Learn the correct way to shoot a rising or falling bird, there is a difference. In reality when Grouse hunting you have 3 tenths of a Second before a mature Grouse puts something between your gun and him. Setting up properly to gun the bird is a learned operation for a human, there are really few instinctive gunners.
If you are up this way in December pay me a visit and I will help you out.
Pine Creek/Dave

 

Human reaction time is usually about 0.20 s.

Lots of luck

 

timberdoodle,
Absolutely correct, the bird however must be 25-30 yards away for your double gun to pattern correctly, a Grouse hunter usually hits both trees and bird when he takes/kills the bird. If the tree is to big, or the hunter mounts his gun poorly, the Grouse wins everytime. The best Grouse gunners in the world only have a 1 out of 3 life time average here in Pa.
Pine Creek/Dave

 

Concentrate on the bird, start the gun behind the bird, pull through and when you pass the head slap the trigger. When you are playing baseball, you don't look at the bat when you are hitting, you concentrate on the ball. Same thing with a shotgun.

 

If you look at the bead or the barrel you're missing the bird. Gun mount and focus on what you want to shoot.

Check out NSSF. Gil Ash has some nice instructional videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXo0WUiCx34&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqklsrDvV...mp;feature=plcp

Best of luck & have fun

 

Spring for a proper gun fitting at Woodcock Hill in Benton. You will spend a whole morning working on gun fit and mount. Well worth the money.
CHAZ

 

Thanks for the replies. I guess I am just not made to be a good shot. I am right handed but I have a lazy right eye. I have been shooting guns left handed since I began hunting. I am used to handling a gun on that side so it is not a problem. And as I said, I have spent the past year practicing mounting my gun. I can do that rather fast. I do seem to hit things when I shoot fast. I am trying to learn to wait longer in an effort to get more accurate.

I am wondering if my lazy eye is the root of my problem. The vision in that eye is so bad that my brain has learned to ignore it. Glasses do not help. I guess the question is, could a good shotgunner still shoot well if he had a patch over one eye?

 

Shoot some informal skeet with a lowered gun.
Focus on the front edge of the target and follow thru...which is helped by tracking a piece of the broken bird....helps with the second barrel/second shot as well....the old break the bird, break the piece action.
Do NOT worry about lead...a focused swing and equally focused follow will give that to you.
Do NOT focus on the front bead....do try to keep your cheek firmly placed upon the stock.
Before long, you will be breaking the bird well and that confidence will carry over to swatting gamebirds.
Do NOT tho practice so much that you are practicing missing...know when to stop for the day.

Shooting better tho wil not automatically carry over to the field...that intangible of confidence needs to be developed and as you become familiar with the scattergun and swatting stuff....hits will follow.
On a practical note...do not handicap yourself with either too much choke or too much shell....a balanced gun regardless of weight or barrel length is, of course, an obvious advanatge.
There is also the possibility that the gun stock does not fit well...an overthought idea today but depending upon a person's particulars...it can be an issue.
As can cross-dominance in vision or vision which needs an eye appointment.
You have many options to try...some will undoubtable help.
Be confident, keep your head down, follow thru and ....make haste slowly.
Do NOT fret about needing to hurry the shot!
You will have time most often and at the times when a bird beats you to safety....simply grin, as who needs to kill 'em all?

 

Point to the bird with fore hand which would be your left hand if you shoot right handed both eyes focus on the bird as you bring the gun up and when the gun fits and you keep your head down pull the trigger and don't stop pointing at the bird with your forehand (follow thru)

Concentrate on missing the bird by shooting in front of it

NEVER MISS FROM SHOOTING BEHIND

 

You have to shoot them where they eat, not where they crap.

Almost all misses are the result of lifting the head or stopping the swing. A lot of that comes from trying to over think the shot. Get on the target from behind, swing through and slap the trigger. As was said before,take your time but hurry. I used to have a difficult time with birds years ago, I was always good on running rabbits for some reason. I read Churchill's book on instinctive shooting and put it into practice. Do I still miss, occasionally but not nearly as much, and when I do it is because f one of the deadly two I mentioned earlier.

 

Practice, Practice & more Practice. During the off season find a place where you can shoot trap,skeet, or sporting clays. I tell you I did not become a good wingshooter till I started to shoot trap, it helps.

 

Concentrate on missing the bird by shooting in front of it

NEVER MISS FROM SHOOTING BEHIND

This is a great tip.

 

I think it's more instinct than sighting. I grew up shooting snipe and woodcock and they are challenging birds to hit so I've just learned with instinct, completely ignore the gun (kind of).

I've only tried clays a handful of times and never had much luck. I always used to say that if you glued feathers to them I'd probably hit them

 

Concentrate on missing the bird by shooting in front of it

NEVER MISS FROM SHOOTING BEHIND

This is a great tip.

Thanks...Never let it be said I don't know how to miss...

 

I shoot with one eye closed. Are you sure you are aiming with your dominant eye. I know you said you have a lazy eye. But could it still be your dominant eye? in your case it might be best to shoot with both eyes open?
I am not a good shot but on pheasants I can hit them at least 75% of the time. Years ago I couldn't hit them to save my life. The stock on the gun I was using was to long.I traded that in for a Remington 1187 and I hit much better ever since. The thing I noticed. When I am hunting alone I can hit almost 100% of the birds I shoot at. When hunting with others I am closer to 50%. Why? For one I am worried about the other hunting shooting in my direction so I'm not focused on the bird and two I tend to rush the shot. For best results when you flush the bird don't rush just focus on the bird and bring your gun up and fire. The bird should drop.

 

If you look at the bead or the barrel you're missing the bird. Gun mount and focus on what you want to shoot.

Check out NSSF. Gil Ash has some nice instructional videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXo0WUiCx34&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqklsrDvV...mp;feature=plcp

Best of luck & have fun

I read an article about Gil Ash in the Game News. The youtube clips in your links are excellent. Among other things, Gil instructs on gun fit, gun mount, lead, and acquiring the target. I will be watching these clips several times to be sure I understand and remember the tips and then apply them to my practice sessions. Thanks

By the way, I went out this afternoon to hunt after I posted this message. I managed to bring down one of the four birds the dog pointed. Boy did that make me feel good. Thanks to everyone who replied.

 

fwiw...if you do have a vision challenge of some sort then I would suggest you consider speaking with a professional.
A good option may be www.morganoptical.net. Call and ask to speak to Wayne. He has always been helpful with an abundance of experience re shooters.

While the Internet has many easy outlets for info, you often receive value equal to exactly what you pay.
Secondly, a good coach can both evaluate a shooting problem and offer suggestions based upon seeing a lot of shooters over time...problem is finding one that is good, rather than a gun club expert....and videos can be less than perfect instructors.
Just an idea.

IME, stock length is mostly a non-starter but can be a mental hurdle. My measured LOP is 16" and I shot O/Us(12 & 28)for pheasants and ruffed grouse with those LOPs. I also shoot a favored Sweet 16 Auto 5 at the standard 14 1/4". I find little difference other than the rare times heavy clothing enters the picture.
Basically, we humans are very adaptable if we stop worrying over the little things.

Which is another issue with shooting poorly.
It is said that the human mind can only focus clearly on three things at any one time....if too much enters our minds before, during and after the shot...we likely miss more frequently.
Relax, focus on fundamentals, and find the fun.

 

What do you see when you shoot?

I try to make sure I know where the bird falls!!!
Just kidding. But like John said I follow thru on the bird and it frequently comes together. If you are handy to the place Hoofchaz mentions I would check them out. I have shot trap and skeet a little to try and get on birds. One of the most important things is that the gun fits you. Bring your gun up and shoulder it like you are going to shoot but do it with your eyes closed. When you open them are you looking down the barrel or are you over/onder the barrel? I hunt mostly with a Browning special sporting clays (over & under). Heavy but fits me great. The safety is on top so I am sliding it off with my thumb as I am moving into position. No fumbling or having to think about it being on the trigger housing. When I need a second shot I just pull the trigger the second time while still folloing thru. No having to pump where youget off the bird and have to get back on the bird. The guys at the trap & skeet ranges are great at letting you try their guns to find one that fits you. Even guns in the price range that I would not consider buying.

 

I usually try and give it that extra second to maksure your on target, I would also recomend trying a differnet load of shells, my wingmaster was horrible with #6 low brass game loads but when i switched to Winchester super X #5 high brass its like the gun came alive, i wasnt hitting any birds either untill i found the right load now i hit them most every time.