Among the shooting techniques, the flying one, unlike what is supposed, proves to be really simple. What the inexperienced hunter needs is practice, confidence with the weapon and confidence in his own possibilities.
It is no secret to veteran hunters that there are a considerable amount of shooting techniques, some of which have even turned into Olympic disciplines, given the complexity, respect for the rules and the experience they require.
It is essential for a hunter to know them all, less able to practice them with precision, since each type of shooting is interested in a specific hunting technique and usually the hunter immediately finds the one that best suits his person. This does not mean that with the passage of time we may wish to change the style of hunting and game; only at this point will we have to approach new forms of shooting.
The main ones are four, although there are numerous variants that we will deal with elsewhere:
• volley shooting;
• dynamic volley;
• ball shooting;
• jab shot.
Today we will talk about skeet shooting, challenging for young hunters who approach this art. Differently from how it is usually imagined, however, volley shooting is one of the simplest techniques to perform, slightly more complicated than the still shooting.
The secret is simply to know the main dynamics that move the volley, everything else will be done by the experience that over time will make this precision shot natural and simple. What the novice hunter will really have to learn to do is to follow the moving target that suddenly can change direction or even speed. The game must in fact be followed well aimed with the rifle throughout its flight, as long as it does not reach a position considered optimal for its killing.
You don't necessarily have to train on the hunting ground. The inexperienced hunter who wants to gain experience can more simply tie a round object to a thread: it could be an apple or a tennis ball perhaps, to hang on a tree.
Once pushed, the object will begin to oscillate more or less slowly in front of the hunter, forwards and backwards or perhaps sideways from right to left. For a good training it will be good to distance yourself from the target by at least 5 meters and aim it with the unloaded gun. It is good to make sure that there are no cartridges in the barrel or in the tank, to avoid unpleasant accidents. The big idea is to follow the swinging ball until it stops. At that point, if the exercise is successful, you will have to try to push it even harder, so that the activity becomes even more complicated. Slowly the movements will become precise and balanced. The next step, which is not necessary to reach in a single day, is to move further away from the object hanging on the tree until it is possible to follow it precisely from a distance of 40 meters.
The exercise at first might seem useless, to some even ridiculous, but it will give the hunter a fair balance and an excellent relationship of confidence with the weapon. Of course in the field things will change considerably: the wild in flight is very fast and unpredictable but if the hunter manages to get it in his sights, the exercises will come in really useful.
And here is the second tip that will help you to precisely target a bird that suddenly emerges from the woods. Again the key word is training. The objects and the place will remain unchanged. To begin with, aim at a stationary object from which you are about 5 meters away. The rifle must be unloaded, as previously mentioned, and the exercise will consist in turning away from the immobile object and turning quickly to aim it as quickly as possible. Unloaded weapon, firm grip of the rifle, absence of strange movements and tremors will make the exercise safe and effective.
You will be able to move on to the next phase only after having succeeded in the technique. To complicate the exercise, the object (our apple or tennis ball) will have to be in motion and the distance will have to increase. Slowly you will be able to aim the object and follow it with the barrel of the gun. When this technique is performed without difficulty, you will be ready for hunting and shooting.
The last small precautions are related to the positioning of the barrel which must be placed, before firing, slightly ahead of the bird so that those seconds of flight will be well covered. If the game is a few meters away, however, the advice is that of the most absolute precision.
The important thing is not to be relentless. If after the second shot the bird has not been killed, it will be better to leave it alone. He could be smeared and the animal would only have to go and die far away. Respect for game must never be forgotten.