How Do You Start Your Shooting Year?

When you begin your new year or come back from your break, it’s important that you write down what kind of targets you practiced; how many, the frequency of practice, and the duration of practice.

Whatever you did last year, if it worked out, you ought to repeat it again this year. If you didn’t write it down last year, do something with some sort of specific goal or regiment in mind and write it down – not only the type of target, but how many targets and the frequency of practice.

Everything that you’re doing, make it a goal. How many shells are you going to shoot each time you go out? What kind of trajectories? After you shoot them, remark about how easy or difficult it was. The importance of this is immeasurable.

Hopefully, you should have made your plans for the year, as far as the shoots you’re going to, the ones that you want to peak at, the ones you’re going to use to try different things, where you’re going to take lessons, and what you’re going to do with your family. It’s important that your family, business, and personal life be in balance.

Remember, you’re going to take some time off mid-summer and look at the shoots. Look at the prep time you need to get ready for the next big shoot after you take some time off in the summer. That’s a great time for the vacation to occur.

Some guys we’ve coached have reluctantly taken a break simply because they were trying to get enough all-American points to get something. I told them to take a break and not shoot anything until at least the first of February, and when they take that break, don’t touch the gun. You can go duck hunting. You can go quail hunting, but don’t touch the gun, and don’t go to the gun club and do training-type shots. Don’t do that. You need to get your mind away from it.