Written by: Kristen A. Schmitt
I didn’t grow up in a family that used guns, but I wanted to learn how to shoot. And I know I’m not alone. According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, there has been a 60 percent increase in women target shooters since 2001. While self-defense is still the number one reason many learn how to handle a firearm, the other two main reasons are learning how to hunt and being able to shoot with family and friends. Those are exactly the reasons I decided to take up sporting clays shooting, so I could properly prepare for my first upland-bird hunt this fall. But besides the basics about shotgunning technique and mechanics, there’s much to be learned about the basics and etiquette of the sport. Here are the four things I learned from my first experience. . . .