Five Shotgun Mistakes

Wrong Clothing

Outerwear frequently causes lousy gun mounts. It’s common to layer up on a cold day but if your layers are bunched they’ll grab your shotgun butt. Wear so many bulky layers you resemble the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man and your length of pull gets altered. Tight clothing isn’t any better because it restricts movement and encumbers a swing. Rough cotton jackets grab shotgun butts, especially if they have rubber recoil pads.

Wingshooting is an athletic sport. Fleece vests provide warmth and comfort while allowing for good shoulder movement. If it’s cold or if you need more pockets to hold your shells, GPS or compass, e-collar transmitters and birds, then wear them under a vest or a strap vest. The layered approach works well to dissipate moisture and a base layer to wick away perspiration helps us stay warm and dry while delivering lethal technique.

If your shotgun has a rubber recoil pad, wrap it with electrician’s tape. Two or three strips placed where the butt meets your shoulder are enough. Then wrap the edge with one long strip. The pad will slide up your clothing as easily as if it were made from leather. It’s tough to get on a bird when your clothes mess up your mount, so leave your work clothing at home and wear hunting-specific gear. It’s designed a certain way for a reason.

Michael Jordan said, “you miss” 100% of the shots you never take.” But when we get close to missing 100% of the shots we take, we get frustrated. Improvise, adapt and overcome with a few tweaks. It’s how you can make this season one for the books.

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