Shooting Destinations

Posted by & filed under Shooting Destinations.

I always say that shooting is about three things: the places you go, the people you meet, and of course the shooting.

Over the past three years, I have had the opportunity to travel to Nicaragua to teach and hunt. It has become one of my favorite places to go.

Nicaragua is one of the most scenic and beautiful places that I have ever been. It is a land of indescribable beauty and spirit.  The people are genuinely warm and welcoming, and the culture is an interesting mix of the traditional and modern.

Shooting is an up and coming sport in Nicaragua. One of the finest shooting facilities that I have ever seen is currently under construction, and will be open by the end of the year. The shooting will offer unparalleled variety. It will offer everything from 5-Stand to Running Boar for full-bore rifle.

Duck and dove hunting are also phenomenal. The beauty of the landscape and the abundance of game birds make the experience unforgettable. I would place the hunting in Nicaragua at the top of all of the places I have ever hunted.

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Coast To Coast

Posted by & filed under CSM certification program, CSM instructors.

CSM has made it from coast to coast! We have been absolutely amazed and blessed by the overwhelming response to CSM . The CSM certification program was launched in Camden, SC at Hermitage Farm Shooting Sports in June 2014. In that very short period of time , we have managed to conduct four certification courses and welcome 30 new CSM instructors. Amazing!!!

Our most recent class was held at Mid-Valley Sporting Clays and Shooting School in Gervais, Oregon.  The class was so much fun and the instructor candidates did an excellent job. The days were long and hot, with a large number of students each day. We were impressed with the upbeat attitudes, smiling faces and dedication to excellence. Everyone did a wonderful job, and we are so proud to have them as CSM instructors!

Left to Right:

Tom Spear, Cindy Vogl, Linda Henson, Mark Gagliardi, John Burlison, Dave Fiedler, Ellen Deleganes, Vandy Fiedler (& Riley), John Higgins & Eric Wright

Having Fun

Posted by & filed under Youth Benefits of Shooting Sports Participation.

I just love to see people have fun when they shoot! If you are not having fun, in my opinion, something is very wrong. But what could it be? I have come up with a list of things that I think take all of the fun out of shooting

  • Targets that are too difficult

  • Boring target presentations

  • Pain

  • Placing too much emphasis on score

Most of the people that take shooting lessons from me are beginners and let’s just go ahead and get the word out- Recreational Shooters. Yes I said recreational. However, that does not imply that they do not take their shooting seriously. It does imply that they like to enjoy themselves!

So when I take beginners, or anyone for that matter, I always try to help them avoid the four things on the list: targets that are too difficult for their ability, boredom, pain, and placing too much emphasis on score.

I do this by carefully picking and choosing the targets that we will shoot during the lesson, trying to match the target characteristics to the student’s ability level. For example, you want slow targets that are easy to see for a beginner. Make sure you choose a variety of target presentations – remember that there are four basic target lines: Incoming, going away, left/right crossers, and right/left crossers. If you shoot all of these in a practice session with a beginner, you are off to a great start.

Avoid pain by using techniques to reduce recoil. There is nothing wrong with shooting a 20 gauge shotgun! There are numerous ways to help solve the recoil problem.

I always try to encourage student to focus on building skills and learning how to shoot rather that obsessing on score. There is no score sheet that will measure your perception, coordination, timing, sight picture, alignment, or focus!

Shooting can be a great way to have fun, enjoy being outdoors, get together with friends, and just relax!

Best,

John

Project CLAYS

Posted by & filed under Project CLAYS.

Creative Leadership Through Adventure & Youth Shooting Sports

Project CLAYS is an advocacy and outreach program that will help provide unique outdoor adventure and shooting sports programs to youth participants. The three pillars of the program are: Recreation, Education and Competition.

Recreation: Re-Creating positive experiences to build skills, confidence, awareness and a love for the outdoors.

Education: Programs designed specifically to develop and refine the technical skills of the activities, and teach important life skills in the process.

Competition: Healthy competition to foster team building, leadership development, and the growth of sportsmanship and outdoor ethics.

Check back soon, there will be more information about Project CLAYS posted as we get further along with the program.

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Deep River Sporting Clays & Shooting School

Posted by & filed under CSM endorsed facility.

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Congratulations Deep River!

Congratulations to Deep River Sporting Clays & Shooting School Sanford, NC for becoming the first CSM endorsed facility!

Deep River is committed to providing an unparalleled experience for each and every guest, whether they are a seasoned competitor or a first time shooter. Guests have access to a full staff of experienced instructors, a beautiful sporting clays course with wide variety of target presentations. The course is complemented with covered respite pavilions that offer a water station and rest benches.

One of the new and exciting features of the Deep River sporting clays course will be the CSM Matrix Menu. Selected stations on the course will be designated as Matrix Stations and will have target presentations that will allow students to shoot the practice routines learned at the shooting school.

To find out more about Deep River Sporting Clays & Shooting School and how to get on “The Matrix” call 919-774-7080.

If you would like to find out how your facility or club can become CSM endorsed, please call or email John Higgins at 912-656-1589 or jchiggins@reagan.com.