Improve Your Wingshooting by Tracking Summertime Shots

Even if you don't spend many days afield, your wingshooting skills can remain sharp with off-season practice.

posted on July 30, 2020
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

Growing up in central Minnesota, wingshooting was a big part of our family adventures. We spent countless weekends hunting pheasants, doves, ducks and geese, and like anything … practice makes perfect. My younger brother and I couldn’t wait for the youth waterfowl season to kick off each fall, so even when my dad had to work, my mom would bring us out. The memories will never be forgotten. Unfortunately I don’t get to spend quite as many days in the field wingshooting anymore (I spend way too much time sitting in a tree hunting deer), so I try to use the summer months to improve those skills for fall.

I've done a couple of things to shorten the learning curve. One is to practice with Winchester AA TrAAcker. I love these shotshells because they contain colored wads that follow the shot string, so you can see why you’re missing. For example, if you’re too far behind the clay target, you will see exactly where your shot hit on the fly. I don’t always have someone by my side to help coach, so this a great way for anyone to make the needed changes and improve much quicker. 

The next choice I made to improve my wing shooting was to mount a holographic sight on my shotgun. To some this may seem crazy, but 99 percent of my hunting is big game and I’m used to having a scope or holographic sight on my gun. I was a little nervous the first year I headed to Saskatchewan for a waterfowl hunt, but figured if I didn’t like the sight, I could always remove it on the hunt. But it turned out to be a huge improvement. My shots were spot on and I absolutely loved having it and probably wouldn’t do a waterfowl hunt again without it. The only drawback is it sits up a little higher, so I did notice slightly increased recoil, but the improved shooting was worth it. 

Wingshooting has been a great way for our family to bond from the time we were kids, to more recent waterfowl trips with my dad in Canada. I love to sit back and enjoy the early morning sunrises, non-stop laughter and fun, and have one less thing to worry about. I know that my summer practice will keep me ready and prepared even if iI only get to do one or two wingshooting trips a year. So even if you’re a bit rusty, put in some time this summer and get back into the fun of wing shooting with family and friends.

Latest

Charter Arms Pathfinder II 22LR Odgreen Black Passivate
Charter Arms Pathfinder II 22LR Odgreen Black Passivate

New Guns 2025: Charter Arms Pathfinder II .22 LR Revolver Series

Offered in three models, the .22 LR revolver is designed for both experienced shooters and beginners, making it an ideal choice for sport shooting, small game hunting and personal protection.

Gun Gear: Splurge or Cheap Out?

For hunting and shooting, what items should you prioritize spending money on to buy the best you can afford and what can you save money on by going cheap?

Risk Mitigation: Are You Worried About the Wrong Things?

Are you spending too much time worrying about things that don’t matter and ignoring the dangers you’re statistically more likely to face?

 

Celebrating 26 Years of Legacy and Leadership: Women On Target at the Oklahoma City Gun Club

The iconic gathering has become a national benchmark for women’s shooting clinics, blending community, education and marksmanship at a scale rarely seen elsewhere.

The Armed Citizen® Reload September 12, 2025

Shots to the legs were enough to stop two separate violent attacks against women.

Smith & Wesson Announces Grand Opening of World-Class Training Academy

The Smith & Wesson Academy team will be led by renowned instructor Mark “Coch” Cochiolo, a retired U.S. Navy Chief Warrant Officer with more than three decades of service in Naval Special Warfare.

Women's Interests



Get the best of NRA Women delivered to your inbox.