wildfowler.250 Posted January 5, 2013 Report Share Posted January 5, 2013 I'm starting to loose track of the ammount of friends asking me to take them shooting. Now this is something I would love to do but I am also very apprehensive about it. I currently have packed in the game shooting for a short time and I have just been wildfowling on occasional weekends. My current thoughts are: 1) I would want to teach them safety first. This might put them off as it takes time and it's not just something you can 'have a go at' like tennis.. 2) I'd have to get them onto clays so they could hit something cleanly and also not waste our time 3) wildfowling is the marmite of the sport. Would you agree that people are better introduced via game shooting or pigeons/rabbits? All my rabbit shooting died with mixy and I don't really shoot the doo's till harvest. Then it's awkward asking the farmer to take random folk with me onto their land. Any suggestions about how to go about this? I'm 23,(started shooting around 8 years) so would really like to start getting similar aged folk into the sport. Not for my benefit but for the longevity of country pursuits. Having typed this out I think pigeon shooting is probably the best option? Advice would be greatly appreciated as I feel I'm doing shooting a disservice by not taking friends out. Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted January 5, 2013 Report Share Posted January 5, 2013 (edited) Like you I get people asking me to take them out on my permissions for various reasons. Sometimes they are on a "Mentoring" or "Accompanied" condition and other times they just don't have much in the way of permissions theirselves. I should say that our positions are a little different as I don't do any wildfowling and my permissions and shooting is vermin control on hill farms. Even so the first thing that I do is to take them out in daylight AFTER giving them a good sfaety talk and checking their FAC/SGC and Insurance. This "Safety Talk" may sound a bit "patronising" but it is something that has to be done and in my opinion is extremely important for all parties concerned (Including the farmer and his livestock). I will then often take them up to the quarry where they can check the zeroing of their rifle and do a bit of "target practice"! This gives me an initial period where I can watch over them and (If need be) give them a few tips about "Muzzle Awareness" etc. If they are only using a shotgun I will then get the clay trap out which I keep at the quarry and let them have a go at a few clays to see how their gun handling is and maybe (If necessary) help them with a few pointers. From there I will take them out to one or two of the farms and see how they get on with a couple of rabbits, pigeons or corvids. During this time I will walk with them and just watch without saying too much, unless I see a potential problem/danger. Once I am happy with them they would then be allowed to go out lamping with me but only initially along side me rather than splitting up. With regards to Mentoring, that is a slightly different proposition! Edit: Wildfowler - Chat to them over the phone before agreeing meeting up and if you don't feel comfortable with anything that they are saying question it, or if something just doesn't seem to "ring true" or give you doubts (I did have this once myself) then politely decline to take them. When all is said and done it is good to encourage and help others but it is your permission and more importantly your safety and reputation that is at stake here. Plus, as I have said earlier, ask to check their FAC/SGC and Insurance before taking them out shooting. Edited January 5, 2013 by Frenchieboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
washerboy Posted January 5, 2013 Report Share Posted January 5, 2013 I started out just walking on rough shoot Day out, i walked a few times with out a gun to See how safe the other lad was around me and his dogs Then i was loaned a gun and the friend walked along side me, working the dog if i shot anything Then a few wks later we walked either side of a small plantation, both carrying guns I wouldnt take anybody unless i thought they were 100% safe.i have missed shots because of me walking with an unloaded gun because i deamed the ground i was walking over Not Fit to be be safe to have a loaded gun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted January 5, 2013 Report Share Posted January 5, 2013 Obviously safety, but why not simply take them to a Clay shoot, often some tuition/advice available FOC, who knows, they may have had enough after that, but if not move on slowly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Livefast123 Posted January 5, 2013 Report Share Posted January 5, 2013 (edited) In my humble opinion the best way to introduce people into the sport is by taking them for a simple round of clays at the local ground or with a cheap trap at your permission. I find that noobs enjoy clay shooting and you can avoid the complex issue of shooting live things for the first couple of outings by which time they are generally hooked! I usually add the safety talk to the car journey where ever we are going then back it up with a practical session on the ground as it were. Most people who are new to shooting and have common sense will not mess around with a gun after being briefed but I generally hang close by until i feel I can trust them. Last year I got 2 new SGC's out of taking people out and have got 3 more that are extremely interested in getting one Edited January 5, 2013 by Livefast123 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aris Posted January 5, 2013 Report Share Posted January 5, 2013 I only started recently, and was introduced by way of a starter session clay shoot. They cost £30-40 and include everything to get a taste for it. If they like it - they can continue and take it further. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbust Posted January 5, 2013 Report Share Posted January 5, 2013 I have a couple of manual sit on double Traps so if anyone wants to have a go that is what I use to introduce them. If I am happy that they are safe and can actually hit the clays, I might then take them shooting crows/Pigeons from a hide where I can once again keep my eye on them and give advice if needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted January 5, 2013 Report Share Posted January 5, 2013 (edited) Take a group of them along to one of the NRA open days. They can shoot .45 cal pistols, clays, sniper rifles, steel plates, Running deer, clays, Lee Enfields, SMLEs, AK47s, M16s etc all under expert supervision. Best value you will ever get http://www.nra.org.u...ite=NRA&id=3252 Edited January 5, 2013 by Vince Green Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted January 5, 2013 Report Share Posted January 5, 2013 in lieu of an NRA day happening i recommend clay shoot, take a group and make a day of it. I would personally suggest get them to have a "group lesson" or "taster session" typically £15-£35 per person for 25 all in and let the instructor teach them....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evo Posted January 6, 2013 Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 in lieu of an NRA day happening i recommend clay shoot, take a group and make a day of it. I would personally suggest get them to have a "group lesson" or "taster session" typically £15-£35 per person for 25 all in and let the instructor teach them....... + 1 well said Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cockercas Posted January 6, 2013 Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 Been clay shooting this morning. Had the gf and 2 mates and there gf. Its a great feeling getting someone to consistantly smash clays when they have never fired a gun before. One lass even managed 2 out of 4 on the high tower and a left and a right on teal trap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steveg01 Posted January 6, 2013 Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 My first every go with a shotgun was at a shooting ground. They took me through all the aspects of safety etc. I then went with a friend to the shooting ground he goes to and again he went through the safety aspect with me before guiding me around the skeet shoot. I went to the shooting ground about 4 or 5 times and then he took me pigeon shooting. On the pigeon shoot we discussed the shooting and what was expected all done before I even took the gun out of the slip. I undertsood the need for the briefing and the do's and don'ts/ If anyone is interested in shooting they need to understand the inherient dangers of what could happen if they don't act safely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cockercas Posted January 6, 2013 Report Share Posted January 6, 2013 My safety briefing consisted of. Keep it pointed that way. No cartridges in untill your ready to shoot. And keep it broken. Non are idiots so we avoided the whole waving guns around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evo Posted January 7, 2013 Report Share Posted January 7, 2013 Been clay shooting this morning. Had the gf and 2 mates and there gf. Its a great feeling getting someone to consistantly smash clays when they have never fired a gun before. One lass even managed 2 out of 4 on the high tower and a left and a right on teal trap. well done bud , nice to see people being introduced to our sport Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
demonwolf444 Posted January 7, 2013 Report Share Posted January 7, 2013 I taught my sisters basic shooting eticet ( sp?) in the garden with air rifles. Then borrowed some clays and thew them by hand on my permission to show them about lead and following through and getting used to the recoil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil3728 Posted January 7, 2013 Report Share Posted January 7, 2013 I took my cousin clay shoting yesterday, basic safety was as little as watch me and do only as I do, he's not daft and i am very safety consous myself. I only handed the cartridges over whan I was sure he was ready. I'm in the process of teaching my 4 year old daughter all about gun safety this is done at home as she likes to help me clean my shotgun. As she comes to the clay grounds with me I want her to feel safe and espect guns but not be afread of them. Even she undersatnd that a gun must be broken at all times unless you are ready to shoot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted January 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2013 Thanks for all the very helpful replies guys. I haven't been on PW much recently so apologies for the slow reply. I'll go down the brief safety and clay shoot route. Either a lesson which they can go to or use a manual trap I've got at a farm I did manage to get the girlfriend shooting targets and afterwards shot a rabbit,(albeit a mixy) but that was over a few zeroing sessions before she tagged along shooting. Thanks again for all the help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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