American Survival Guide – October 2019

72 AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE [OCTOBER 2019]

‹ Left: The author

puts in as much time

as possible on his

local outdoor range

throughout the year.

This is done to create as

realistic a scenario as

possible.

› The author’s

shooting partner,

Mark, practices using

open sights on his rifle

youneedtobeprepared.Withbirdhunting,

the shots may present themselves for only a

split-second, so you need to train your eyes to

pick up the target quickly while at the same

time you are moving the gun for the shot. It

takes the level of hand-eye coordination that

only constant practice will produce.

Becoming one with your firearm, whether

the rifle or the shotgun, will take time. Even

though I shoot on a regular basis, I never take

anything for granted. My family depends on

me to bring home game every time I go out, and so do I. Honestly, it doesn’t happen that way.

There will be days when the game isn’t there, shots don’t present themselves or you just plain

miss. The goal is to make those days few and far between. To do that means expending many

boxes of ammo and putting the time in at the range so you are ready when the opportunity

does present itself. Yes, I know, summer is fishing season, and believe me I will be doing my

share of that as well, but if you plan on having a successful hunting season, then you need to

put the time and work in at the range.

One final note: Many of the points above can also help make you more effective when it comes

to personal security and home defense. The bottom line is to practice under the most realistic

conditions possible as often as you can to ensure you’ll make the most of your shot, whether it’s

for food for your table or to ensure your family’s safety.

“ISHOOTALLYEARAROUND.DURINGTHEWINTERI USEAN

INDOORRANGE,BUTINTHESUMMERYOUWILLFINDME

SHOOTINGATOUTDOOR RIFLE RANGES OR ON THE SPORTING

CLAYS COURSE.”