Distance can be a problem
I HAVE seen it many times in the field and I am never surprised when people complain to me about other people shooting at geese that are hundreds of metres from them.
They are inevitably new to waterfowl hunting.
Judging the distance of a bird is difficult and magpie geese pose other factors by their sheer size.
But three-figure distances are just plain impossible.
They just ruin the hunt for everyone.
People new to bird hunting can practise judging distance at home by viewing birds flying and then pacing out the distance to landmarks like trees the bird has flown over or to.
With the abundance of geese around Darwin they can even do it with geese in the parks. Shooters would be wise to go along to NT Field and Game where targets are shot at ranges up to 45 and 50 metres.
A pattern board is also available to learn more about your shotgun first thing at Sunday mass practice.
A new hunter was recently told by his mates to get along to NTFGA for some coaching. Anthony remarked that he had wasted 40 shells for one goose the previous weekend. I took him out and explained to him to fix his eyes on the target and not the bead and he shot 16 of the 25 varying targets from five different traps. We didn’t move on until he hit three targets in succession at each trap.
Remember don’t practise shooting a target until you hit it, practise until you can’t miss it. The clay target presentations at Field and Game are designed to simulate real hunting. The reason they shoot clay targets is firstly to improve their skills for the real thing. Everyone is welcome to join in.
A shooter’s licence is not required to come and try clay target shooting and everything is available for hire.
NT Field and Game will still hold special practice sessions on Sunday mornings at the Mickett Creek Shooting Complex range, resuming next Sunday, January 3. Watch NT Field and Game on Facebook for up-to-date details. They will be closed on Fridays, reopening on January 15, 2021 with the first 50 target competition on Sunday, January 17 supported by Northern Tile Gallery.