Yes, there is a difference, says David. With the clay target games we know where the target is coming from and going to, so you can make a plan, set a break area, then adjust your body accordingly, look back for the focal area then make the conscious decision to pick a muzzle hold point.

With Bird hunting (especially upland bird hunting) you do not know where, when or how many will fly up out of that food plot or Nebraska switch grass field. Dog or no dog, you really don’t know unless you can see the thing in the grass. David says that most hunters rush their shots on birds and find themselves being more productive on that second shot; its more of a spray and pray technique.

Like good clay shooting, effective wing shooting takes a bit of self control and foot work, if your body is not in position to swing with the bird, there is a good chance of missing or worse wounding it. Nothing is worse than pulling feathers off that cock pheasant only to watch him fly over the next ridge, and in most cases not surviving. Being able to participate in wing shooting is a gift and we should all play safe and most important play effectively. David has been guiding upland hunters for the past 6 years behind his four English Springer Spaniels.