Wasting Targets At a recent registered shoot, I saw a squad look at targets for over 15 minutes before they started their round. The lead-off was a well-known and respected skeet shooter. As the referee approached the field, she let it go on for a few more minutes before saying something to the shooters about wasting targets. This young lady is an excellent referee and did the right thing by speaking up. The targets cost about 10 or 15 cents each. I'm certain someone out there will give me the actual per-unit cost, but you get the idea. Whatever the cost actually is, this … [Read more...]
Hartmann’s Hint #45: Talking Behind the Field
Talking Behind the Field As skeet shooters, we don't talk while someone else on our squad is shooting. We try to be polite to our squad mates. I just attended a shoot at one of my favorite gun clubs, The Oklahoma City Gun Club in Arcadia, Oklahoma. One of the things they've done is placed bright yellow signs by each of their five fields that tell spectators and other shooters to be quiet while shooting is in progress. We all have friends that we only see at shoots, and we always have something to talk about, but we should have these discussions somewhere other than at or near the … [Read more...]
Hartmann’s Hint #43: Physician, Heal Thyself
Physician, Heal Thyself This quote comes from the Book of Luke in the New Testament of The Bible. I felt that this would be a good title for this hint as it applies indirectly to my current situation. My skeet shooting over the last five or six years has gone to pot, and not the kind you put in high school cigarettes. In 2012 I hurt my hand and was unable to shoot for about five or six months; my decline started around that time. I try to blame my loss of skill on that event, but I do know better. As a Master Level Instructor, I can tell others what may be wrong with … [Read more...]
Hartmann’s Hint #42: Low 6
"I really dislike low 6" Recently I've heard several shooters state that they dislike one target or another or one station or another. Disliking a station or target may make you miss them just because you think about how much you dislike them, rather than having positive thoughts about each and every target and station. When you find yourself disliking a station or a target you have two choices, one: get your problem with that station or target identified and fixed, or two: continue disliking and complaining about that station or target. Sometimes you can identify your … [Read more...]
Hartmann’s Hint #51: Hot Weather
Hot Weather We all should know the contents of this hint, and maybe you do, but I believe it's worth reminding all of us about what hot weather can do to you. I used to believe that I could live with the heat, and then I went to Little Rock for our Zone 6 shoot a few years ago and the heat got me. I saw the proverbial 'White Light' and felt like I was numb all over. I walked to the air conditioned clubhouse and sat down outside the building for about an hour before I had the energy to go up the four or five steps into the cool building. The heat got me! When weather … [Read more...]
