Each of us comes to shooting and hunting in our own way. Some shoot with their father or grandfather from childhood, who step by step demonstrate the intricacies and subtleties of gun handling. Others are introduced to shooting by a friend, and after hunting or shooting with them once, they realize they’ve found their true passion. Many women, surprisingly, follow their enthusiastic husbands into shooting. In my experience, there are several cases where, after a few shots on a hunt or at a clay pigeon shoot, the women became so enthralled that they continued to practice and train. Shooting ceased to be just a pastime or preparation for the hunting season, and the fairer sex achieved significant heights in shooting sports. I’m writing this article primarily for a male audience. I’ll discuss how to introduce your wife to shooting and hunting. And is it worth it?
Don’t force it.
We men have this characteristic: if something pops into our heads, we immediately try to implement it as quickly as possible. This won’t work with introducing a woman to shooting. Interest should grow gradually. First, curiosity, then a desire to try it out, then the first shot, and only then thoughts of further training. If the first impression is positive, the desire to take up shooting sports will surely arise. Shooting shouldn’t seem complicated or incomprehensible. Ideally, when introducing a newbie, take the simplest target, briefly explain the shooting principles, and let them take a shot. Chances are, they’ll break the target.
Assess engagement.
Some people are thrilled by the shooting process and the result, even if they only hit two out of 10. Others, however, are disinterested and quickly become disillusioned. If your significant other is involved, further training, gun purchases, and regular ammunition expenses are guaranteed to add up to a hefty sum. And if the price of ammunition doesn’t scare you, then we move on to the next point.
Find a coach
Don’t try to teach your spouse yourself. You must not only possess incredible skill and understanding of shooting, but also enormous patience. Simple advice isn’t enough. Even experienced coaches delegated this task to colleagues they trusted. Mistakes are inevitable during the learning process, and you’ll have to work on them, which requires discipline and a certain amount of rigor. Taking on the training yourself can ruin the family atmosphere. It’s better to entrust shooting instruction to a qualified coach. The coach must understand that the student is a sensitive individual who requires a special approach. When teaching, it’s important to thoroughly instill not only a theoretical understanding of the shooting process but also to practice this knowledge in practice. This is where a very sensitive approach to a woman’s psyche and patience will be required. Fortunately, women are always very disciplined in handling guns. However, they are usually less physically fit, and this will require additional exercise at first. Exercises are especially focused on strengthening the shoulder girdle and arm muscles.
Don’t rush.
In the first couple of months, 1-2 training sessions per week will be sufficient. Shooting more than 50-75 shots at a time is also not recommended. The main thing is to maintain interest and excitement, while gradually mastering the theory. The first real practical understanding of how to shoot a shotgun at a moving target usually comes after the shooter has shot their first thousand targets, naturally with homework and a competent coach. By homework, we mean real work in the form of dry-fire training, or even better, with a laser target practice system.
Determine your budget right away.
Since we men are the main breadwinners in the family, we also need to pay for our spouse’s hobbies. Shooting is a very expensive hobby. Buying a gun for your wife and tuning it is a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of training. Add the cost of a trainer to the price of ammunition and clays, multiply by 8, since that’s two training sessions per month, and you’ll understand how much money you’ll need for a month of consistent shooting. It’s best to calculate these costs upfront and factor these additional expenses into your family budget. Yes, the expenses are considerable, but no cars or fur coats will give your wife the same joy as shooting. And it’s worth it, because shared interests always strengthen family relationships.