Canadian Airgun Field Target Association

Category: Article

  • Experience from WFTC2025

    by JoelG and JeffH

    The following questions were asked of Joel G to help us all have insight into what it is like to shoot at the top levels of World Federation Field Target (WFTF).

    Joel placed 3rd in the Springer division at the World Field Target Championship held in mid-August in Armaugh Northern Ireland where he became the highest ever placing Canadian shooter.

    JeffH: would you share some thoughts about what it was like to start the final day of shooting at the top of the leader board and end in a shoot off?

    JoelG: I started day 3 tied for first place overall for springer class with Jan Homan. Immediately following the shoot on day 3, one of my other shooting partners turned and said to me “Looks like we are tied…Not sure what we are tied for though”. After asking around, as we waited for scores to be tallied, we realized that we were at least inside of the top 5 overall.

    Once the score totals started coming in we were told that we were in a shoot-off for 3rd & 4th place, once this was confirmed I began to mentally prepare for the shoot-off as the last one I was in lasted over 10 minutes, with 6 rounds of off-hand shooting and I was hoping to finish this one without getting into standing shots.

    JeffH: Would you walk us through what it was like to be in shoot-off at the Worlds?

    JoelG: I waited by myself beside the firing line, mentally preparing and practicing breathing exercises until we were called up to shoot, and after chronographing our guns, we sat at the firing line.

    The whistle blew and we each begin our shooting from the seated position with one near (30yd) target and one far (50yd) target.

    As I got thru my shot cycle and prepare to take my first shot, I hear the other shooter take his shot, it sounded like a miss, but when I looked over we had both knocked down the first target.

    On my second shot, I checked the wind direction/speed by raising the target string under tension and dropping it, I can see a slight right-to-left breeze and begin holding over accordingly.

    Just as I am preparing my line-up on target I hear the other shooter release his shot and it was definitely a miss!

    I took an extra breath and maintained focus and released my shot…and target goes down!

    JeffH: Would you walk us through what you achieved in the shoot off?

    JoelG: The immediate result, I secured 3rd place overall in Springer Division.

    I was immediately relieved and excited; not only did I avoid a long/positional shoot-out, I achieved my highest world-level overall score and tied my personal best for a single day score at a World Field Target Championship with a 45/50!

    This also tied me (again) for the third highest single-day springer score recorded by the WFTF at a WFTC event.

    I was so excited by the shootout and following ceremony, I didn’t even consider my score had qualified me for the “WFTF Master” award and it wasn’t until another shooter point this out to me that I realized what I had accomplished with my score.

    JeffH: would share with us your general thoughts about preparing for the Worlds and what it meant to you?

    JoelG: Sure thing! I’ll break it down into three parts:

    • My preparation leading up to WFTC events generally starts 6-8 months prior to the event, with the first 3-4months I target and average of 0.75hr per day of practice, then moving to push for an average of 1.5hr per day in the last 3-4 months. This year presented a couple unique challenges to work through, mainly, the fact that Air Canada went on strike 1 day before my flight to Ireland was supposed to leave. It took me 3 days and nearly 30hrs on the phone to finally find another flight, which resulted in my wife and I racing to get to Toronto air port in time and having to buy an extra set of tickets to secure our flight as there was no service to change over our existing flight. This caused us to land in Ireland Wednesday around 11am, with the Championship starting Thursday at 8am. Thankfully I was able to practice at our AirBNB until dark, but this left me with nerves and jetlag for the first day of the competition I can normally avoid.
    • Achieving this score was confirmation I had made progress and the practice had been effective in raising my skills as I had not been to a WFTC since 2019. It was amazing to see this come together and prove I could still compete near the top at a world level, this was both exciting and humbling. I hope this helps to show other Canadians that it is possible to represent our country at a world level and plan to spend the next two years trying to build up our Canadian shooter to give us a great showing at WFTC 2027. I see so many skilled and talented people in our Canadian FT scene, I am excited for what we will be able to show the world!!
    • For these other shooters considering shooting at a world level, I would say get out there and practice!! Trigger time is king when it comes to consistency…full stop

    JeffH: What parting words would you offer the readers?

    JoelG: Absolutely! Here are my learnings from competing at this and multiple other Worlds:

    • Spending time to truly know your gun, your scope and how they react to different situations and environments is key.
    • Learning how deal with and read the effects of wind is also a very large factor that separates shooters at the top.
      • The one thing I wish I would have known starting out is the importance of positional shots,
      • I am now quite competent in both standing and kneeling, but it took a number of years to dial these in and for a while, they were noticeably lagging behind my shooting ability when seated.
    • Once you reach a certain level, positional lanes and wind basically decide who comes out on top…
      • I may have understood this on a basic level, but not to the point that I do today.

  • Mental Training

    by HS

    Mental training

    For my third and final instalment, a few works on mental training.

    It seems as though any time shooters discuss practice, training, or competitions, there are many topics and at least as many opinions.  This is good and the more we share and exchange knowledge, the richer our experience becomes. 

    The subject of the mental aspects of shooting certainly comes up in these situations.  Here are a few thoughts on the subject. 

    Just as live fire lends itself to increasing skill level for field target shooting, mental training can be a more efficient method to improve in other areas. 

    If you spend enough time at the range you will hear people honestly state that they’ve experienced being nervous on occasion at competitions.  What sort of situations might trigger this? 

    For some people they might get anxious at the beginning of the match and don’t really settle down until they’ve fired a few shots on score.  For others it might occur on the kneeling lane. 

    Match pressure may hit someone who is on the verge of shooting a personal best.  How do we deal with these situations?

    The symptoms of match pressure can include increased heart rate, increased breathing rate, muscle tremors, and inability to focus on the task at hand. 

    One strategy to address this are relaxation exercises.  Progressive relaxation involves focusing on part of the body, tensing those muscles, and then relaxing those same muscles. 

    You can learn to do this sitting at home.  As you do so, also work on relaxing your mind and clearing it of negative thoughts, and instead focus on calming yourself. 

    In the interest of time I will abbreviate the description here, but there is information you can search online if this might help you. 

    • The idea is to begin in a comfortable position. 
    • Contract the muscles in your head; clench your jaw, your eyes, your neck. 
    • Hold the contraction for perhaps 20 or 30 seconds. 
    • Then, release the contraction and relax.  Focus on this feeling, enjoy it, and repeat if needed. 
    • Next do the same first with one arm, then the other arm. 
    • Start with the shoulder, then the upper arm, the lower arm, and finally the hand. 
    • Continue on with your back, your torso, legs, and all the way down to your feet. 

    You will be surprised at the effect it can have on you. 

    Whole body relaxation exercises can be done at home at your convenience.  You can do them before you dry fire or before you leave for the range, or at the range as required. 

    Some say that if your body is relaxed, your mind relaxes as well. 

    Accordingly, this counteracts the effects of match pressure and puts you in control of your physical and mental state.

    This feeling of control in turn increases your confidence during competition. 

    You will find that with practice you can learn to achieve a relaxed state through mental effort only.  While this has been a long path to get to the mental training aspect, you can see how they relate to each other, that being, physical relaxation is used to prepare us for mental relaxation, and then task focus. 

    If this sounds like something that can work for you, consider using the technique proactively. 

    • Incorporate it into your training routine.  Work on simply relaxing one or two specific areas, such as the bicep and the shoulder. 
    • A good time to use it is while you are stretching in preparation for shooting. 
    • Use it as part of your routine on match days rather than only in response to match pressure situations. 

    Another mental training technique is affirmation.  We all have strengths and weaknesses. 

    If we were to create either a physical or mental list of our strengths and weaknesses we can incorporate them into our training. 

    Our weaknesses are:

    • Acknowledged and training strategies developed to systematically address them. 
    • We are not ignoring them but making positive steps through training to change them into strengths over time. 
    • We do not dwell on our weaknesses. 

    Our strengths are:

    • Affirmed and acknowledged
    • Repeating them
    • This reinforces a positive and realistic self-image.

    Perhaps the night before a match you sit down and reflect on your strengths. 

    Think about how you’ve made time to exercise regularly, how much your standing position has improved, how you’ve gained confidence in shooting in the wind, or your other achievements. 

    You may reflect on how your equipment is in top shape, how you have spare parts on hand if needed, or how you’ve addressed deficiencies in your last match in preparation for this match. 

    You may even want to write them down.  Doing so promotes and reinforces confidence in your proven abilities that you can carry into every competition. 

    When actually shooting in either practice or competition you can acknowledge a perfect shot by simply stating to yourself, “that’s like me”, or something similar. 

    Use the method to reinforce your good performance often and create good habits.

    Just as positive affirmations can become part of your preparation, the technique of mental rehearsal can also be used to positively reinforce desired behaviour. 

    No doubt you’ve heard the expression, “practice makes perfect”.  Mental training advocates believe, “perfect practice makes perfect”. 

    Expert opinions vary when it comes to declaring how much task repetition is required before someone becomes expert in their sport, or even to develop a habit. 

    Mental training, done properly, gives that repetition.  

    However, the vast majority of us are not at the top level of our sport and thus are not in a position to “practice perfectly”, rather we are better served by improving the technical and physical aspects of our skill inventory. 

    Those at the top of the sport are not the target audience for this article. 

    The concern for the rest of us is that mental rehearsal may reinforce bad habits, and accordingly, we should not introduce it into our training prematurely.  Instead, we can use mental rehearsal to experience other aspects of our event.

    Having said that, sooner or later we all experience that perfect shot where we do everything correctly and are rewarded with a dead centre hit, a fallen target, and perfect follow through. 

    That is the time where we should mentally replay in detail what we did to achieve that perfect result.  The idea is to make it as real as possible in our mind. 

    Replay the environmental conditions (lighting, wind, mirage, temperature), your pre-shot routine, your hold, checking the wind, the shot, the recoil, the follow through, the centre impact of the shot, the target falling, and your perfect follow through, and your affirmation, “that’s like me”. 

    Re-experience the perfection of the shot in exact detail several times and take satisfaction in your perfect performance as you deserve.  When on the firing line, this takes seconds not minutes, though it is advisable to record it in detail in your shooting diary when time permits. 

    The opposite is also true, that being, in the event of a poor shot, we do not dwell upon it, and simply move on to the next shot. 

    When mentally rehearsing there are two variations of the technique that I will attempt to describe. 

    • Method 1 is described as you seeing something through your own eyes just like everyday life. 
    • Method 2, is described as you watching yourself as someone else would as a spectator, or as though you were an actor in a movie. 

    Method 1 lends itself to rehearsing the personal or micro level of the act of shooting.  You see the crosshair, target, and other details. 

    Method 2 rehearsal allows you to observe the details of your shooting position from the same perspective as everyone else does. 

    Either method may be employed to rehearse non-shooting technique elements.  For example, we can envision preparing our gear, packing it in the car, and driving to the range.  We can imagine the details of arriving, greeting people, setting up, stretching, identifying wind indicators, etc. 

    We visualize and rehearse doing things correctly, and meeting or exceeding our goals for the day. 

    More specific to HFT/FT is mentally rehearsing a shoot off.  This is a situation that is not easily replicated during range sessions, nor is it necessarily the best use of scarce range time. 

    The benefit of mental rehearsal is the ability to create a shoot off in our mind and experience each element under a controlled environment. 

    All things being equal, the competitor who took the time in training to rehearse a shoot off may be said to have an advantage over someone who has never been through it in any form. 

    How else could we incorporate mental training into our training program?  I would suggest it is beneficial when:

    • you need help moving past a training plateau (stuck at a certain score)
    • are facing a perceived/mental barrier (want to clean the standing lanes),
    • or when you need to make unfamiliar territory more familiar and comfortable to address. 

    The exact situations are yours to determine. 

    In closing, the shooting sports are incredibly satisfying by simply enjoying live fire practice at the range.  If you are inclined to consider additional choices designed to increase your enjoyment, perhaps some of the information here will be of benefit to you.

  • Goal Setting

    by HS

    This is the second instalment in my exploration of becoming a more capable shooter. Here we focus on goal setting. 

    Previously we suggested an approach to prepare for the goal setting exercise.  Here we will build upon the products of our self-reflection and initial priority development.  At this stage our focus shifts to what we want to do/accomplish.  These become our goals or objectives, and from there we create a training plan to follow in order to achieve them.

    When discussing training for shooting It is important to recognize the value of live fire practice.  Regardless of the shooting sport, time spent firing rounds downrange is the most crucial element to success for the greatest number of people. 

    Physical and mental training have their place but expertise is best developed by live fire.  Too often you learn of shooters from a variety of shooting disciplines claiming shooting is 90% mental or something similar. 

    The physicality of shooting requires muscular development, control, and fine motor coordination.  The body must learn to accommodate the new demands of the activity and this is accomplished by training over time, and accelerated and maintained by targeted exercise. 

    Effective training accelerates progress.  For those relatively few world class shooters, the claim that shooting is 90% mental, is far more valid since the skill gap is very small. Those same world class shooters certainly fired tens of thousands of shots to get to their level.

    Obviously a detailed or formal approach is not needed by most.  Many people can obtain tremendous enjoyment with a simple approach.  This could be vowing to shoot 250 pellets per week or having one range day in the week prior to a competition and then competing in the match.  For other people more might be needed and desired.

    Traditionally recreational shooters go to their clubs once or twice a week and practice.  Over time the repetition of this practice results in improvement. 

    Goal setting and focused training has the potential to increase the rate of this improvement.  Increasing the frequency of practice triggers something referred to as the training effect. 

    Those who modify their practice habits to benefit from the training effect are most likely to improve.  It’s been suggested frequent training yields greater benefits than infrequent, long duration training sessions, and that benefits of the training effect begin to appear when frequency of training is at least 4 times per week. 

    Since few of us are able to visit an outdoor range 4 or more times per week the question becomes how we can organize ourselves to progress. 

    Let’s do this first for new shooters and then for somewhat more experienced shooters. 

    New Shooters

    A beginning shooter interested in competing would recognize that they are better served to concentrate on goals that have them learning the sport and getting the basics in place, before they set out to achieve a certain score or win a competition. 

    You might want to refer to goals in this format as training objectives.  Such an individual might create something like this:

    Immediate goals (present to 4 weeks):

    • visit range, learn safety rules, meet club members
    •  buy 3 batches of pellets, group test pellets, bulk purchase preferred pellet
    • learn HFT/FT sitting position basics
    • learn natural area of aim/natural point of aim concept
    • establish zero distance
    • create Range/DOPE card for 10 yards to zero distance in 5 yard increments, i,.e., 10, 15, 20, 25, to zero
    • create Range/DOPE card using ballistic program (Chairgun etc.) for 10 to 55 yards.
    • create recording system to document session results and progress
    • enter competitions as available

    These immediate goals can be inferred to meet the SMART criteria without creating elaborate goal statements.  However, some people may choose to write out goal statements for each and check them off as they are completed.  Doing so might provide satisfaction and/or reinforcement.  The choice is always yours.

    Example:

    Goal 5:  I will have a verified Range/DOPE card completed no later than my 5th range session for the following distances 10, 15, 20, 25 (zero) yards.  ACHIEVED/UNACHIEVED (circle to indicate)

    Short term goals (4 to 8 weeks):

    •  progress in sitting position using 40mm targets to achieve 40% to 100% proficiency.
    •  introduction to kneeling position building and establishment of natural area of aim.
    • create Range/DOPE card for zero distance to 55 yards in 5 yard increments, i.e., 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55 yards.
      • shoot 10 shots kneeling each range session.
    • enter competitions as available

    Medium term goals (9 to 12 weeks):

    •  maintain sitting proficiency using 40mm targets to achieve 60% to 100% proficiency.
    •  develop kneeling proficiency using 40mm targets to achieve 30% to 100% proficiency.
    • introduction to standing position building and establishment of natural area of aim.
    • shoot 10 shots standing each range session.
    • enter competitions as available

    Long term goals (beyond 12 weeks):

    • participate in National Championships
    •  increase sitting proficiency using 40mm targets to achieve 75% to 100% proficiency.
    •  maintain kneeling proficiency using 40mm targets to achieve 30% to 100% proficiency.
    • maintain standing proficiency using 40mm targets to achieve 30% to 100% proficiency.
    • at season’s end review progress, self-reflect, create new goals for upcoming events.

    Intermediate/Experienced Shooters

    Other shooters might be competitive shooters with a few seasons of experience who derive their enjoyment from shooting matches. 

    The goals and training program they create will be different from the newcomer, whose time frame is shorter/limited to the actual outdoor season.  Such competitors might categorize their shooting activities as follows (physical, technical, skills, tools, & techniques, mental, equipment, gunsmithing, rest/break) and address them over the calendar year. 

    Their long range goal might be to represent their country at an international match in 2 years time.  Accordingly, to qualify, they set their main goal for this season (mid-term goal) at the National Championships in September.

    Goal Example:  I will attend our National Championships in September and will average a minimum of 45/60 over the course of the event.

    Physical:              

    • Sport Specific
      • ability to adopt the sitting, standing, kneeling positions.
      • ability to hold the gun still in sitting, standing, kneeling positions.
      • General Conditioning
      • aerobic, anaerobic, strength, endurance, flexibility.

    Technical:           

    • competence/expertise in the 3 positions sufficient to yield desired scores. 
    • build/modify positions to shrink the natural area of aim to a natural point of aim.          

    Develop/modify shot plan.

    • Integrate monitoring of environmental factors (wind, mirage, light, etc.),breath control, hold, trigger break, and follow through (“put it altogether”).

    Skills, tools,Techniques:       

    • Develop shot calling skills, wind reading, shooting within time limits.
    •  Learn to shoot uphill or downhill.
    •  Learn to modify positions for uneven ground.

    Mental:

    • Learn relaxation techniques,
    • Learn visualization/mental rehearsal techniques, for various situations such as general match nerves, going “clean” on a lane/course, tie breakers/shoot-offs.

    Equipment:        

    • Purchase new accessories/equipment.
    • Clean barrel, clean and maintain rifle.
    •  Clean telescopic sight
    • Check rings, mounts, MOA rails.
    • Torque all screws-rings, mounts, rails, action screws, etc.

    Rest/break: 

    • Time off from shooting

    Gunsmithing: 

    • Equipment repair
    • Upgrading by using a professional gun smith

    The experienced competitor acknowledges that within the broad categories identified above (physical, technical, skills, tools, & techniques, mental, equipment, gunsmithing, rest/break), there is room for improvement that will increase the likelihood of attaining their primary goal. 

    A training program is a tool to achieve their goals.  It is not just the content of the plan that leads to success. 

    Attitude is important also.  Simply firing shots down range without purpose does not lead to maximum benefits.  

    The athlete needs to direct the appropriate level of effort to reach their challenging goals.  Without the required physical and mental effort to create the needed stimulus, progress will be retarded.

    Sample abbreviated 12 month plan.

    November:

    • Season over. 
    • Maintain equipment. 
    • Arrange gunsmithing if needed. 
    • Take a break from shooting. 
    • Maintain/improve general physical conditioning.  Rest.

    December:

    • Analyze and reflect on completed season, results, goal attainment. 
    • Plan new range training sessions. 
    • Plan mental training. 
    • Purchase needed equipment. 
    • If you shoot, shoot for fun as opposed to serious practice, or get some cross training via 10m air rifle or smallbore. 
    • Get a new diary for next season, prepare and organize results/data collection resources. 
    • Maintain/improve general physical conditioning. 
    • Rest.

    January:

    • General physical training ramps up and remains at a high level for January, February, and March. 
    • Low volume indoor range training such as 10m HFT/FT, 10m ISSF, or smallbore. 
    • Gain comfort with new equipment and evaluate the impact of these changes.

    February:

    • General physical training continues. 
    • Sport specific physical training begins to include exercise to increase comfort/endurance in kneeling and standing positions-support arm, core/trunk/back, legs. 
    • Additionally, holding exercises (no dry fire, no live fire) for standing and kneeling at home in full gear. 
      • Aim for 15-30 minute sessions. 
      • Mental rehearsal may be included here. 
        • This might include a mental review of your shot plan, rehearse acquiring your sight picture, breathing, holding, breaking shot, follow through. 
        • Then immediately perform this with your unloaded rifle. 
        • Set the rifle down, repeat. 

    March:

    • General physical training continues. 
    • Sport specific physical training continues. 
    • Increase indoor holding exercises at home or live fire at an approved indoor range. 
      • While your expertise may result in tight groups in the sitting position due to the short distance of the indoor range, this is not routinely the case for standing and kneeling. 
    • Regardless, increase your shot volume.

    April:

    • Transitioning from indoor training to outdoor training is possible. 
      • Regardless, maintain increased shot volume.  Group test pellets if needed outdoors. 
    • Shoot a minimum of one 60 shot course either in practice or at a competition for use as a baseline performance level. 

    May: 

    • Physical training is at maintenance levels so as to not interfere (tremors, pain, fatigue) with range practice. 
    • Range practice kicks into high gear. 
    • Matches may be entered or range days substituted. 
    • Outdoor practice sessions are now the norm and thus skills best practiced outdoors may now be incorporated. 

    June:

    • June continues much like May. 
    • Treat this month’s match as a dress rehearsal for your big match in August. 
    • Adjust your training sessions to target improvement in desired elements.

    July: 

    • July continues much like May and June. 
    • Treat this month’s match as a dress rehearsal for your big match in August. 
    • At this point you have made all the big improvements that have been possible and now are fine tuning for the big match. 
    • Make no major changes in your positions or gear. 

    August:

    • This is Nationals month and you are ready. 
    • By now you should know how many days before the match you should stop training so that you are rested and ready to compete, but not out of practice. 
    • On match day your job is to perform to your best and you have developed a strong base to carry you through the competition. 
    • Following the match you may want to take a few days off. 
      • You need to decide if you need to do so. 
      • Alternately, you can continue to train and keep the momentum going. 
      • A reasonable approach might be to shoot the match on the weekend and then take Monday, Tuesday off and get to the range on Wednesday, then evaluate the effectiveness of the session. 
    • Get back to your general physical training regardless.

    September:

    • How you train in September depends on what you want to accomplish. 
    • At a minimum, you will want to train at maintenance level.  
    • You may want to treat the upcoming monthly match as another big match and go for personal bests. 
    • You may also choose to practice intensely to maximize improvement in a certain area as you did in May and June.

    October:

    • Knowing your season will likely wrap up in November, October is your last month to train hard. 
    • If any aspects of your previous training feels unfinished, you have this time to put in the work.

    November:

    • Season over. 
    • Maintain equipment. 
    • Arrange gunsmithing if needed. 
    • Take a break from shooting. 
    • Maintain/improve general physical conditioning. 
    • Rest.

    Whether you are a beginner, intermediate, or advanced shooter, progress can be enhanced by changing our dreams and aspirations to goals and objectives.

    Organized training can improve the odds of achieving our goals and help you get what you want out of the sport.

  • Introduction to Goal Setting

    by HS

    Hunter Field Target / Field Target (HFT/FT ) in eastern Canada finished its season in Nov/Dec.  Until the matches resume in the spring, we have time now to prepare.  Here we will discuss various aspects of goal setting. 

    Rarely is there ever only one way of doing something like this, so the thoughts offered are intended more to stimulate your thinking about your unique situation and how you might incorporate some of the ideas contained here, or substitute your own solutions.  Even better, put your thoughts to paper and submit them for publication as an aid for the rest of us.

    The end of the competitive season is an appropriate time to reflect upon the successes and failures, the causes and cures, and the changes required to address the outcome of this analysis. 

    Along with examining the tangible results of the previous season should come a similar self-reflective process dealing more with intangibles, such as did you have enough fun and enjoyment last season.  This process may take 30 minutes or 30 days; it is up to you. 

    The end result should be that you know what you want out of the upcoming season (or seasons).  Examples of this might be: improve standing scores 20%, score a minimum of 50% on standing lanes next season, shoot a perfect (clean) score on a standing lane, average 90% on kneeling lanes, place in the top 50% at all competitions, learn how your scope shifts with temperature change, enjoy the sunset at my range once per week, etc.

    Some things are easier said than done, so how might we go about reflecting and analyzing our results? 

    • If you recorded your scores in a notebook, your phone, or your phone’s camera, examine these results. 
    • Search your results on the this web site in the Matches section and make note of them. 
    • Did you make notes while practicing at your club or in your basement range? 
    • Use whatever resources are available to you. 
    • Even better, plan a better way to make records and incorporate this into your routine for next season. 
    • Remember, if data gets recorded, if data gets measured, it likely gets addressed and appropriate plans of action put into place. 

    Once you have completed this process, instead of a general awareness, you should have a much clearer understanding of where you have been, where you are now, and where you want to be in the future. 

    In addition to these benefits you are now more organized than previously and have prioritized aspects of your shooting for the upcoming season.      

    As we near the goal-establishment step, we should next consider the tools and resources we have at our disposal or can acquire, that will help us progress toward our goals. 

    Some of these resources are readily available while some are scarce, depending upon our individual situations. 

    Examples of tools and resources include:

    • Access to sport-specific training materials,
    • coaching,
    • gunsmithing services,
    • suitable ranges,
    • sufficient budget, and most importantly,
    • time.

    When setting goals it is highly advised to do so in a responsible fashion.  Goals do not have to be so rigid that it seems they are set in concrete, rather, some goals may need to be set in sand to acknowledge the realities that life presents us such as work demands, personal health issues, or similar situations. 

    Somthing that I’ve effective used and is commonly recommended by experts is using S.M.A.R.T. goals:

    • Specific
    • Measurable
    • Attainable
    • Realistic
    • Time-specific

    There is a great deal of information available for you to research independently but for our purposes we will conclude here.

    Up next we will get into goal setting