We’ve heard it a million times, “Sporting clays is like golf with a shotgun.” Aside from the simple 18 holes comparison, the walk, cart ride, or the practice range, these two sports share many more intricacies. One that quickly comes to mind is the all-important mental game.

Here’s a simple mental concept to work on: the tempo or the speed of taking your shots. Think about it like this: recall a band or orchestra that you have heard, and the band leader or conductor counts out the tempo or speed of the piece like this, “1-2-3.”

Every target presentation has a shot tempo or speed. It is up to you to establish the proper tempo in your plan for you to break the pair in your break point or zone. This is key. Hear the tempo of your shots in your plan. Listen! Sometimes the pair’s tempo maybe slow, like a waltz, fast like rock n’ roll, a combo, or somewhere in between.

Visualize this true pair: fast, close in, low, right-to-left quartering away target, and a slow treetop-high, right-to-left curler farther out. We have our plan. Steady and ready; LOOK-PULL-1-BANG-LOOK-1-2-BANG, dead pair! Our plan and execution were perfect, with no corrections needed. Repeat: Steady and ready; LOOK-PULL-1-2-BANG-LOOK-1-2-3-BANG, dead, lost. Did you hear it? First pair dead exactly as planned, second pair dead, lost. Did you hear the change in tempo?

When working with my students, shot tempo is often the “canary in the mine” for a dropped bird or pair. Changing shot tempo is often the symptom that leads into the all-important missed shot review, analysis, solution, and comprehension before proceeding.

Next time you’re out practicing, ask yourself, “What is this pair’s shot tempo?” Then practice hearing it in your plan and shot execution.

Dan Whitehead is an NSCA Level III instructor who teaches and and coaches at various courses in California’s Central Valley. His home course is Sun Mountain Gun Club in Coarsegold, CA, near Yosemite National Park. He can be reached at 559-285-9754.

Kids & Clays, benefiting Ronald McDonald House Charities, is NSSA-NSCA’s official charity. As a Silver Sponsor of this year’s fundraising shoots, NSSA-NSCA will receive two free entries to each of the 10 remaining events, which it will make available to members through drawings.

You can see the schedule of the remaining shoots for this year here.

The Kids & Clays events introduce the shooting sports to hundreds of new shooters each year when supporters of the Ronald McDonald House Charities participate in the fundraising sporting clays shoots around the country. In 2013, NSSA-NSCA will provide a Complimentary Limited Membership to all participants who are not already members.

Through the charity shoots, Kids & Clays generates funds to support the operating needs of the Ronald McDonald Houses, Ronald McDonald House Family Rooms, and Ronald McDonald Mobile Medical Units. The Ronald McDonald House Charities provide housing and other support to the families of children being treated in hospitals, as well as medical care to underserved children through the mobile units.

Enter to Win Event Entry
NSSA-NSCA members may win free entry to one of the Kids & Clays events simply by entering a drawing for that event. Members can enter the drawing of as many of the 10 shoots as you’d like but may only win one. Even if you want to enter all 10 drawings, you only have to fill out one entry form; just check off the events for which you’d like to win entry. Go to the entry form.

Want to learn more about Kids & Clays and Ronald McDonald House Charities?

Kids & Clays was founded in 1999 when Glenn and Kathy Lubeznik, McDonald’s owner/operators in Northwest Indiana, hosted the first fundraising sporting clays tournament. NSCA became an event sponsor in 2000 and named Kids & Clays its “official charity” in 2002, followed by NSSA in 2003. Glenn Lubeznik was inducted into the NSCA Hall of Fame in 2012 as recipient of the Hal du Pont, Jr. Service Award for his work with Kids & Clays.

Glynne Moseley
NSCA Assistant Director

– Glynne Moseley
   NSCA Assistant Director

Funeral services were held in Livonia on Thursday, May 9, followed by a celebration of his life at the Conesus Lake Sportsman’s Club.

Skeet shooting and refereeing were a second career for Bucky, as well as one of his favorite hobbies. He served as the World Skeet Shoot Chief Referee from 2000-2007. He was a lifetime member of the Conesus Lake Sportsman’s Club, at one time serving as President. In 2007, Tom was inducted into the NY State Hall of Fame and awarded the prestigious Roland Smith Award.

Bucky grew up in the towns of Geneseo and South Lima, NY, and graduated from Livonia High School. He worked in the landscaping business, then as a horticulturalist for 10 years at the University of Rochester. He also worked for the Monroe County Water Authority for nearly 30 years, most recently as Crew Foreman. An active member of the community, Tom served as Vice Mayor on the Village Board of Livonia and volunteered as a coach for the Vince Lombardi football program.

Bucky is survived by his son Shawn Buchanan, brothers and sisters James (Susan) Buchanan, Kathleen (David) Horne , Robert (Kathy) Buchanan, Margaret (Greg) Spillers, William (Louis DiNolfi) Buchanan, Andrea Chichester, Christopher (Sandee) Buchanan, and Michael (Gary Shelto) Buchanan, as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father Hugh in 1993 and mother Katherine in 2001.

To send condolences or for further information, see doughertyfuneralhomes.com.

To keep you updated on Wayne Mayes’s condition and progress, following his serious accident on March 11, we’ll continue to add to this post chronologically as we hear news. We will note the date at top so you’ll know if there’s an update you haven’t seen. See the end of this post for the latest information.

The shooting community has been stunned and unified in their concern by news of legendary skeet shooter Wayne Mayes’s injury in an accident that caused severe burns over much of his body. He remains in critical condition in ICU and is being kept sedated for pain management.

Wayne’s wife is NSSA Director Linda Mayes.

Just three days after the accident, Wayne underwent the first of what is expected to be many surgeries, and doctors reported that they were “pleased” with his body’s response. He has undergone several surgeries since then for grafts and graft repairs.

Many people have inquired about donating blood for Wayne. Because he is hospitalized at a military hospital, Brooke Army Medical Center, the process is different from what most are accustomed to. If you would like to donate blood, please refer to this information.

Updates on Wayne’s condition are coming largely from his friend John Haugh, who speaks with Linda when possible. NSSA is posting information from John on our website and on our Facebook page. You can check NSSA’s homepage anytime to find the latest available information in our blog, and you can see previous updates here.

Because of the risk of infection and the danger it would present for Wayne, absolutely no visitors are allowed. Please do not go to the hospital, as it could jeopardize Wayne’s health.

Anyone who would like to send a card to Wayne and/or Linda may send it to their attention at NSSA headquarters as follows:

Wayne Mayes
NSSA
5931 Roft Rd.
San Antonio, TX 78253

John Haugh’s latest report on Wayne’s progress (Wednesday, March 20) is below:

“Wayne continues to fight his battle one small step at a time. Obviously he is still in critical, critical condition.

“Tomorrow he will have his 2nd surgery. Doctors were pleased with his body’s response to the allograph surgery last week. This week they will be using Wayne’s body for donor skin. They can only do a certain amount per surgery so that the ‘host’ area can also re-heal. This will be a long surgery, as these surgeries can last for hours due to the delicate nature of what is being done.

“Wayne still has his trac in but is needing ‘some’ less assistance for his breathing. They still use assisted apparatus but want to continue to exercise his lungs.

“Wayne is still in ‘visitor lockdown’ mode. The risk of any type of infection absolutely must be minimized for his well-being and protection.

“They continue to keep Wayne sedated, but I know he is aware of all of our prayers and thoughts which we cannot let up on for one micro second. As Wayne would say, ‘When that hi 3 comes out the window, just stick it.’ I never really knew how to do it like him, but I know he wants us all to continue rooting and praying for his health and continued progress, so we all need to continue to ‘stick it.’

“One last thought for now, CONTINUE all the prayers, and if you happen to be in San Antonio this weekend, don’t attempt to break the rules and jeopardize Wayne’s health with a visit to the hospital. The last thing Wayne needs is an infection.”

From John Haugh, midday Thursday, March 21:

“Wayne is out of his 2nd surgery. Doctors say the surgery went ‘Well’ — always good news. This set of bandages will come off next Monday, so that will be his next milestone.

“There is no doubt in my mind that with all the thoughts and prayers going their way and Wayne’s incredible ‘fight’ that he continues to make baby step progress. KEEP IT UP. God bless Wayne and Linda and the medical staff caring for Wayne.”

From John Haugh, midday Saturday, March 23:

“Nurses and doctors continue the battle. Wayne’s vital signs remain stable. The first of the week will determine the next course of action after doctors review the most recent surgery. Even small improvements at this stage of Wayne’s recovery are monumental and important. Keep the prayers and thoughts coming. DON’T EVER GIVE UP. THEY ARE WORKING.”

From John Haugh, Monday afternoon, March 25:

“Bandages were removed today from his 2nd surgery. A third surgery is scheduled for this Thursday. Wayne is strong and doing his part in this biggest fight of his life. These surgeries are tedious and painful for Wayne, hence the continued sedation. Continue the prayers that both he and Linda receive inner strength to forge forward in this recovery marathon.”

From John Haugh, Tuesday afternoon, March 26:

Update on Wayne — and something you can do to help! From John Haugh:

“As I mentioned earlier, Wayne will be going back into surgery this Thursday for more graft work. Many of you have asked, ‘What can I do besides pray?’ Well, now there IS something we can do. It is normal for a lot of blood to be used during skin graft surgeries. It is not uncommon for a burn patient to need 4 liters of blood during a single surgery. The BMAC burn center in San Antonio (where Wayne is) is having a blood drive tomorrow [Wednesday] starting at 7 a.m. They need O positive and O negative. If you live in the San Antonio area, please donate blood in Wayne’s name. If you do not live in San Antonio, you can still go donate in his name to a local burn center or hospital. Besides the thoughts and prayers, this is another way of helping Wayne.”

From John Haugh, Monday evening, April 1:

“Bandages [have been] removed from his third operation. Doctors are pleased but will space the grafting surgeries further apart than the recent one a week format. This will give Wayne some healing time for his donor sites. He is breathing on his own. Jim Gast is working feverishly to coordinate blood donations. We are trying to get Red Cross bloodmobiles to be more available. More on this to come. I wish there was an earth-shattering success story to report, but it’s one inch at a time. All of your prayers, prayer chains, etc. are obviously helping. Keep them going.”

From John Haugh, Thursday evening, April 11:

“Each time I post I wish I could say that Wayne jumped out of bed today and wanted to tell me a joke. His miracles come one inch at a time. The grafts are doing what they are designed to do. Many more to go. The doctors are lessening his sedation, so other body functions can do their thing. His nervous system is responding more because of the lower sedation so he has more eye movement, etc. When Linda asks him to move his toes or something of that nature, he does, so we know he hears her voice and all the encouragement coming his way. He still cannot respond, but he knows everyone is pulling for him (no pun intended). With that good news comes the other side of the coin: With less sedation, he feels more pain. It has been a month ago today that the accident happened. Seems like yesterday and seems like a lifetime. I’ll close as always, reminding everyone that the prayers, etc. are working, so don’t stop for a second.”

From John Haugh, Sunday, April 28:

“Every day is a struggle for Wayne. Some days are a little better than others. I can remember Wayne having a ‘bad’ day at skeet. Probably shooting a 98 or 99. I used to think that my best days at shooting were not as good as his worst days. I look forward to the day when he will again take the field and be ‘amayesing.’

“Wayne will undergo another surgery this week. Folks, remember that although he has fought this for close to two months, it is still the beginning of a long journey. Typically for every day in the hospital it requires 7 days of physical therapy. Many have gone on with their lives, as they should, since this horrific accident, but that doesn’t mean we can’t all take a little time each day to reflect on our own luck and to thank and pray for the people that make this possible for us and for Wayne and his family.”

From John Haugh, Wednesday, May 1:

“Wayne’s surgery earlier this week is similar to others. Not all grafts heal identically, so sometimes they need to re-do. Wayne would call it “warranty work.” He is still in ICU, and we all know what that means. He is cared for constantly with dressing changes, bed repositioning, ointments, fluids, pain management, some physical therapy to move his limbs, etc. His vitals are good.”

From John Haugh, Monday, May 13:

“Wayne’s surgery today went well. It was some additional grafting and ‘repair’ (my word, Wayne would probably call it warranty work) on some previous grafts. It is still a struggle for his body to be subjected to surgeries, fight off potential infections, maintain strong vitals, ‘exercise’ his vital organs and a whole lot more. Pray that he maintains the mental as well as physical strength to deal with all of this. Think about your worst day and be thankful, because it’s nothing compared to his.”

Which of the following statements is NOT an accepted rule of etiquette in skeet?

• Only pick up your own empty shells and only after the round is over.
• While shooting, turn off your cell phone and be quiet when another shooter is on the pad.
• If you pick up your gun from the rack while in the clubhouse, you should open the action immediately.
• If a member of your squad in a registered shoot is new to skeet, you should coach them during the shoot.
• On the field, stay back where you are not in the shooter’s peripheral vision.

The correct answer is If a member of your squad in a registered shoot is new to skeet, you should coach them during the shoot. According to the Rule Book (and common sense), “don’t coach new shooters unless requested and almost always do separately, and not at all in registered matches.”

The most common incorrect response, chosen by more than 12% of respondents, was “Only pick up your own empty shells and only after the round is over.” From the Rule Book: “Many shooters reload shells so only pick up your own and only after the round is over.”

You can find all of these and other rules of skeet etiquette in the NSSA Rule Book, page 4.

Eric Spells, NSCA member from Georgia, was one of the 80% of respondents who correctly answered the question and was drawn as the winner of a Beretta knife. Congratulations, Eric!

Watch Target Talk, our weekly e-newsletter, for our bi-weekly quiz, which is open only to Target Talk readers. We’ll have a prize drawing among the correct responders to each quiz, and each time you respond to a question, even incorrectly, you’ll be entered into an annual gun drawing.

If you aren’t a Target Talk reader, you can subscribe today.

The Krieghoff Masters is sponsored annually by Krieghoff International and duPont/Krieghoff.

Winners include:

The Krieghoff Masters Skeet Championship is held annually at the event’s traditional home, the historic Forest City Gun Club. The Savannah club is the oldest and largest continuously operated skeet, trap, and sporting clays club in America.

You can see all the scores and winners on the Krieghoff Masters page.

Raahauge is survived by Elaine, his wife and partner of 48 years; his son, Pat, who has three sons and two daughters; and a daughter, Cindy Shenberger, who lives in North Carolina with her husband, Kevin, and their two daughters.

His daughter said a family celebration of life will be held soon. In the meantime, he will be memorialized at a three-day event at the range that begins May 31, the 30th Shooting Sports Fair.

A tribute to Raahauge appeared in the Press-Enterprise newspaper.

Jim Mathews of Outdoor News Service remembers Raahauge in a feature to be published Friday, May 10.

The North American FITASC Championship will be held at Northbrook Sports Club in Illinois, June 27-30. Registration is at Winscoreonline.com.

In the Open category, Gebben Miles currently leads in the standings, followed by Pat Lieske and David Radulovich. Other leaders include Diane Sorantino (Lady), David Radulovich (Junior), Steve Middleditch (Veteran), and Robert Fields (Super Vet).

Click here to see North American Cup standings leading into the North American FITASC Championship. Shooters must shoot in both qualifying shoots to be eligible.

Caesars Mid-South, located in Tunica County, MS, has an immediate opportunity for a Manager at Harrah’s Tunica Willows Sporting Clays and Hunting Center.

Willows Sporting Clays and Hunting Center is located on 660 acres inside the Mississippi River levee behind Harrah’s Casino. Willows offers shooting facilities, wetlands, forests, and other natural wildlife settings, including:

• Trap
• Skeet
• 14 automated sporting clays shooting stations with three shooting levels each
• Rifle and pistol shooting range
• Quail and dove hunts, including experienced guides and dogs
• Guided deer hunting
• Side games including duck flush and 5-stand
• Realistic hunting environments simulated on 14 different shooting stations.

Shotguns, ammunition, shooting gear, low-recoil shotguns, and personal instruction are also available.

Job Description
The manager will:

• Maintain adequate staffing levels based on daily hunts and/or sporting clays activity
• Ensure accurate time-keeping for employees
• Maintain adequate inventory of retail merchandise, targets, birds, feed, and supplies
• Ensure compliance with all internal policies and procedures, as well as industry regulations
• Maintain a consistent and regular attendance record
• Be responsible for hiring and training employees and upholding standards of all safety procedures
• Be responsible for sporting clays course repairs, set-up, design, tournaments, and daily operations
• Carry out management responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws and industry regulations
• Attend all required training classes, with certification of completion, and implement his/her gained knowledge in his/her job
• Address in a professional manner any guest and employee-related complaints
• Resolve guest and employee problems
• Counsel and coach employees on work-related issues (verbal and written warnings)
• Promote outstanding guest relations

Additional Requirements

• Minimum 3 years experience in shooting sports
• Minimum 1 year experience in a leadership role (supervisory or management)
• High School diploma or GED
• Ability to effectively communicate, both verbally and written, in English
• Computer skills to include Word, Excel, and Outlook
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and customer service skills; ability to interact with guests and employees on all levels
• Ability to work outdoors, tolerating extreme weather conditions
• Knowledge of gun safety
• Must be able to stand, walk, crawl, kneel, bend, stoop
• Ability to lift and carry 50 pounds

You can learn more and apply online at the Caesars career site, or go directly to the Willows manager position on the site.