Skeetfreak
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 23, 2012
- Messages
- 428
Sure this will have been raised before but i cannot for the life of me find it.
I follow the "sporting shoots - where & how" thread as it is good to get a different view on grounds i have not been to for years or new grounds vs peoples experiences. There does seem to be common theme on there at present. Cold, wet, windy, muddy and not shooting as well as people normally do.
I know it is not what the grounds want to hear but..... i have always taken a winter break (certainly from skeet which is my passion in shooting) i may possibly shoot on nice days at other disciplines for a giggle if i am not busy doing other stuff. I mistakenly shot a lot of sporting over winter last year and i found it sapped my enthusiasm come the spring to get out and practice and get competition ready. So much so i did not shoot any major shoots in 2017 i just stayed local nearly all year.
I have never historically got involved in the "winter series" format as i just do not get much (if any) enjoyment out of shooting in the freezing cold, wet, battling muddy tracks into shooting grounds. Battling low sun in your eyes at wind affected targets.
So this year i have reverted to type - gun got fully deep cleaned on the 2nd Dec. It is currently in bits with the stock off and i am doing a full wood strip back and repair / re-oil. That is going to take a number of weeks to get to the level of finish i want and will be happy with. I very much doubt i will shoot much (if anything) prior to Easter. I am spending my winter doing jobs around the house and garage plus as it warms up the garden a little bit aswell.
I know it sounds odd coming on a shooting forum and posting about not shooting but i find it leaves me refreshed and keen to shoot come the spring / summer. Plus of course saves a pile of cash to spend / shoot in nice weather.
Those of you who do shoot every week / every opportunity - what is it that drives you to do so? Is it habit? Is it pure love of the sport and you cannot imagine a free day not shooting?
Those of you who stop and then restart in spring - what is your motivation? How do you get going again in terms of practice? Have you always done this and why?
I follow the "sporting shoots - where & how" thread as it is good to get a different view on grounds i have not been to for years or new grounds vs peoples experiences. There does seem to be common theme on there at present. Cold, wet, windy, muddy and not shooting as well as people normally do.
I know it is not what the grounds want to hear but..... i have always taken a winter break (certainly from skeet which is my passion in shooting) i may possibly shoot on nice days at other disciplines for a giggle if i am not busy doing other stuff. I mistakenly shot a lot of sporting over winter last year and i found it sapped my enthusiasm come the spring to get out and practice and get competition ready. So much so i did not shoot any major shoots in 2017 i just stayed local nearly all year.
I have never historically got involved in the "winter series" format as i just do not get much (if any) enjoyment out of shooting in the freezing cold, wet, battling muddy tracks into shooting grounds. Battling low sun in your eyes at wind affected targets.
So this year i have reverted to type - gun got fully deep cleaned on the 2nd Dec. It is currently in bits with the stock off and i am doing a full wood strip back and repair / re-oil. That is going to take a number of weeks to get to the level of finish i want and will be happy with. I very much doubt i will shoot much (if anything) prior to Easter. I am spending my winter doing jobs around the house and garage plus as it warms up the garden a little bit aswell.
I know it sounds odd coming on a shooting forum and posting about not shooting but i find it leaves me refreshed and keen to shoot come the spring / summer. Plus of course saves a pile of cash to spend / shoot in nice weather.
Those of you who do shoot every week / every opportunity - what is it that drives you to do so? Is it habit? Is it pure love of the sport and you cannot imagine a free day not shooting?
Those of you who stop and then restart in spring - what is your motivation? How do you get going again in terms of practice? Have you always done this and why?