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Shotgun Life Donates Forums to the National Skeet Shooting Association and

National Sporting Clays Association

PIKESVILLE, Md. – June 16, 2009 – Shotgun Life (www.shotgunlife.com) expanded its online franchise with new, authoritative forums – giving advertisers the most powerful integrated program for reaching customers and prospects on the Internet.

The Shotgun Life forums are intended to satisfy the unmet needs of both shotgun owners seeking accurate information and industry participants looking for a quality venue to establish productive relationships directly with shotgun owners.

The forums are fully integrated into the Shotgun Life format, giving forum members a seamless transition to the online magazine, which covers the best in wing and clays shooting.

“All too often people in our industry believe that the Internet is exclusively about banner-ad clicks,” said Irwin Greenstein, publisher of Shotgun Life. “While that’s certainly an important part of the equation, where the Internet really shines is in establishing a two-way conversation with the shooting community – to prove that you are a trustworthy authority whose brand name merits serious consideration.”

The Shotgun Life forums are located at http://www.shotgunlife.com/forum and are available immediately. The forums can also be located by going to http://www.shotgunlife.com and clicking the Forum tab.

In addition to launching its new forums, Shotgun Life has recognized the enormous strides that the National Skeet Shooting Association (NSSA) and National Sporting Clays Association (NSCA) have made to the shotgun community by donating the software, hardware and administration necessary for these organizations to start and maintain their own forums for members.

“We appreciate the generosity of the Shotgun Life organization,” said Don Snyder, Executive Director of the NSSA-NSCA. “By working closely with Shotgun Life, we can help establish an online community for reliable and unbiased information about skeet, sporting clays and good sportsmanship among our members.”

The Shotgun Life forums include:

• Shotguns – A general discussion
• Vintage Shotguns – American, British and European
• Clays Shooting
• Upland Shooting
• Ducking Shooting
• Goose Shooting
• Turkey Hunting
• Gun Dogs
• Conservation and Habitat
• Women in the Shotgun Sports
• Travel
• Sporting Art
• Politics

Advertisers interested in gaining a presence on the Shotgun Life forums should contact:

Jeff Thruston

Bernard + Associates

775-323-6828

jeff@bernard@associates.com

Media Contact:

Ryan Holmes

Bernard + Associates

775-323-6828

ryan@bernardandassociates.com

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This story originally appeared in Shotgun Life. For more stories by Al Hague and other fine outdoor writers, visit http://www.shotgunlife.com.

 Written by Al Hague

 Since this is my first column here on shotgunlife.com a bit of background is probably appropriate. I was raised in New England and have been involved in the outdoor sports since a young man. At one time I wrote a weekly column for a newspaper about hunting and fishing. In recent years I have been in the shooting sports industry as an industry professional managing a company that manufactured sporting goods and imported shotguns from Italy. I just recently decided to return to my first love of photojournalism.

I was offered the opportunity to write for shotgun life.com and I will be bringing to you information and reports from the west on this great sport of wingshooting we all enjoy. I am not an expert in any particular part of this sport nor am I a particularly proficient shooter.

In fairness to myself however, I would like to point out I do hit more than I miss especially when its birds fit for the table.  I do have specific knowledge of the shooting industry and I am also able to travel around this sport and bring you what I hope are interesting and informative articles for your enjoyment.

Now that you know a bit about me perhaps you will find the following information interesting and useful.

In the spring of 2008  a new game for dogs and shooters was introduced for the first time in Spokane Washington. I am referring to the National Duck Dog Challenge. The fitting slogan for this game is  “Sporting Clays with Your Dog”.

It is a competition, but more importantly it is an opportunity to get yourself and your dog ready for bird season and at the same time have a lot of fun, meet some other great people and test your skills along with those of your dog.

You should know that this game is primarily designed for duck hunters and retrievers of all breeds. It is a game that is scored and not judged and for that very reason all the rules are based on real life duck hunting scenarios. The game consists of two parts, shooting and dog handling.

The competitor is called into the blind with his dog and upon a signal a bumper with a clay attached is launched from one or more locations.

The competitor must shoot the clay and then send his dog to retrieve the bumper. Points are scored for a hit on the clay and additional points are scored for the least amount of time taken to retrieve the bumper to hand.

Both parts of the scenario are important to score and finish at the top. However missing targets is a higher point loss than time taken on a retrieve.

After all if you don’t hit the duck when hunting, the dog has nothing to do and we all know that does not make your dog happy.

Duck Dog Challenge offers different level of competition for all levels of participants. In the hunter class targets are launched one at a time and single retrieves are the norm. In the Open class multiple targets are launched from different spots and multiple retrieves are required. In the Open Team class two shooters and one dog are required to shoot again multiple targets and multiple retrieves as well as a blind retrieve for the dog.

To win a team or a single class a competitor must have a good day at shooting as well as good dog work. It certainly is not as difficult as it sounds and it is a lot of fun to be sure.

Last season it was determined that many people want to play the game but some were only dog handlers and not great shooters and other were good shooters who did not own a dog.

In response to that demand the NDDC now allows for a designated shooter or a designated handler in the Open and Open Team classes.

The first event held in Oregon in March of this year  proved that this was a positive change as many dog handlers seeking to get titles on their dogs participated with designated shooter. Men women and young shooters from everywhere are enjoying NDDC. Duck Dog Challenge is now open to more people and  if the first event is any indicator, the season will be very busy. If you are lucky enough to live near and event you should probably get registered as early as possible.

 Unlike sporting clays and trap where the clays fly in a straight line, the launched bumper with the clay attached tumbles end over end and is a more challenging target. The competitor also has the additional challenge of being able to focus on the dog while shooting to prevent him from breaking which costs points.

Once you get with the program, it is a great day of practice and training for you and your dog.

The game is designed to be flexible and may be run on water or on dry land so that dogs get both kinds of retrieves. Relatively small acreage is needed to hold the event and this game is ideal for fund raising for any club or charity whose supporters are involved in the sport. Any age may participate providing the competitor has a hunter safety certificate.

At last year’s events several breeds of retrievers were there, including black, yellow and chocolate labs. In Spokane an event was held at Burlington Ranch and one of the stars of the day was a little Boykin Spaniel who not only was a fast water retriever but was equally effective on land.

A major rule change for this season involves the amount of shells you can bring to the line. Last year, a limit of shells equal to the amount of targets presented was allowed, if you used an extra shell, penalty points were deducted.

This year the shell limit has been dropped which brings semi autos into the game and you can have three in your gun even if you have only one target launched at a time. This is much more in keeping with real duck hunting.

This year there are many events planned all over the country. The cost to compete is very close to the average Sporting Clays day unless you choose to get into the options pots for prize money. The future will see a pro division where competition will include prize money rivaling that of bass tournaments.

 This event is also ideal for spectators as well since the field can be set up safely to avoid any danger to those attending. This provides additional ability for fundraising for clubs who host the event and provide the volunteers to perform the duties associated with running the event.

The folks from National Duck Dog Challenge show up at the location with a trailer completely outfitted with all the remote controlled launchers, blinds, targets and scoring system. The event coordinator from NDDC will layout the courses, direct the volunteers and provide the safety instruction and even instructions to the competitors.

The National Duck Dog Challenge schedule and other information is available at www.nationalduckdogchallenge.com. They even maintain the results for national rankings on the site and that of the dogs as well. It’s worthwhile mentioning that if you and your favorite hunting partner want to share a dog you can both run the same dog as separate competitors.

Keep an eye out for the next event in your area and get out and give it a try. This is a fun and realistic way to sharpen both yours and your dog’s skills for the season. On top of that you will meet new friends, learn new ideas and it definitely beats sitting around just dreaming about duck hunting all summer.

If you have any questions you can reach Jerry through the website and be prepared to listen. His enthusiasm for this game is infectious.  Have fun!

This article originally appeared in “Your Monthly Dash of Bitters” on Shotgun Life. You can find the latest monthly column at http://www.shotgunlife.com.

Written by Capt. David Bitters

 I’ve been shooting waterfowl now, for over thirty years and have arrived at a few of my own conclusions. One of them being that the 3 ½ inch magnum waterfowl load is a completely unnecessary American obsession.

The 3 ½ inch load punishes my shoulder, makes me flinch, causes my Browning Gold to jam, and does nothing that I cannot do with a standard 3 inch shell. Gene Hill said something to the effect that, if you can’t reach what you are aiming for, find a way to get a little closer. I assure you, he was not suggesting the 3 ½ inch magnum as the answer!

I dare say, in the not too distant future, we may happily see ammunition manufacturers touting the “new” 2 ¾ inch waterfowl load that “does everything the 3 inch shell can do…and more.” I for one, certainly hope so. If we can land a spaceship on Mars, why can’t we make a non-toxic waterfowl load in 2 ¾ inch that “knocks ‘em dead” at fifty yards?

Now I will shock you by telling you I will not buy a waterfowl gun that is chambered to take anything less than 3 ½ inch magnum loads. I will not shoot 3 ½ inch loads of any kind, but I want a duck gun (and I think you should, too) that’s made to handle the 3 ½ inch loads. Here’s why.

I have been in duck blinds, duck boats, lay out boats, salt marsh ditches and a few other enjoyable places where three different gunners, all side by side, are shooting shotguns with three different length chambers. Ammunition is often freely shared and more than once, I have seen a 3 ½ inch chambered gunner hand one of his roman candles to a 3 inch chambered gunner – or worse! I tremble to say I have also sat beside a 3 inch chambered gunner and seen him load 3 ½ inch shells into his gun – and fire! I grabbed the next one out of his hand and asked him to read to me the engraved chamber length on his receiver. In all sincerity and innocence he said to me, “what’s the receiver…?”

Until common sense and proper gun safety are back in vogue, my vote goes to the 3 ½ inch magnum duck gun, loaded with 3 inch waterfowl loads. And as soon as the ammo manufacturers roll out the new 2 ¾ inch non-toxic waterfowl loads, that can and do everything a 3 inch waterfowl load does, we will dine on roast mallard, teal and black duck with grace. Maybe even some geese. And yes, I will even let you give me the ol’ sporting, college punch, right in the shoulder.

Capt. David Bitters is a writer/photographer and a striped bass/sea duck hunting guide from Massachusetts. His photos and essays have appeared in over one-hundred magazines. Capt. Bitters is currently finishing his first book, A Sportsman’s Fireside Reader – Tales of Hunting, Fishing, and Other Outdoor Pleasures. Contact him at captdaveb@baymenoutfitters.com or (781) 934-2838. You can also write him at P.O. Box 366 Duxbury, MA 02331