Nick Sisley brings you the breaking news on Remington’s Hypersonic Steel loads for 12-gauge shotguns. This breakthrough solves all the problems of non-toxic shot through improved density, higher speed and lower recoil. The key is a revolutionary wad design that looks extremely unconventional from the drawing we managed to obtain. Check out Shotgun Life’s timely story at http://www.shotgunlife.com/.

Your Shotgun Life Outfitter Alert (http://www.shotgunlife.com)

For those of you who have always wanted to hunt with “down to earth” celebrities, here is your chance. Dez Young, of the popular “Hunting with Hank” and “Dash in the Upland” television series, and his wonderful wife, Karenanne, are coming to El Cortijo Lodge in Argentina for three days of high-volume dove shooting, followed by two full days of marvelous pigeon hunting in the mountains of Cordoba.

You are invited to attend either or both of these quality shooting events:

Itinerary:

August 8th, 2009 – Arrive via overnight flight from US. Reception at airport, transfer to El Cortijo for shower and lunch. Head to the fields to shoot that afternoon.

August 9th – Morning and afternoon hunting at the roost or feeding areas within 10 minutes of El Cortijo. Lunch in the field or at the lodge.

August 10th – Morning and afternoon hunting near the lodge.

August 11th – Morning and afternoon hunting near the lodge.

August 12th – Morning hunt near the lodge. Transfer to the mountains of Cordoba in the afternoon, or transfer to Cordoba airport for the trip home.

For those who wish to pigeon hunt only.

August 12th – Afternoon – Arrive via overnight flight from US. Reception at airport, transfer to the lodge in the Cordoba mountains.

August 13th – Morning and afternoon pigeon hunting

August 14th – Morning and afternoon pigeon hunting

August 15th – Late morning transfer to Cordoba airport for your flight home to the US.

The cost for the complete itinerary is $3,445 per hunter; non-hunters $150 per day. Trip price includes all transportation, transfers, lodging, meals, beverages, licenses, and 1,500 12 or 20 gauge shells.

The dove shoot only costs $2,320, and includes all above and the 1500 shells.

The pigeon hunting only costs $1,960, including all above, but only 1000 shells (as volume of pigeons is less).

Not included:

- International airfare

- Airport taxes

- Additional shells: US $12

- Shotgun rental: US $50 per day

- Shotgun Importation: US $100 per gun

- Bird boy tips: US $30 per day.

- Guide, staff, and interpreter tips US $70 per day                                                                                                   

- Laundry service available at US $25 per stay

Please note, we expect this particular trip to fill up fast. Take advantage of this rare opportunity for one of the most enjoyable high-volume shoots of a lifetime.

We have been able to attract the best of the television outdoor shows, including The Shotgun Journal with Bruce Scott and Marty Fischer, who did two shows on ducks and pigeons with us, and Tom Knapp of Benelli’s American Bird Hunter, who did two great dove shows and is coming back this year to do two, or more, duck, pigeon, and perdiz shows.

We recently hosted the “Divas, Women Outdoors Worldwide” with President Judy Rhodes at El Cortijo lodge, and to say they all had a good time would be an understatement. Regular Shotgun Life readers would know of Judy from the articles about her that have appeared.

Griffin and Howe, the fine gun company, recently hosted 10 shooters at the first of what we hope will be a number of live field seminars with their chief shooting instructor, Allen Pana. Good shooting was had by all and the quality of instruction in a genuine high volume setting was unbeatable. For all of you who genuinely want to become incredible field shots, this is an event really worth considering.

With our excellent track record in attracting great shooters, we expect our

 “Hunting With Hank” shoot to fill up quickly. For more information, or to book your trip, please contact:

John Wiles, American Partner

SYC Sporting Adventures, LLC

Cordoba, Santa Fe, Santiago del Estero

ARGENTINA

410-326-1230 (Maryland)

866-635-2838 (Toll Free)

Fax: 928-833-1248

“Helping make your wing shooting dream a reality”

Visit the SYC Sporting web site

http:// www.sycsporting.com

This story originally appeared in Shotgun Life, the first online magazine dedicated to the best in wing and clays shooting. You can visit Shotgun Life at http://shotgunlife.com.

Written by Nick Sisley

            Reportedly, wild-west bad men Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid escaped to Bolivia, much to the consternation of authorities here in the USA. Frankly, I wouldn’t mind escaping to Bolivia myself, especially from about April through September when the eared doves swarm and devastate the ripening sunflower fields and other small grain crops. From Santa Cruz to the east, the terrain flattens out from the rugged Andes to the west – into a vast plain that covers thousands and thousands of square miles. Some of this land is still in tall timber, while there’s also plenty of brush, but several decades back Mennonites moved in, started clearing land and planting crops. By and large these farmers have been very successful.

            Interestingly, the government in Bolivia has some strict regulations about clearing land. Wide, wide fencerows must be left between each new field, plus the trees can never be cut in those fencerows. Since decades have passed many of these fields are bordered by very high, mature trees. When the doves fly in to feed in such fields they come in very high, over the big trees, providing some of the world’s most challenging dove shooting. I shot in Bolivia for just the second time last July, and I found out plenty about taking such high, incoming doves.

             Despite their speed, there is time, so it’s important not to rush things. Also if you see a bird you want to shoot but you can’t get moving in time, not to worry, another dove will be right behind, or perhaps a whole passel of them, and probably within seconds. But here are some keys to successfully making this shot. Train yourself to look at the high incoming dove’s beak or head, and never take your eyes off that little target. As the day and days wear on, as long as you work hard at concentrating on the dove’s head or beak, you’ll become more and more adept at seeing that small area more and more clearly. Of course, you must never look at the gun barrel or rib as you are making your move to shoot, and there’s certainly a tendency for most of us to do that.

            While making your hard stare at the bird, your gun’s muzzle should be just below that target. Start your gun mount. Let me diverse for a bit and suggest that one of the most important keys to consistent shotgunning is a consistent gun mount. You can bet Kobe Bryant practices shooting baskets every day of his life. Shotgunners should do the same – practice their gun mount every day of your life. Perhaps in some future essay in these pages we will tackle some gun-mounting suggestions.

            Now let’s go back to starting that gun mount. Since the dove is flying toward us we can take the bird as it comes straight in – or we can take it to one side or the other – depending upon what flight path the dove decides upon. Whichever – the gun’s muzzle comes smoothly to the bird, and we want to take our shot in front, not wait until the bird has passed overhead or beyond to one side or the other.

Regardless of the route the bird takes, the idea is to put the gun’s muzzle on the bird and track though perhaps only briefly. Once the muzzle is moving at the same speed as our quarry we have the shot perfectly set up. Now simply pull away and pull the trigger. Don’t, however, jerk the muzzle out in front. Simply make a smooth move forward of the bird and pull. As long as the range isn’t great you will not have to pull too far in front. Obviously, at greater ranges, like 50 and 60 yards, the pull away must be farther.

            Finally, stay in the gun until you see the dove fold. At say a 35 yard shot the bird’s folding will be almost immediate, but with the pull away method I’ve suggested for this incoming shot staying with the gun is very important. That’s because this forward movement of the gun, the pull away, is what kills your dove.

            You can shoot a dove that’s coming directly in toward you as I’ve suggested, or a bird that’s coming in and slightly to your right or left. If the range is farther – 40, 45, 50 yards, etc. this technique works equally as well. Remember the keys; (1) lock your stare on the dove’s beak, (2) the gun’s muzzle should be initially positioned just below the bird’s flight path, (3) start your gun mount and stay smooth – no jerking, (4) match muzzle speed with the target speed, (5) make a smooth and gentle pull away, (6) stay in the gun until the dove comes twirling down.

Nick Sisley has been a full-time freelance outdoor writer since 1969. He writes a regular shotgun column in Wildfowl magazine, Sporting Clays magazine, the Skeet Shooting Review and others. He’s authored eight books and penned thousands and thousands of magazine articles. He can be contacted at nicksisley@hotmail.com.