Tips for maintaining your gun mount when pigeon shooting

I’ve got into the bad habit of lifting my head off the stock to try to watch the birds coming in to the decoys. Any tips?

Q: I’ve got into the really bad habit of lifting my head off the stock to try to watch the birds coming in to the decoys and it is making me miss. Any tips?

ANDY CROW replies: I’m not a shooting coach but I do know that lots of top pigeon shots have evolved habits that would never be taught at a clay ground but that work for them. The important thing is to ensure that your gun mount is consistent every time.

If you prefer to shoot more ‘head up’, that is fine. I know a number of pigeon shots who shoot with a higher rib to give them better visibility. But they always maintain a constant cheek weld and consistent mount.

If you mount the gun early this will probably be more of an issue, but I like to watch the bird and pick the line up with the gun down and out of the shoulder and then bring the gun in and shoot in one smooth motion. This gives me plenty of time to watch and pick my shot, so visibility is fine, but I still get a good mount and solid cheek weld.