Shooting Lesson – Todd Wright – Wright Way Shooting School
When I set out to do something I want to make it happen and make it happen right now. Just like my journey to catch a marlin -- which I am still hunting – I am confident that it will happen, crossing my fingers, by the end of this year.
My 2024 goal of shooting a turkey didn’t happen and it was my fault. You can’t just say you want to go out and shoot a turkey, get up early and walk out the front door and expect to succeed.
Still, I wanted to make it happen and in order to increase my likelihood of success I had to do one thing – LEARN TO SHOOT.
Before I could even think about bringing home a turkey, I needed to learn how to actually shoot a shotgun. A real proper lesson, from a real teacher, because if I am actually going to do this, I want to do it right. That means understanding the gun, understanding the process and most importantly, ensure everyone’s safety (except the turkey).
It is true, you can find anything you want on the internet. I Googled turkey shooting lessons northern Virginia and NOVA Parks was the first URL to appear. I scrolled down the page, found a list of instructors and chose to email the last name on the list (no rhyme or reason), Todd Wright.
Good evening Todd,
I found your email on NOVA Parks and it states you are one of the instructors that teaches private lessons.
My name is Hanna Robbins, for some reason, have a bug up my a$$ to shoot a turkey. I have a friend who is going to take me in late April but said I should get a lesson in before going. I shot a handgun a long time ago and a 22 this past September when my husband and I went on an alligator hunt.
I don't own a gun, so I will be borrowing one from the friend who is taking me hunting.
I do have my hunter education course certificate.
Is this something you can help me with and if so could you please forward more information to me?
It is probably better to speak on the phone if you are available and willing to help me, I am free tonight or Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday after 7 pm, my number is 703-932-6299.
Appreciate a return email either way.
Thank you and enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Hanna Robbins
Todd called me back and it was immediately clear that I’d made a good choice. He made me feel comfortable just from our conversation. I needed to learn the basics, the components of the gun, stance, how to hold the gun against my body, the process for loading ammunition, when to pull the trigger and how to unload and put away the gun safely.
Once I got comfortable holding the shotgun and once Todd was confident I wasn’t going to drop it or knock myself out, it was time to move on to the real fun, shooting clay pigeons.
The first couple of times I did a lot wrong. I was late to pull the trigger. I took the gun away from my face (we played the dollar bill game -- if it didn’t drop from between my cheek and the gun, I got to keep it. I’m competitive and yes I took his money). Todd was great -- he saw what I did wrong and helped me fix it.
Pull – Shoot – I hit one! The clay exploded, poof. Wow, I did it and just like that, I’m addicted and I hit several after that and it felt just as good as the first.
By the end of the session I was feeling comfortable. If I could hit a moving clay pigeon I assumed I could hit a stationary turkey. Learning to shoot, the (W)right way, made me more excited to go on a hunt. Now when the moment comes, I’ll be ready or at least readier that I was before!
I still have plenty to learn but this first lesson gave me a huge jump start. More than anything, I am grateful to Todd for his patience, his knowledge and his continued focus on safety without making me feel intimidated. He made sure I understood just how to shoot and why each step of the way mattered.
Thanks again Todd, hopefully next time I pull the trigger it will be on a turkey.
