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John's Journal... Entry 211, Day 1

SECRETS TO TAKING MORE DOVES WITH TONY ROSETTI

What Rosetti Knew That I Didn't

EDITOR'S NOTE: Tony Rosetti not only has the reputation in years past as one of the nation's best shots but also has proved his prowess with a shotgun in national and international competitions. He was the United States International World Champion in1969, 1971 and 1972; the National Skeet-Shooting World Champion, an aggregate of all four gauges .410, .28, and .12, in 1970 and 1972; the World Champion in 1972 in .12 gauge and .410 gauge; the last person to win three of the five World Gauge Championships; a member of the Pan-American Games Gold Medal Team in 1971; the Silver medal individual winner in 1971; a member of the 1972 U.S. Olympic Shooting Team; and the past winner of the Mississippi State Championship and many other championships and big-gun shoots.

From the corner of a field, I heard Tony Rosetti's little .410 pop and watched a puff of feathers in the sky as a dove out of control flew into the field. A few minutes later, another gray phantom streaked across the Mississippi skies only to meet the same fate as the first. In the next 45 minutes, I watched one man dust more doves than I'd ever seen. But I convinced myself that, "Tony's not having nearly as much fun as I am. I get to shoot two or three times before I take a dove. At his rate, he won't even shoot a box of shells before he has to quit with a limit of birds. But if I keep shooting like I am, I'll shoot up both boxes of shotgun shells and perhaps have to return to the car for a third box before I've got my limit." I thought because Rosetti had worked previously for Remington Arms and Gun South, Inc., that of course he'd really know how to shoot. But the shooting demonstration Rosetti put on this day explained why he'd won so many shooting championships. I determined I'd learn how to shoot doves from this master of the sport, rather than trying to hunt doves on the following morning. Pulling my gray camera case up beside Rosetti's dove stool, I said, "Tony, you keep on shooting. I'll ask the questions. When we're done, you'll have a bucket full of doves, and I should know how to shoot doves better. I want to know the secrets for bagging more doves."

Use Proper Gun Position: "Most hunters allow the stocks of their guns to get too far out on their arms or their shoulders, instead of cradling the stocks of their guns into their shoulders," Rosetti advises. "Then they can't put their heads in the proper position to aim correctly. They'll have to lean their heads to the side to get their heads down on their stocks and look down the ribs of their barrels. When the gun's in the wrong position, you'll lose your depth perception. To shoot accurately, keep your eyes as level as possible. Simply raising your eyebrows up on one side of your face can cause you to shoot incorrectly. When you bring the gun to your shoulder, your arm makes a pocket in your shoulder for the gun to fit in naturally. If your gun is positioned correctly in the pocket of your shoulder, all you have to do is lay your cheek down on the stock to see and aim properly. When a dove hunter's shoulder or arm is blue from the recoil of a gun, you know he hasn't had his shotgun seated correctly in the pocket of his shoulder."

TOMORROW: THREE MORE SECRETS TO TAKING MORE DOVES

 

 

Check back each day this week for more about SECRETS TO TAKING MORE DOVES WITH TONY ROSETTI ...

Day 1 - What Rosetti Knew That I Didn't
Day 2 - Three More Secrets To Taking More Doves
Day 3 - More Dove-Hunting Secrets
Day 4 - More Secrets That Will Help You Dove Hunt Successfully
Day 5 - Rosetti's Safety Tips and Equipment Recommendations


John's Journal