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Testimonials and Stories
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I placed second in my class...
In 2003 I began taking shooting instructions from Jim Sarkauskas at The Rancho Dell Zorro Shooting Academy. At the time I was a member of a trap league, hitting eight or nine targets out of twenty five. This year my average was twenty one targets out of twenty five. I was high team shooter, high woman shooter for the league, and I had one perfect score.
In June I had my gun fitted by Chris Batha, a world class instructor. It took Chris only eight shots to fit me. Chris said that was a sign of a consistent and correct gun mount which coincides with having a good instructor.
At my first competitive sporting clays shoot I placed second in my class. All that I have accomplished is a direct reflection of how well I have been coached. Jim's knowledge of shooting sports is only exceeded by his enthusiam in teaching others. I thank him for all his hard work, encouragement, and patience.
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- Norma Johnson
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I highly recommend Jim
I was aprehensive about taking shooting lessons, but Jim quickly put me at ease with his patient approach. I was impressed with his uncanny ability to pinpoint problems and provide me with solutions that I can apply immediately. Jim also taught me skills to analyze my shots and make corrections when I am shooting on my own. I highly recommend Jim as a knowledgeable and talented instructor. |
- Dianne Jacobson
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Hitting Birds
I love to bird hunt with my pointing dogs - to watch my dogs work the cover; point a grouse, woodcock, sharp tail or hungarian and hold them tight; to step up softly, hear the birds thunder up, and make a clean shot. I get a great deal of satisfaction seeing my dogs bound out for the retrieve and back with the bird in their mouth. However, my hunting trips were spoiled with marginal shooting success. Frustration drove me to seek out help to figure out what I was doing wrong. In an internet search I came across Rancho del Zorro's website and contacted Jim Sarkauskas for assistance.
Jim had to help me deconstruct bad habits acquired from a lifetime of rifle hunting, poor gun fit, and left eye dominance. Starting with evaluating my current gun he determined that my gun stock had to be shortened, bent, and lifted so I could actually see the bead instead of the back side of the barrel. Before that could happen, however, many hours were put in retraining my gun mount to be smooth, consistent, and cheek-to-stock (due to poor fit I had developed the habit of lifting my head in order to see the birds when shooting, causing the gun to shoot consistently high). As a right handed, left eye dominant shooter, I tried to switch to a left handed mount but struggled, so the left-eye-closed technique had to be practiced.
Jim and I met occasionally to improve my gun mount, approach to clay birds, stance and eye control. We set specific goals with eye, gun mount, strength building exercises assignments and shooting improvements for each session.
I ran several boxes of shells through the gun, practicing the skills that Jim and I worked so hard on. Success! Shooting three different configurations (passing overhead, passing right and passing left) I had several 10-in-a-row clean hits. Not bad for a right handed lefty.
- Sheryle Tepp
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World class
Jim is a world class hunter, a highly competitive clays shooter, and a skilled coach in many shooting disciplines. Rarely does one find all of these qualities in a single person.
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- Mr. Jacobson
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Jim tailored our lessons...
We have very different levels of experience and knowledge with firearms. Jim tailored our lessons to provide each of us the appropriate challenges for our abilities. Jim's teaching method is very flexible and he responds to the various learning styles of his students recognizing how much information each person can absorg at any one time.
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- Scott
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Stories
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The Mutterings of a Hunter
I have had the grand privilege of enjoying the thrill of hunting seasons for almost fifty years now. When I was a lad of 10, my mother trusted me with a .22 rifle. I fell instantly and incurably in love. I am unable to help myself. I twitch, turn, tumble with joy. I fail to hold a demeanor acceptable in social circles ...mutter, mutter. I never tire of the anticipation. My stomach is churning with butterflies as I conjure the thought of yet another trip through the fields. I simply cannot get enough of this feeling. It is an elixir; a giver of one of life's greatest pleasures. It cures most ails. It defies all that is wrong in the world. Certainly, it is God's intention that we hunt. I dearly feel sorry for those poor and lost souls who fail to see what I see. They are forever lost in the den of the ignorant. Mutter, mutter. The fever gets worse ... my little darling, Stella sits by me even now. She nuzzles me as if to say "Dad, how long? How long 'til we hunt again for real?" How long until I flush grouse and pheasants; swim out to fallen ducks and geese; smell the gun oil? Not long now, Sweetie. Stay near. I won't, I can't, go without you. Ah yes, the hunt. That effervescent deity bestowed upon us by a higher order. Have you ever wondered what it would he like to have missed all this? I cannot Fathom it. I cannot begin to understand how to could get along without it. But alas, I must be off. It is only a few weeks away. I have much to do. My goodness, what if I forget something? What if? What if? Mutter, mutter, mutter. Which gun will I use this year? By gosh, I have a few new ones. Oh, but what if I scratch one of them? I am not able to decide! What will I do? Mutter, mutter...
Jim, oh Jim, wake up. Come to your senses. You are talking in your sleep. You are breaking out in a sweat. Your heart is racing. Long live the hunt.
Mutter, mutter mutter.
By Jim Sarkauskas
The Muttering Hunter
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