Today we’ll cover part two of that long list of questions that will help you have the hunt of your dreams instead of the hunt of someone else’s.

The more you hunt, the more experiences you have. The more experiences you have, the better hunter you become. How do you get more experience if you always do what you’ve always done?

Get out and try something different.

Many hunters have bucket lists of items they would like to harvest. The challenge in checking animals off the list comes in assessing the cost to hunt said animals and having the time to sufficiently scout the area prior to the hunt. Fortunately, for some, hunters can look to a guide or outfitter to do the behind the scenes scouting without using up valuable vacation days.

There is nothing like chasing bugling bull elk up in the mountains. If you have ever been on a high mountain elk hunt, you know the type of shape you need to be in. If you haven’t been lucky enough to do such a hunt need to know what to be prepared for when you get there.

The other day a question was posed to me, “How do I convince my husband I need another gun?” I was perplexed by the question and had absolutely no immediate comeback.

I pondered and then empathized. How do I convince Hank that I need another gun? I answered my own question. I don’t. If I need another gun, I simply buy it. That’s part of being an independent, self-sufficient woman, right?

Now that my daughter has a shotgun for competitive shooting let’s talk a little about practicing and using the right shells for the job. You know how to get better, right? Practice. Practice. Practice.

When my husband and I were at SHOT Show last winter, we were lucky enough to visit with Kim Rhode to get some shotgun tips from one of the most successful clay shooting athlete in history. Among the many questions we asked was how often she practices. She told us she shot a minimum of 500 rounds a day.

How do you go about choosing a new competition shotgun for your 100 pound, 15-year-old daughter?

My husband and I started by asking a trusted colleague for a shotgun recommendation when looking for a new one for our teenage competitor. From there we asked a few more friends for their thoughts. More than one person recommended the Beretta A400 Xcel. We were intrigued by the suggested shotgun and wanted to learn more about it.

New shotgun shooters often wonder where to start and how to have fun. The best of the best shotgun shooters seem to boast about a good round of sporting clays. Many people think of sporting clays as golf with guns. I happen to like golf. The problem is, I don’t always have time. Between work, being a mom, volunteering and various other activities, it’s hard to get a full round in. Another factor, other than time, that may inhibit a shooter from getting a round of sporting clays in is the cost.

I’ve heard it a million times, and I’m sure you have too. Don’t over-call when you’re turkey hunting. That’s a good tip, but here’s a scenario that leads me to believe at times you need to call according to how the turkeys are responding.

Turkey hunting is a perfect opportunity to get a novice involved in hunting. There is so much they can learn. Plus, hunting is a form of wildlife research and ultimately wildlife management. As a hunter, a child will learn about wildlife identification, animal habitats, animal migrations and so much more. It creates a connection and responsibility between them and their surroundings. Many hunters become stewards to the Earth.