It's when I receive emails such as the ones that follow that I realise I have the best job in the world.
For me, Coaching is a passion as well as my profession, it is always my intention to give clients the skills and ability that allows them the full enjoyment and satisfaction from shooting with perfect technique, confidence, style!
My thanks to all those hundreds of Clients and pupils over the last 30 plus years, that have placed their trust (as well as their hard earn't cash) in me, it's been and still is, a great privilege to pass on the knowledge and skills so generously given to me by my own mentors, Roger Silcox, Chris Craddock, Sam Grice , Brian Hammond and Olympian Joe Wheater.
As I tell people, "I'm no genius, I just been so lucky to have been taught by Genius!"
Regards to all,
Keith Coyle.
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Keith,
I wanted to share this with you. Tom and I have been practising our gun mounting as you instructed and it is paying off.
Tom and I recently attended an event called "Learn to Hunt" which was focused on pheasants and geared towards new adult hunters. We warmed up at the clay range - 4 or 5 clays each due to the number of attendees. I was a little nervous and went last. I took my first shot gun up and missed. It felt awkward so I decided to take the remaining shots gun down. I hit every clay and felt more relaxed.
We went out into the pheasant fields after lunch and I was excited that our mentor had an English Setter, Duke, that we were going to hunt with. I didn't feel nervous in the fields. Tom and I were the first pair to hunt and our first bird was pointed, ran on the ground for a bit, then took flight. I felt the shot was too far and would have been in the direction of a barn so I opted to not shoot. Our mentor, Dave, confirmed that I made the right decision.
Duke pointed a second bird shortly after. Tom was on off to my right and I spotted the bird about 2.5 feet off of Duke's nose and it was holding tight. I communicated to Tom that I would try to flush the bird for him. The bird was facing Tom so I thought it likely that it would not offer me a safe shot but would give Tom a good opportunity. When the bird took flight, it flew straight away from me offering both Tom and I safe shots. I took the shot and harvested my first bird.
Tom harvested a bird shortly after and had a nice clean shot and great gun mount.
What amazed me about this experience is that I felt calm and confident in the field. The shot I took felt natural through the entire process. I assessed the situation, analyzed where each person and Duke were located, formulated a plan while approaching the bird and when the bird flew in a different path, I was able to quickly assess and take the shot. While I was initially a little nervous at the clay range (I had about 20 other participants watching along with a handful of mentors watching), I was able to mount my gun with proper form, and make the decision to shoot gun down. I attribute this all to what you taught me in our lesson. You helped me conquer my nerves when shooting and helped me gain confidence in my shot. I can't thank you enough. I recommend your classes to women and men explaining the difference it has made. I still am amazed the difference proper gun mount makes and enjoy shooting now.
Here is a link to a video that our mentor was able to capture of my shot: https://youtu.be/gwIn3eQ3vYc
Nicole Watson
Good evening Keith, So great to see you a last weekend. I really appreciate all your advice and tutelage regarding my birding. You are tha man. I’ve priced out a few proper lefty shotguns. No bargains, but clearly worth it. I’ll blame you if the boss lady gives me the beans. Haha. Thank you again for one of the best hunting day’s I’ve ever had. Best, Franz
