Shotgun Life | The Best in Wing and Clays Shooting

Luxury Wingshooting & Upland Hunting in Sonoma Wine County, California

Friday, August 29, 2025
Written by Irwin Greenstein
Categories: Destinations
Tags: #californiauplandhunting, #finedining, #luxuryuplandhunting, #pheasanthunting, #sonomacountyhunting, #sonomacountyuplandhunting, #sportingclays, #winetastings, #wingandbarrelranch
Wing and Barrel woman

Discover Wing & Barrel Ranch, a premier private sporting club nestled in the heart of Sonoma County, California. Here, luxury wingshooting, upland bird hunting, and fine wine experiences come together in an unparalleled setting for enthusiasts seeking the ultimate sporting lifestyle.

Exclusive Sporting Experiences for Members

At Wing & Barrel Ranch, members enjoy year-round sporting clays, upland bird hunting, fly casting, and expert shooting instruction. Whether you’re a seasoned wingshooter or just beginning, our luxury sporting facilities provide the perfect environment to refine your skills and enjoy the thrill of the sport.

Fine Dining & Winemaker Experiences

The elegant clubhouse offers seasonal farm-to-table dining, curated by renowned chefs. Members can also participate in exclusive Winemaker Series events, enjoy private wine pairings, and even shoot and dine with top vintners. Rare bottles can be stored in private wine lockers, creating a truly unique culinary and oenological experience in Sonoma wine country.

Every detail is designed to enhance your luxury wingshooting and sporting experience.

Sustainable Land Stewardship in Sonoma County

Spanning 1,000 acres of ecologically rich land, the ranch is committed to habitat restoration and climate resiliency. In partnership with Point Blue Conservation Science, we work to preserve native species and ensure the land remains pristine for generations of sporting enthusiasts.

Experience Wing & Barrel Ranch

Join them for an unforgettable combination of luxury wingshooting, upland bird hunting, fine dining, and Sonoma wine country adventures. Explore membership opportunities and learn more about our unique offerings on the Wing & Barrel Ranch website at https://www.shotgunlife.com/go/6dap

Upland Hunting in Texas Hill Country at Joshua Creek Ranch

Friday, August 29, 2025
Written by Shotgun Life Staff
Categories: Destinations
Tags: #berettatridentlodge, #jjoshuacreekranch, #luxuryuplandhunting, #orvisendorsedlodge, #selectfederaloutitter, #texashillcountry, #texaspheasanthunting, #texasquailhunting

Hunt quail, pheasant, and mallard ducks in the Texas Hill Country. Joshua Creek Ranch offers guided upland hunts, luxury lodging, and trophy deer hunting.

Since opening in 1990, Joshua Creek Ranch has earned a reputation as one of the premier hunting destinations in America. Nestled in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, the ranch combines breathtaking natural scenery with world-class wingshooting and big game opportunities.

For more than 35 years, Joshua Creek Ranch has been carefully developed into a true sportsman’s paradise. Its diverse terrain—fertile creek and river bottoms, lightly wooded grass pastures, and dramatic limestone bluffs—creates ideal wildlife habitat for upland birds and native game.

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Fiocchi Launches Arkansas Steel — The Hard-Hitting Waterfowl Load Built for Serious Hunters

Wednesday, August 27, 2025
Written by Shotgun Life Staff
Categories: News
Tags: #duckhunting, #fiocchi, #fiocchiarkassassteel, #steelshot

August 2025 – CSG Member, Fiocchi of America, a leader in premium ammunition innovation, proudly introduces Arkansas Steel, the ultimate waterfowl hunting shotshell engineered for duck and goose hunters who demand uncompromising performance in the field.

The name pays homage to the storied waterfowling heritage of Arkansas and the famed Delta region — a place where world-class duck hunting traditions run deep. But while its roots honor the heart of the Mississippi Flyway, Arkansas Steel is lights-out no matter where you hunt. From the flooded timber of the Delta to the prairies of the Central Flyway or the coastal marshes of the Atlantic, this load is built to deliver results across the nation.

Designed to dominate the skies, Arkansas Steel’s 12-gauge, 3″ shell delivers a 1-1/5 ounce payload of #2, #3, or #4 steel shot at a blistering 1,550 fps. The result is devastating impact, superior downrange energy, and clean, ethical kills — even in the toughest wetland conditions.

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Shotgun Coach vs. Shotgun Instructor: What’s the Difference?

Monday, August 25, 2025
Written by Cody Matson
Categories: Shotgun Clay Sports

So many times my students come me with the same complaint: When I was with my instructor I shot really well, but afterwards I reverted back to my old habits and couldn’t hit anything.

Since many wing and clays shooters don’t understand the differences between a shotgun instructor and a shotgun coach, they often end up wasting time and money with little to show for it.

An important reason why is because the student hasn’t clearly defined their goals. For example, a shotgun coach provides life lessons in shooting compared an instructor who focuses on breaking targets.

When newcomers step into the shotgun sports – whether for clays, hunting prep, or a recreational outing – they often book time with an instructor. It’s the most common entry point, and for good reason: instructors are generally certified, safety-conscious, and trained to give beginners a good first experience.

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Beretta Debuts All-New Suprema Waterfowl Collection for Fall/Winter 2025

Friday, August 22, 2025
Written by Shotgun Life Staff
Categories: News
Tags: #berettahunting, #berettawaterfowlclothes, #waterfowlhunting

Friday, August 22, 2025 — Beretta proudly unveils its latest innovation in outdoor performance apparel with the launch of the Suprema Waterfowl Collection, a premium hunting clothing line engineered specifically for waterfowlers who demand superior protection, stealth, and comfort in the harshest environments.

Rooted in Beretta’s 500-year legacy of craftsmanship and innovation, the Suprema Waterfowl Collection brings cutting-edge design to serious hunters. The line blends traditional Beretta quality with advanced technical fabrics and purposeful features that stand up to punishing weather and terrain.

A standout feature of the new line is Colorblock Concealment™, Beretta’s proprietary advanced camouflage methodology. This technology enhances optical efficiency by leveraging natural shadow patterns in the most concealed environments, such as deep blinds and expansive fields. Through sophisticated layering of classic waterfowl color palettes, it fuses time-honored aesthetics with contemporary design principles to deliver optimized visual disruption, ultimately helping hunters blend in more effectively and hunt with greater confidence.

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Webley & Scott in America Part 3: The Sport X Over/Under

Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Written by Irwin Greenstein
Categories: Shotguns

Webley & Scott was established in Birmingham, England in 1790. Today, like some other revered names from the Birmingham and London trades, the shotguns are  made in Turkey. Under the leadership of Matt Nelson based in Baird, Texas, Webley & Scotts have returned to the U.S. In this series, we discuss the Webley & Scotts currently available at affordable prices to American wing and clays shooters.

The formula for the Webley & Scott Sport X is simple: build an affordable over/under that’s a clays crusher.

For an MSRP of $2,399, you get a 12-gauge Sport X with black-chrome 30-barrels topped by a High-Viz bead and proofed for steel, plus five extended chokes. The barrels are chambered for three-inch shells. The shotgun’s handsome oil-finished Grade 3 Turkish walnut stock features an adjustable comb, a pistol grip and palm swell. The receiver is black chrome as well – a finish that’s been proven to resist corrosion in the elements. An automatic safety integrated into the stop strap.

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After 43 Years with Holland & Holland, Chris Bird Retires as Head Instructor

Saturday, August 09, 2025
Written by Shotgun Life Staff
Categories: News
Tags: #chrisbird, #hollandandholland, #hollandandhollandshootinggrounds
Bird 1

After an incredible 43 years with Holland & Holland, we are announcing the retirement of Chris Bird, our esteemed Head of Instruction at the Shooting Grounds.

Chris joined the business in 1982 and has since become one of the most respected and recognisable figures in the shooting world. Over the decades, he has shared his exceptional knowledge and passion for the sport with thousands of clients, from complete beginners to experienced shots, always with the same patience, skill and good humour.

His contribution to Holland & Holland cannot be overstated. Chris has been instrumental in shaping the standards of excellence we are known for, mentoring generations of instructors and helping to make the Shooting Grounds the welcoming, world-class destination it is today.

“As General Manager of Holland & Holland, I’m lucky enough to work with some very skilled, passionate and experienced people. One of them is Chris Bird, Anyone who has visited Holland & Holland shooting grounds would need no introduction to Chris, but for those that don’t know him, he’s simply a legend, he’s taught a phenomenal amount of people how to shoot, in a style that has become so familiar, you will often hear -” Ah, you were taught by Chris Bird”


Chris has been with the business for 43 years and today he retires from working life. His hope is to go and enjoy time with his wife and of course some shooting from time to time. Chris has been a fantastic servant to the brand and helped pave the way for Holland & Holland, the future is bright because of the people like Chris, who help drive this brand. I personally, have only known Chris for a short time but already class him as a dear friend, so we say a huge thank you to Chris, enjoy your retirement, you will always be a part of the H&H team and welcome here anytime.”
– John Henderson, General Manager of Holland & Holland

We are deeply grateful for Chris’ dedication, professionalism and friendship over the years and while we will miss him greatly, we wish him the very best as he begins this exciting new chapter.”

Please join us in celebrating Chris’s remarkable career and in thanking him for over four decades of outstanding service.

www.hollandandholland.com

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Shotgun Life Announces “Shotguns for Sale” Free E-Letter

Thursday, August 07, 2025
Written by Shotgun Life Staff
Categories: News
Tags: shotgunlife
Longthorne

August 7, 2025 – Shotgun Life, the first online magazine dedicated to the best in wing and clays shooting, has added the “Shotguns for Sale” e-letter to its roster. You can read Shotgun Life at www.shotgunlife.com.

“Shotguns for Sale” is distributed every weekday at 4:00 PM EST to opt-in subscribers. The free e-letter showcases a single shotgun per issue from bona fide dealers. The e-letter’s shotguns run the gamut from vintage to new and used modern sporting shotguns.

“We’re not dogmatic about provenance or price, but instead want to provide our readers with the most interesting wing and clays guns on the Internet from licensed retailers,” said Shotgun Life Publisher, Irwin Greenstein.

Although the shotguns presented come from multiple sources, every issue features an ad from Shotgun Life magazine advertisers.

Shotguns for Sale has been in beta tests since mid-July 2025. Individual e-letters have been averaging 1,631 impressions and 192 link clicks per shotgun, totaling 8,155 impressions and 960 clicks per week, that combined produce an above industry average click-through rate of 11.7 percent.

“The strategic advantage to Shotguns for Sale is that your firearms are not listed in “big box” sales sites or auctions,” Greenstein said. “Each shotgun makes its own case for purchase potential – often presenting enthusiasts with selections that may have never crossed their minds.”

For advertising and marketing opportunities contact:

Irwin Greenstein

Publisher Shotgun Life

229-236-1632

igreenstein@shotgunlife.com

James Dietsch

Sales Associate

405-415-5724

jamesdietsch@cox.net

About

Since launching in 2008, Shotgun Life continues as the leading online magazine for sporting shotguns, international wingshooting, recreational sporting clays and related educational editorial. It’s available at no charge at www.shotgunlife.com. Our fast-paced, ever-changing editorial draws loyal readers each and every day from around the world –  giving your products international exposure 24/7. Our advanced SEO platform generally ranks our editorial on the first page of Google results, often giving advertisers an evergreen resource to potential customers.

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Wing and Barrel Ranch Announces the Wine Country High Tower Open — A One-of-a-Kind Shooting Experience

Wednesday, August 06, 2025
Written by Shotgun Life Staff
Categories: News
Tags: #sonomawinecountry, #towershoot, #wingandbarrelranch
Wing and Barrel woman

Set in the heart of Sonoma wine country, Wing & Barrel Ranch is where sporting tradition meets refined luxury. Our private, members-only club is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts who appreciate both the thrill of the field and the elegance of wine country living. With a world-class sporting clays course designed by Chris Batha, lush landscapes, and curated culinary experiences, Wing & Barrel Ranch offers an extraordinary blend of sport and sophistication. For one exclusive day, we invite a limited number of guests to step inside this world.

Introducing the First Annual —
Wine Country High Tower Open
September 12–13, 2025 | Wing & Barrel Ranch

Be part of sporting history in the heart of California wine country. Join fellow competitors and outdoor enthusiasts for the inaugural High Tower Open—a premier shooting event held at the only tower of its kind in California, expertly designed by England’s David Wing.

This exclusive, non-sanctioned shoot features soaring tower targets and will be led by a world-renowned shooting instructor to be announced soon. Stay tuned for more details on this rare opportunity to compete at the highest level in a setting where luxury meets tradition.

Top Competitors Will Take Home:

$5,000 + the Brass Top Shot Trophy

$2,500 – Second Place

$1,000 – Third Place

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

FRIDAY, SEPT 12, 2025
Welcome Cocktail Party
Raise a glass to the start of an unforgettable weekend. Mingle with fellow shooters and sporting enthusiasts over handcrafted cocktails, light bites, and lively conversation—all set against the rustic elegance of Wing & Barrel Ranch.

SATURDAY, SEPT 13, 2025
Breakfast & Five-Stand Warm-Up
Begin the day with gourmet coffee, bites, and a warm-up session to get your eye in before the competition.

High-Tower Competition Begins
Two groups of 10 shooters will take on challenging targets launched from 60’ and 80’ towers—the only of their kind on the West Coast.

Scores Tallied + Sudden Death Round
Top shooters will move on to a thrilling final round with targets at 70’ and 80’.

Gourmet Lunch Reception
Enjoy elevated seasonal cuisine and vintner-member wines in the clubhouse while scores are finalized.

Awards Banquet
Gather for a celebratory dinner and the official announcement of winners, including the presentation of the Brass Top Shot Trophy and cash prizes.

LIMITED TIME OFFER:
$500 / per person

Any additional items, services, or activities will incur extra charges.

Fill out the form below or Contact sporting@WingandBarrelRanch.com directly to book today.

The Biomechanics of  Clays Shooting  

Monday, August 04, 2025
Written by Frank Neumayer
Categories: Shotgun Clay Sports

Biomechanics is the study of the action of internal and external forces on the living body, especially on the skeletal system, which includes the analysis of motion.  When we’re engaged in tournament clay target shooting (Trap, Skeet, or Sporting Clays) it’s crucial that we apply the proper or correct biomechanics with regard to our posture, form, and movement. This certainly helps us to endure the least amount of body stress and fatigue as we engage in lengthy tournament situations.  As I work with students, from novice to advanced, one of the first things we review is their “most comfortable shooting position.” From that we’ll then make whatever adjustments or corrections are needed so as to incorporate the proper shooting form and posture. 

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