NJ OWL - A Fantastic Day with FATS

NJ Outdoor Women's League
A Fantastic Day with FATS
October 2003

For anyone curious about firearms and how to shoot them, NJ OWL's "Shooting FATS & Educational Trap Shoot" was just the ticket for learning the basics in an atmosphere bathed in encouragement, non-competitiveness and fun.

Led by NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife Hunter Education Instructor, Ron Gardner, along with instructors Kelly Gardner, Ken Ortbach and Art Zeiss, members had the opportunity to learn about safe gun handling, the basic parts of a shotgun, the different "actions" that shotguns can have and other topics.

Participants were given workbooks which allowed them to follow along as topics were reviewed. It was a helpful bonus that members could take the books home so they could study the material afterwards and reinforce what was learned.

Hunter Education Instructor Ron Gardner reviewing gun basics.

OWLers trying to determine their "dominant" eye

After the going over the basics, attendees moved on to the FATS system. FATS stands for Firearm Training System. It features two specialized shotguns hooked up to a computer that don't shoot shotgun shells, but rather are able to detect where the barrel is pointing when the shooter pulls the trigger. Targets are roadcast on a specialized screen and react when the aim is true.

Ron started first by helping members determine which eye was their dominant eye. This was important because knowing which eye is dominant influences how you should shoot. Once members knew which eye was dominant, they proceeded to the FATS system itself.

Ron started off slowly by having participants "shoot" at a stationary target (a pumpkin). This allowed everyone to get accustomed to how the system worked. What was really cool was that although they weren't shooting real shotguns, the guns would actually recoil when they shot, which helped them get a better feel of what it's like to shoot the real thing.

As folks got more comfortable, Ron would slowly increase the difficulty of the targets. After the pumpkin was a pheasant sequence which featured a bird flushing and flying away from the shooter. Then there were the rabbit sequences, the first of a rabbit hopping along at a steady and predictable pace, then the next of a rabbit zig-zagging wildly and moving like a rocket. Tough one!

In each case, members would shoot, then Kelly would play the sequence back and the screen would reveal where the shots had really hit - either behind the target, above it, etc. By seeing where their shots had gone, a shooter could adjust her technique to better hit the mark.

Art Zeiss helps Mary (left), while Ron assists Carol. Kelly (between Mary & Carol, sitting) works the computer to set up the next shooting sequence.

Ken helps Sandy hit the real thing down on the trap range.

As members finished using the FATS system, they ventured down to the trap range where Ken and Art helped them use what they learned in the classroom to hit real clay targets. All the equipment was provided including shotguns, ammunition, ear and eye protection, and clay birds.

The instructors were great. Their enthusiasm, knowledge and thoughtful instruction carried the day, and helped to bring a different type of outdoor experience to many member's lives.

Submitted by Cathy Blumig