SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING SHOTGUN

The Annie Oakley Shooters of Northern Illinois are thrilled to welcome you to SHOTS, our female only sporting clays clinics held monthly at premier rotating venues in our region. The Annie team is excited and honored to be a part of your sporting clays experience and hope you will come to love the sport as much as we do. There is fun to be had, targets to by crushed and friends to be made. Our goal is to get more women comfortable shooting on the range and enjoying the sport with confidence.

ABOUT S.H.O.T.S. CLINICS

Annie S.H.O.T.S (SisterHood of the Traveling Shotgun) clinics are held monthly at rotating venues in our area.  All women and girls are welcome, shooting skill is not required but safe shooting and proper range etiquette is mandatory. While most clinics are focused on sporting clays fundamentals, throughout the year there are optional introductions to other clay target disciplines like trap, skeet and FITASC.  

Clinics begin with a mandatory safety briefing for all and allow ample time for questions. Groups or squads are divided by experience level, and we have a 3 or 4:1 student instructor ratio.  All coaches are NSCA certified, and Annie approved. Squads will shoot for about 90 minutes on various stations and targets appropriate to their skill level. When shooting is complete, all groups meet back at a clubhouse for review, wrap up and refreshments.

The Annies provide demo guns, eye and ear protection and shells for the clinic. A certified instructor will help beginners select a shotgun that fits them properly to ensure comfort and safety.

Shooters will be divided into 3 groups based on experience and skill level

Novice Annie’s

Designed for brand new shooters – 30 min classroom orientation with handouts to include topics: Safety, Shotguns – types and terminology, Ammunition, Stance, Eye Position and Gun Fit. This is forum for high degree of comfort and a safe place to ask questions. Ladies will work with instructors and peer mentors to get fit for a gun, assess eye dominance and head to 5 stand to shoot 25-50 rounds.

Intermediate Annie’s

Ideal for those with some experience looking to hone their skills. Brief safety review followed by shooting 50 rounds on the course. Gun fit provided and eye dominance exercise available from instructors for those who request it. Groups of 3-4 women with 1 instructor to offer “supported shooting”.

Advanced Annie’s

Ideal for those interested in advanced shooting concepts and competition readiness. Brief safety review followed by shooting 50-100 rounds on the course.

CLINIC INFO

  • All clinics start with check in and a mandatory safety briefing. Please arrive 15 minutes early to register and meet fellow shooters. Look for the registration table in the venue clubhouse, there will be Annie Oakley Shooters welcome signs to direct you. Clinics will last about 2 ½ hours in total.
  • After the mandatory safety briefing, we will split up into groups (Novice, Intermediate, Advanced), based on the experience level you provided at registration. The Novice group will have additional time to review safety and get fit for a shotgun if necessary.  We will review enough material to set you up for success and provide a forum to answer questions.
  • Novice groups will typically head to 5 stand with the instructors after gun fit and eye dominance is assessed. The Intermediate and Advanced Annie’s will be paired with instructors for ‘supported shooting’ and instruction on various courses. 
  • Clinics end with a wrap up and assessment with the instructor.  All groups meet after shooting for refreshments (and usually lunch).

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW AND NOTE

  • Bring a hat or visor and a water bottle.
  • For your comfort and safety, wear closed toe shoes. Leave long dangling earrings at home.
  • Many women prefer to shoot in a sports bra, narrow straps with metal fasteners can be uncomfortable and chafe shoulders when shooting
  • If you have a shooting vest, bring it. Dress for the weather, we shoot rain or shine, cold or hot. There are no rain outs.
  • You will be required to wear eye and ear protection while shooting. Sunglasses or prescription glasses work just fine. If you have ear plugs, bring them. We will have disposable ear plugs and plastic shooting glasses available free of charge.
  • We will offer some post shoot refreshments, but you are welcome to stay for a full lunch at the clubhouse. Lunch not included in the clinic fee.
  • Loaner guns will be available for your use, if you have a shotgun bring it and we will check the fit.
  • You will be required to sign two waivers, one for Northbrook (or host club) and another for the Annie Oakley Shooters of Northern Illinois.
  • If you need to cancel your registration, please do so within 48 hours of the clinic by emailing info@annieoakleyshooters.org or messaging us on our “Contact Us” page. Advanced cancellation notice helps us to fill your spot from the waiting list and provides a heads up to our volunteer instructors and staff.
    • Clinic Cancellation Policy Effective 6.19.2024 – Any person who has registered and paid for a clinic and notifies the Annie’s 72 hours in advance of the clinic start time on said date will be fully refunded the registration fee. If cancelling within 72 hours of clinic date, there are no refunds on the registration fee.