Kate Ahnstrom

By this time of year, the shorts and tank tops are tucked into the far reaches of our closets. Several of us have already enjoyed a snowy morning. December schedules heated up with holiday parties and get-togethers, but the temperatures across most of the country are quickly cooling. For some of us, these temps mean less time on the clay course; but, for those of us that brave the frigid temps, how can we get the most out of our performance – not only in our own shooting, but also with our ammunition and shotguns? Read More

Shotgun instructor and Syren pro-staff member Kate Ahnstrom lays out why we need to build up our bodies and shares her tips on strengthening your shotgun game. Read More

If you’re like me, you wish away the summer, even cursing it for interrupting your hunt season and making you hang up your bird vest. The mid-Atlantic can be a bit brutal, though, especially in September when the season comes back. It also sees its fair share of hurricanes and flat-out ugly thunderstorms. The dove migration is highly susceptible to these strong storms, and you’ll often hear chatter about the birds getting “blown out.”

It doesn’t take but a week or two for the birds to become educated and even more evasive, giving them that oh-so-appropriate name, “Grey Ghosts.” So, with such fickle and punishing weather and temperamental targets, why do so few utilize the summer months to prepare? Read More

“Dead bird! Dead bird!” Ah, so satisfying hearing the ref call those words. Anne had to work to control her excitement as she inched her way around the skeet field. She was a little nervous about the second half of her day though when she would rotate to the trap field. Some of her squad-mates told her that she shouldn’t expect to fair as well in trap unless she had a dedicated trap gun. Read More

Sporting clays is a sport. It’s even part of the name! I’m hopefully not telling you something you didn’t already know; however, it could very well be something that you didn’t fully comprehend or recognize. Sports, in general, have a game plan. In clays, it’s just you in the box. There is no one to decipher the moves of the opponent other than you and your own training and experience. So, if there is no one else to affect our performance, why is performance anxiety a constant factor? This month, we look deep into the mental game of clay shooting and how we can develop a solid plan for success. Read More

Feathers & Tweed is a one-day, limited engagement that brings together the best of the industry in a time-conscience and easy-to-engage format. This dynamic event was founded by Minnesota’s very own Laura Schara in collaboration with Minnesota Horse & Hunt Club. She wanted to showcase her tried-and true-favorites for the outdoors. Laura understands fully how busy our schedules can be and knows how difficult it can be to cut through all the “junk” to get to what really works on the course and in the field. So, she is proudly bringing you the 2^nd Annual Feathers & Tweed! Read More

Syren pro-staffer Kate Ahnstrom walks you through ways to break old, bad shooting habits.

With the new year, we all eagerly welcome the chance to hit the “reset” button. This rebirth is a way to shake off the old and start anew. But, what if some of your old habits are the only thing you know, especially when it comes to shooting? How do you break that cycle of consistent inconsistency in your shooting? Are you sure you are employing every tool in your toolbox to create success? Read More

September ushers in the long-awaited hunt season! Ladies across the country are gleefully headed to cut crop fields for doves and geese. This month, we take an in-depth look at the shotgun every lady should have in her hands, while readily glancing up for gray ghosts or sky carp. Read More

Finally! The plane has landed and is taxiing into the jetway. A well-deserved weekend getaway with your friends is imminent, just as soon as the gate agent opens the aircraft door. You’ve been planning this trip for months, excitedly taking advantage of being able to shoot a few rounds at a world-renowned sporting clays complex. You are on a trip with your shotgun, at last. Read More

Syren pro-staffer Kate Ahnstrom runs through tips for shotgun maintenance 101. This is a great how-to for newbies and a refresher for seasoned shotgunners. Take care of your shotgun and hopefully, it will perform well for you when you need it. ~BB Read More

Syren pro-staffer Kate Ahnstrom runs through the how’s and why’s of hosting a Syren Demo Day.

“Do NOT go out and buy a shotgun.” When I tell my students this, their mouths usually gape open a bit in total disbelief. The fact stands, 99% of the people that want a new shotgun, have no idea what they want to purchase. Unlike most of your Amazon purchases, there is no return policy on guns – or even ammo, for that matter. You own whatever you purchase until you can either convince your buddy that she wants it more than you do, or sell it through an online site or your local sporting goods store. None of those options will ever recoup the price you paid, because it is technically now a used a gun.

This is why I absolutely love hosting a Syren Demo Day. Twice a year, spring and fall, for a few hours at my home course, I will bring in Syren with a selection of inventory and some great swag so students, clients, even the general public may try before they buy. There is zero commitment to purchase, only encouragement to take advantage of the chance to shoot so many very fine shotguns in one event. Read More

‘Tis the season for fabulous get-togethers, overindulgences in food and drink, and that age-old desperation of shopping for those we love. That perfect gift always seems to elude us. What’s worse, when asked by our beloved, “What would you like this year?”, our response is meager at best with, “Oh, I don’t know.” Yes, you do. You totally know what you want – it’s a shiny new Syren shotgun to call your own and to take to hunts, clay fields, and beyond. When it comes to deciding on what shotgun to add to the gun safe, there are a few poignant questions that should be answered to ensure that you purchase the shotgun that is right for you and for your needs. Read More

The hunt season doors have burst open across the country and in some locations, snow already is falling! This is the best time of year. Here in Virginia, the mountains are phasing their lush green canopies into a majestic landscape of golds, reds and oranges. The chilly, frosty mornings are a welcome respite from the searing heat of August and we are all leaping at any opportunity to get out in the upland hunt field. But are you ready? Read More

Shotgun instructor Kate Ahnstrom stresses the need to dress for success while in the field, which includes making sure your bird vest fits and that you can work with it while mounting a gun. She also offers great options for finding the perfect bird vest. Read More

Full chokes, skeet chokes, duck loads, target loads, slugs. This is a field that is extremely diverse and quite often difficult to navigate. A quick Google search will yield a plethora of information, but will also inundate a new shooter and often perplex even the most experienced one. I want to preface this entire article with my humble opinion – less is seriously more. I rarely stray from set up and enjoy great success over multiple disciplines and applications. Let’s take a look at what is a choke and what it means to “choke” your gun. Read More

It’s the American way: Bigger, better, faster, now. Actually, it’s the way most of the world thinks especially when it comes to shotshells. Just a short jaunt through the ammo aisle at your local sporting goods store is enough to make your shoulder hurt just at the sight of some of those shell boxes. Will those superfast, hot and heavy loads give you more X’s on your scorecard or more birds in your bag? Meh, maybe… but some time with a professional instructor and a little practice at the clay course will take your shooting much further than 1350fps. Read More

The easiest way to complete a job successfully is to be sure you use the right tool. There are literally thousands of different tools out there in the world, but you certainly don’t want to try and hammer in a nail with a pair of pliers. Although, in an act of desperation, I have at times done exactly this instead of just taking a moment to find the actual hammer. It can be done but it ain’t pretty or even particularly functional. The exact same thing can be said about guns and whether you need more than one shotgun. Read More

There is a simpler way to keep your schedule balanced and enjoy shedding some of the stress in our lives. It’s “leaditation.” Yes, you guessed it. Get out to the course and get that gun barrel moving. But with such hectic lives full of commitments, how is it remotely possible to find the time to enjoy pulling the trigger? Read More

You love shooting your shotgun, especially if it’s a fabulous Syren. You even set aside time every couple of weeks to go to your local clay course. You break clays, you miss clays, and you have a lot of fun, especially when the weather is gorgeous, and friends are going around the course with you. But your shooting isn’t improving. As a matter of fact, some days, you would swear it looked like you had never seen a clay target in your life, which begs the question, “Are You Building Skills or Pulling the Trigger?” Read More