Anonymous
Thanks so much to FTW for giving my girl the confidence to take the shot! She developed a skill set that the she will always appreciate and will be outshooting the boys, and training her kids, one day, for the rest of her life.
Phil McKinney
I took the SAAM Safari Course in December 2019 and the SAAM Advanced Course in May 2020. Both courses far surpassed anything I was expecting, but the thing that struck me most during both classes was the unparalleled professionalism of the entire staff.
What does that mean? Safety – Safety is always the most important and religiously followed rule during your entire stay at FTW Ranch. The staff at SAAM has a unique ability to practice and demand absolute respect for firearms and firearm safety in a way that is not condescending or imperious, but rather in a way that acknowledges you can practice gun safety and have fun while doing so.
Experience – At SAAM, the quality and depth of instruction is unequalled anywhere else. In terms of knowledge and experience, the difference between the instructors and the vast majority of the students could be likened to the difference between Mikael Baryshnikov and the students in a first-grade ballet class.
In such a scenario, one might reasonably expect the chasm between instructor and student would be so wide as to intimidate even the most stout-hearted participant. However, the SAAM instructors (“Baryshnikovs”?) are more than happy to leave all pretense at the gate while drawing on their superior skills and passion for shooting to encourage, enlighten, and enhance the shooting abilities of every student in the class. It doesn’t matter whether you are a new-to-the-sport mother of three or a 25-year veteran of white tail hunting, these guys know instinctively how to coax the best out of each shooter. And they do it in such a way that every shooter not only enjoys the experience but develops a strong sense of confidence in themselves. Learning – There is no question that the SAAM courses are designed to teach even a relatively new shooter how to properly set up for that once in a lifetime shot.
Those same courses also enable a more experienced shooter to supplement and expand their previously existing knowledge to bring them to the next level of shooting proficiency. That next level may come from a better understanding of the effect of wind on a bullet as it flies to its target, learning to incorporate a more stable shooting position, or realizing the point beyond which the shooter can no longer be sure of the outcome of their shot. Patience – At SAAM, it appears to me that perhaps the second-most important element of instruction (after safety) for students and instructors alike, is patience. Students realize quickly that mistakes and repetition are key to the learning experience and not a basis for ridicule. The instructors also know this, and in fact, they incorporate room for both into each day’s events, and their patience helps every student, regardless of experience, to feel comfortable and spend more time learning and less time worrying about what may happen if they need more time to grasp a concept or don’t hit the center “X” on the first shot. Meanwhile, the instructors still find a way to take the time necessary to help every student “get it,” while at the same time making sure the class meets its daily goals.
Of course, few if any students will be able to incorporate what they’ve learned into flawless performance the first rattle out of the box, and most will have to go through various exercises several (or if you’re like me, numerous) times before they get things right. Yet, despite the innumerable instances of mistaken direction, improper form, or dropped ammo on the range, I never once heard anything remotely resembling a complaint or tone of frustration from the instructors. Because of all of the above, during both of my visits to SAAM I noticed I was able to leave “the world” behind, focus on improving my shooting skills and knowledge, and have a really great time. It couldn’t happen without the SAAM team of instructors and support staff, and I heartily encourage anyone who wants to be a better shooter/hunter/gun enthusiast to take advantage of what the FTW Ranch and SAAM have to offer!
Phil McKinney May 2020
Jeff
The level of professionalism, competence, and positivity among the entire staff at the FTW Ranch impressed me greatly. Every aspect of my experience there, from the quality of instruction, lodging, meals, etc., was exemplary. The SAAM Advanced and Safari courses teach rock-solid principles addressing the entire spectrum of physical and mental prerequisites critical to expert marksmanship and successful hunting. The instructors possess absolute expertise and more importantly, the ability to make complicated topics easily comprehensible and instantly applicable behind a rifle. Their enthusiasm for the covered subject matter and toward improving the customer’s abilities is genuine, and more than once I sat with an instructor discussing various principles well into the night. The many long-distance ranges are top-notch, and I was pleasantly surprised to shoot on ranges with both forward and lateral moving targets. There are also ranges with shooting positions along boulders and tree branches of various heights and angles to get the shooter accustomed to challenging shooting situations encountered during a hunt. The handbooks they provide condense lots of complicated information into easily understandable sections, and the level of detail is impressive. Their handbook on the Kestrel 5700 is the best I have seen. I highly recommend SAAM to shooters of all experience levels.
– Jeff
Rich
Great start to 2020, thanks SAAM!!!
Rich
Ken
My initial reason for taking the FTW SAAM course was to learn the technical aspects of shooting. I’d missed some shots while hunting and realized I didn’t really know what I was doing wrong! During the SAAM course, I quickly learned what I was doing wrong, and how to correct it. But more important, I cultivated a new set of skills that allowed me to develop my own style and learn what I was capable of doing. This course changed the way I hunt and increased my enjoyment of hunting. I’ve now taken a variety of game in all types of environments, knowing how to set up, use my equipment, and make the shot. I don’t sweat the technical aspects of shooting because I have confidence and trust my judgment. Lots of places can teach you to shoot, but FTW is the only place I know that makes you a better hunter! I try to go every year, and the course is always challenging and fun! The staff are incredible, and the friendships I’ve formed with staff and fellow students will last a lifetime. After EVERY hunt, I send a note to FTW to say thanks -they have truly helped transformed the hunting experience for me!
Ken
Phil
To say I’m glad I did this is a serious understatement. For four full days I didn’t worry about the office or any other extra-collateral nonsense and I slept well. More importantly, I discharged more ammunition in four days than I have in the last 10 years – talk about stress relief! Doug, I cannot tell you how impressed I was with your demeanor and your infinite patience in instructing what has got to have been one of your least enlightened shooting classes in quite a long time. I don’t think you have any idea how incredibly important your bearing as an instructor is, not only to me, but to probably most of the people you work with. Having to constantly remind people of the things you’ve told them numerous times has got to wear on anyone’s patience, but likely exponentially more so for someone with the background that you have. Yet, through all the trigger jerks, dropped ammo in the middle of drills, and forgotten equipment (I raise my hand as guilty, guilty, and guilty), you simply dealt with things in a calm and positive manner and helped everyone feel relaxed and good about themselves so we could actually enjoy what we were doing. As a lawyer, I am trained to be cynical first, and second, even when things are going my way, to always expect “the other shoe to drop.” In this case, there was no other dropping shoe, my experience with you and the rest of the guys was literally on the other end of the spectrum, and have an incredible, newly regained confidence in my shooting.
Thanks!
Phil