Studies involving waterfowl hunting and the use of steel shot indicate that hunters can reduce wounding by improving shooting and range estimation skills.

In order to provide hunters with the tools to do both, Wildlife and Parks will conduct a shooting clinic April 3 at Quivira Wildlife Reguge.

Two sessions of 30 students each will run all day. Students will have classroom instruction on the causes and cures of wounding loss, as well as field testing and training in shooting skills over distance, range estimation, methods of patterning shotguns for different loads and instruction in shooting with steel shot.

The course is free. Participants must bring their own shotguns — 20 or 12 gauge only — and are encouraged to bring a few of their favorite nontoxic shotshell loads for patterning. For information, call Wildlife and Parks at (620) 672 5911.