About the Instructor

Ben Berka is a certified shooting instructor with several thousand hours of shooting and teaching experience to his credit. Ben's goals as a shooting instructor are to introduce new people to the shotgun sports and improve the skill level of those already shooting shotguns.  Although Ben has been involved in clay target competition for many years, his interests now lie in learning the most effective teaching methods and applying those methods to benefit his students.

Ben with his Wirehaired Pointing Griffon (Rien), English setter (Nina),  and a mixed bag of Montana sharptail grouse and partridge.

Teaching Credentials

Level II Certified, National Skeet Shooting Association

Level II Certified, National Sporting Clays Association

NRA Certified (Level 2) Shotgun Coach

National Coach Development Staff (NCDS) Member

ATA Trapshooting Hall of Fame Certified Youth Instructor

Former Assistant Coach, Iowa State University Trap and Skeet Club

Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) director for skeet and sporting clays in Iowa

Head Coach - New Pioneer Gun Club Scholastic Clay Target Program

Ben has been involved in the formal clay target sports since 1993 and has been shooting in competitive events since 1995. He is currently an active participant in registered skeet and sporting clays shoots. In addition to skeet and sporting clays, Ben also has experience competing in American trap and the challenging disciplines of international trap and international skeet.

When not shooting clay birds or instructing, Ben likes to pursue feathered game. His passions are hunting waterfowl and upland birds with friends and family members. In the fall you will often find him hunting ducks with his Wirehaired Pointing Griffon or chasing pheasants and quail with his English setter.