Go in with a good attitude.
Bring eyes and ears - no exceptions
Bring enough shells in case of broken targets - an extra box will do.
The Federals from wally world in 8 or 7-1/2 will work, lighter 1oz loads will do just fine.
If you do not have a cart or are not sharing one, you'll need a bag to carry your stuff.
Water bottle is always nice, as is a snack bar of some type.
As for targets, you can expect rabbits on the ground, outgoing quartering away from L2R and R2L, incoming the same, L2R crossers, R2L crossers, rising "teal", possibly targets off a tower, arcing chondelles, among others.
Rules are simple - gun action is ALWAYS open until it is your turn to shoot, and especially when moving between the stands at stations. Most courses typically are using 14 stations to give you a wide variety of targets. You might get report pairs - (second bird is launched after you shoot at the first), true pairs - two birds thrown at the same time, following pairs - one bird comes quickly behind the first whether you've shot or not.
No more than two cartridges in the gun when shooting.
The target setter's goal is make your eyes tell your brain something other than what is happening. You may think a bird is a straight crosser, but it might actually be curling outward causing you to not use enough lead, things like that.
It's very challenging, and is a lot of fun - I shoot sporting twice a week most weeks.
Typical event will be 100 targets, so bring 125 (5 boxes).
Relax, have fun, and if you're shooting with experienced folks, ask them questions.
Shooters rotate who starts at each station. The first shooter is allowed a "show pair", so everyone can see where the target are coming from and devise their plan to shoot them.
As for chokes, most courses can easily be shot with an IC, LM, or M. Don't get hung up on changing chokes unless there is a station where the targets are so much further out than all the rest.
Good luck and let us know how you did
