MINUTES WITH…
Doug Koenig Champion Competitive Shooter
A Hunger to Win Though he makes great shooting look easy, Doug Koenig knows that the key to winning is hard work
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very once in a while, a special sportsman comes along who redefines what it means to be a champion. Doug Koenig is a once-in-a-generation talent, widely regarded as the best all-around shooter in the world. His list of achievements and championship wins is daunting, and his continued success is due to a potent combination of speed, accuracy, and skill, each of which has helped him to succeed in various competitions, from the Bianchi Cup to the Steel Challenge. With nearly three decades’ worth of professional shooting experience under his belt, he continues to find motivation that fuels his hunger to win by shifting his focus across disciplines throughout the year.
Koenig first started shooting competitively at the age of 17. Before considering sports shooting, he was an avid hunter. His first competitive match was in the winter of 1986, and from that moment on, he was bitten by the competitive bug. Working as a carpenter for his father, who supported his interest in the sport, meant he had the free time and flexibility to really pour his energies into improving and honing his skills. In 1990, he decided to focus exclusively on shooting as a full-time career. The change paid off, and that very same year he scored an unprecedented 1920-157x in the Bianchi Cup to take his first major championship. SHOT Show stalwarts Smith & Wesson (Booth #13729), Leupold (Booth #11962), Hornady (Booth #13145), Otis (Booth #14213), and Gamo (Booth #11053), among others, have been major sponsors of his career.
SHOT Daily: What do you see as the biggest challenges facing the industry in the next five years?
Doug Koenig: One of the biggest challenges facing the industry right now is how to attract new shooters and recruit the
Doug Koenig says the key to success, whether in a match or out in the field, is preparation.
within my sport. Equipment, obviously, is a key component, but physical and mental preparation are also very important. And I try to think outside the box with all of my specific training. I train hard in the areas that need improvement. You are only as strong as your weakest area.
SD: As a hunter, what are the primary differences between hunting and competitive shooting? Any similarities?
DK: I would say there are
next generation of hunters. Collectively, all of us in the industry must continue to be creative in our outreach to kids and their parents by encouraging them to participate in the hunting and shooting sports. With so many other distractions and electronic devices competing for everyone’s attention, we need to keep identifying access areas and affordable entry portals for everyday working families.
4 ■ SHOT BUSINESS DAILY ■ DAY 1, JANUARY 19, 2016
SD: You’ve won the Bianchi Cup 16 times, more than any other competitive shooter. How did you achieve this distinction?
DK: My success in win-
ning 16 NRA Bianchi Cups comes from a ton of hard work on and off the range. I take what I do very seriously. Throughout my competitive career, I’ve continued to work to develop and improve upon all the shooting disciplines
a lot of similarities between hunters and competitive shooters. As a hunter, you need to know your gear inside and out. You have to practice being familiar and confidant in handling your firearm of choice safely. You should be in reasonably good condition, especially for physically demanding Western or high-country hunts. The biggest differences between a competitive shooter and a hunter is the competitive shooter has to perform in front of his or her peers. When you are hunting, no one is keeping score. Honestly, for me, I can have a cham-
pionship day in the field even if I never fire a shot—it’s the total outdoor experience that I enjoy. I would also say that having a competitive shooting mindset can help a hunter deal with buck fever!
SD: How do you maintain your focus during a long competitive event?
DK: That is one of the
hardest things to do. For me, it is the ultimate test, and it all comes down to my preparation. If I’ve done all the work—in the gym, on the range, and with my equipment—then I can focus solely on the match. If those other elements are not in order, it redirects my focus away from my performance. I live in the moment—one shot at a time, one stage at a time, and one day at a time. I don’t get ahead of myself.
SD: What is the single most important thing you have learned—professional and/or personal—from competitive shooting?
DK: That there is no
substitute for hard work. I follow a rigorous physical and mental training routine, and I spend countless hours at the range practicing. It’s hard work, but that’s how you create your own destiny.
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