Better Question from a New Guy - Learning to Handle and Care for my new Shotgun

[SJJ]

Thanks again to all of you who gave me advice on the purchase of a shotgun in my earlier post. Now, I am looking for a local club or organization to learn how to use it safely and effectively.

I live in Montgomery County, Maryland, and have been considering joining one of the local Izaak Walton chapters. Any thoughts on that or on other options? My primary interest is learning proper handling and care, and shooting trap and skeet looks like it would be fun and a good way to learn to handle the gun.

(By the way, for those of you who are curious, I bought a Mossberg 500 pump that came with both a 28" barrel and a 24" rifled barrel with mounted scope. I am sure there are folks who will think that I could have bought a better gun, but the price was excellent (on sale at Dick's) and a neighbor has a Mossberg pump that he has had for years and is very happy with.)

SJJ