By: Bob Hendricks
Sporting clays will challenge the hunter in every way
If you want to be challenged in your shotgun shooting then shooting clays are the games for you. I would like to discuss two types of clays. The first is the classic known as trap shooting and the second is called sporting clays. Both use the clay pigeon however the latter uses different sized clay pigeons for a shooting challenge.
With over 82 million registered clay targets thrown each year not to mention non registered it isn’t hard to see that the shooting of clays is a popular sport encompassing young shooters up to senior shooters alike. The first type of clay shooting is known as trap shooting. The word trap is believed to come from the days when live birds were sent from a trap to the waiting shooter. Early shooting of trap included the use of balls with feathers in them as targets and evolved into baked clay targets used today.
Trap shooting consists of five stands and at each stand there are five targets thrown in different directions. Each shooter revolves to the next stand after having completed his five rounds. Trap is shot one round at a time beginning with the first shooter on the far left station and going in order to the fifth station on the right. When all shooters have completed the revolving order of 25 shots for a complete round of trap the game is over and the highest scoring shooter who has hit the most clays is the winner.
There are variations on the classic game of trap. One of these is called handicap. In this game the shooting distances are increased and the shooters are grouped by skill. Distances are increased in one yard increments up to 27 yards. The target machines oscillate in the same manner throwing the clays the same as in the primary game of trap shooting. The shooter moves from stand to stand the same as in regular trap shooting.
The next variation of the standard game of trap is called doubles. This game is shot from the 16 yard line and involves two clays being thrown at once. The clays tend to fly at about 35 degrees and this can test the skill of even the most seasoned trap shooter. If challenge in your shooting is what you are looking for then doubles is definitely for you!
There is of course proper etiquette practiced on the trap range and it enhances safety as a priority. Shells are loaded one at a time and then only when it is your turn to shoot. Except for doubles you may only have one shell in your shotgun. The target is launched by the thrower in two ways. Some ranges have a person doing it when you yell pull, but it is getting more and more common to have voice activated throwers on many ranges. Of course we should not discount that many a game of trap shooting is done in a farm field and the clays are launched by a hand thrower.
Sporting clays is more directed to the hunter and shots that he or she may encounter. There are several stations that duplicate the flight of individual game birds. For instance one is a simulation of grouse in flight or a duck in flight while another is a simulation of a rabbit running across the ground. Shooters may vary the chokes that they use in this game from station to station to employ their optimal advantage on that particular clay. In sporting clays the actual clay may vary in size. A combination of different sized clays thrown at all different angles and various speeds add up to a great tune up for the hunter. Sporting clays has often been referred to as shotgun golf and well it may be with the different challenges and positions when shooting.
No matter your favorite clay game there is one for you whether it be the classic game of trap or the simulated hunting game of sporting clays. Try to find a club and get involved. Get out there and sharpen your skills for the upcoming hunting season.
Sporting clays will challenge the hunter in every way
If you want to be challenged in your shotgun shooting then shooting clays are the games for you. I would like to discuss two types of clays. The first is the classic known as trap shooting and the second is called sporting clays. Both use the clay pigeon however the latter uses different sized clay pigeons for a shooting challenge.
With over 82 million registered clay targets thrown each year not to mention non registered it isn’t hard to see that the shooting of clays is a popular sport encompassing young shooters up to senior shooters alike. The first type of clay shooting is known as trap shooting. The word trap is believed to come from the days when live birds were sent from a trap to the waiting shooter. Early shooting of trap included the use of balls with feathers in them as targets and evolved into baked clay targets used today.
Trap shooting consists of five stands and at each stand there are five targets thrown in different directions. Each shooter revolves to the next stand after having completed his five rounds. Trap is shot one round at a time beginning with the first shooter on the far left station and going in order to the fifth station on the right. When all shooters have completed the revolving order of 25 shots for a complete round of trap the game is over and the highest scoring shooter who has hit the most clays is the winner.
There are variations on the classic game of trap. One of these is called handicap. In this game the shooting distances are increased and the shooters are grouped by skill. Distances are increased in one yard increments up to 27 yards. The target machines oscillate in the same manner throwing the clays the same as in the primary game of trap shooting. The shooter moves from stand to stand the same as in regular trap shooting.
The next variation of the standard game of trap is called doubles. This game is shot from the 16 yard line and involves two clays being thrown at once. The clays tend to fly at about 35 degrees and this can test the skill of even the most seasoned trap shooter. If challenge in your shooting is what you are looking for then doubles is definitely for you!
There is of course proper etiquette practiced on the trap range and it enhances safety as a priority. Shells are loaded one at a time and then only when it is your turn to shoot. Except for doubles you may only have one shell in your shotgun. The target is launched by the thrower in two ways. Some ranges have a person doing it when you yell pull, but it is getting more and more common to have voice activated throwers on many ranges. Of course we should not discount that many a game of trap shooting is done in a farm field and the clays are launched by a hand thrower.
Sporting clays is more directed to the hunter and shots that he or she may encounter. There are several stations that duplicate the flight of individual game birds. For instance one is a simulation of grouse in flight or a duck in flight while another is a simulation of a rabbit running across the ground. Shooters may vary the chokes that they use in this game from station to station to employ their optimal advantage on that particular clay. In sporting clays the actual clay may vary in size. A combination of different sized clays thrown at all different angles and various speeds add up to a great tune up for the hunter. Sporting clays has often been referred to as shotgun golf and well it may be with the different challenges and positions when shooting.
No matter your favorite clay game there is one for you whether it be the classic game of trap or the simulated hunting game of sporting clays. Try to find a club and get involved. Get out there and sharpen your skills for the upcoming hunting season.