Shotgun Disciplines& Games

International Hunter Education AssociationP.O. Box 490Wellington, CO 80549-0490970-568-7954www.ihea.com

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Table of Contents PageIntroductionHistory

Lesson Plan

ObjectivesMethods

Time

Resources and MaterialsVocabulary

Background for Student Presentation

Trap DisciplinesAmerican Trap

Handicap Trap

Doubles TrapSkeet Disciplines

American Skeet

Skeet DoublesSporting Disciplines

English or American Sporting

GamesCrazy Quail

5-Stand SportingQuail Walk

Student Lesson ProceduresEnrichment Activities

Glossary

Student ActivitiesStudent Activities Answers

Overheads

Trap FieldSkeet Field Layout

Sporting Course Layout

Crazy Quail Layout

NSCA 5-Stand Sporting

©2002 International Hunter Education Association

Graphic credits: Black’s Wing & Clay

This curriculum is based upon information provided byBlack’s Wing & Clay.

Curriculum design and layout bySilvertip Productions, Ltd.

Black’s Wing & Clay is a complete shotgunner’s guide, with threedirectories in one. Instruction is a guide to shotgun shooting acrossthe U.S.; Equipment provides information about companies that provideshotgun-related products and services worldwide; and Destinationshas state-by-state listings of hunting destinations and sporting clays,trapand skeet clubs.

Contact information:Black’s Wing & Clay

PO Box 2029Red Bank, NJ 07701Tel: (732) 224-8700Fax: (732) 741-2827

E-mail: ms-blacks@attglobal.net

©2002 International Hunter Education Association1

Descriptions of the various shooting disciplines and games are used with permission from Black’s 2001 Wing &Clay.

Introduction

Millions of North Americans enjoy shotgun shooting sports known as trap, skeet, and sporting clays.Thousands of shotgun ranges are available to shooters throughout the continent.

The clay target disciplines and games are excellent activities for hunters. Young hunters can learn skills andpractice safety, and increase their ability to hit gamebirds on the wing during hunting season.

The purpose for using the Clay Target Shooting Sports Supplemental Resources is to make students aware ofall the opportunities they have to participate in clay target disciplines and games.

History

The first trapshooting competition in the United States was held at the Sportsmen’s Club of Cincinnati in 1831.At this time pigeons and sparrows were used for targets.

Glass ball targets from England were introduced in 1866, and were used for much of the 19th century. In 1868,the choke bore was introduced. The choke bore was an important feature for the further development ofshotgun shooting sports.

The clay target was invented and became an instant hit in 1880. The first composition clay target, one thatactually broke when hit, was introduced along with a target thrower in 1884.

The American Shooting Association was formed in 1890 and the first rule book was produced. Since that timemany additional clay target disciplines, games and associations have developed.

Shotgun Disciplines & Games

Background Materials (for instructors)

Lesson Plan

Objectives

Students will be able to:

1. Understand the differences in trap, skeet, and sporting clays disciplines and know which onesmost closely simulate hunting conditions2. Identify where the closest ranges or shooting clubs are located and who to contact for moreinformation.3. Know about the Scholastic Clay Target Program and who to contact for more information

Resources and Materials

Eye ProtectionEar plugsOverheadsMaps showing local range locationsClay targetsHand throwers or portable traps

Videos

Time5 to 10 minutes of classroom time

Additional time as needed for videos, demonstration,or group activities

MethodsLecture and discussion

Video

Demonstration

Group activities

Vocabulary

ATA – Amateur Trapshooting AssociationClay targetHigh houseLow houseNSCA – National Sporting Clays AssociationNSSA – National Skeet Shooting AssociationSquadTrap

©2002 International Hunter Education Association2

Background for Student Presentation

Classifying and defining the various shotgun disciplines and clay target games is no easy task. There are almostas many out there as there are shotgunners to shoot them. And new ones spring up all the time. What followsthen is not meant to be the final word on the topic – just a helpful guide to the most prominent games played anddisciplines followed today.

Trap Disciplines

American Trap (ATA) – The most basic of all the trap disciplines.Standard targets are thrown as singles. The horizontal direction israndomized with a maximum angle of 22 degrees measured from a linefrom the trap to the middle station. The height at which the targets arethrown is constant. The distance is constant at 50 yards. A squad offive shoot in rotation from five stations arrayed in an arc located 16yards behind the traphouse; 5 targets are thrown at each station, afterwhich the shooters move to the next station on their right. A round is25 targets with one shot allowed at each target. An English variation iscalled Down-The-Line, a two-barrel discipline that allows two shots ata single target with a scoring penalty for a second-barrel hit.

Handicap Trap – The same as ATA singles, except the shooter stands further back than 16 yards – butno longer than 27 yards. The ATA review handicap yardage for shooters every 1,000 targets as part oftheir handicap system.

Doubles Trap – As the name implies, two targets are launched simultaneously from one machine.Squads of five shooters rotate the five positions on the 16 yard line. Shooting events consist of 25 or50 pairs. Like 16 yard and handicap, scoring is one point per target hit.

©2002 International Hunter Education Association3

Trap Field

Skeet Disciplines

American Skeet – A round of skeet consists of 25 targetsin a set sequence of singles and simultaneous doubles.Squads of five shooters take their turns from eight shootingstations. Each squad member takes two singles and onedouble from stations 1, 2, 6 & 7. Two singles are takenfrom stations 3, 4, 5 & 8. The 25th target is taken after thefirst target is missed, or as a final target (low house #8) after24 kills. Targets are thrown a distance of 60 yards.Variations in the angles of the targets presented from the“high” and “low” house result from the shooter moving fromstation to station. American Skeet is the only discipline that has regular, specific tournament events forsub-bore shotguns: 20, 28, and .410.

Skeet Doubles – Shooters, in squads of five, start on station 1, shooting one pair of doubles each tostation 7. Then they reverse, shooting one pair each from stations 7 through 1. On station 4, shootersmust shoot the high house target first. On reversing, (shooting 7 through 1), they must shoot the lowhouse target first. In tournaments, the events are on a total of 50 (or 100) targets with the last pair shoton station 1. Scoring is one point per hit target.

Sporting Disciplines

English or American Sporting – Sporting Clays, likeTrap and Skeet, uses traps and clay targets to duplicate,as far as possible, conditions and presentations youwould normally find while hunting. A typical sportingcourse is laid out over a 10, 20 or 30 acre site, ideally inrough, hilly terrain. Usually, the path the shooters followwill take a circular or horse-shoe shape enabling shootersto start and finish in roughly the same place. Along thepath targets are thrown from 10 to 14 shooting stations.Courses can be laid out with either automatic or manualtraps, usually set out of sight. Six different types oftargets can be used: standard, midi, mini, battue, rocketor rabbit. Target sequence may incorporate singles, report pairs, following pairs and true (simultaneous)pairs. A round usually consists of 50 or 100 targets. The shooter’s gun must be visible below thearmpit and may not be mounted until the target is visible.

©2002 International Hunter Education Association4

Skeet Field

Sporting Course Layout

Games

Crazy Quail – This game simulates quail rising from cover. The trap used ishidden in a pit to prevent shooters from anticipating the flight direction of thetarget. Targets fly straight away, to the side, or directly toward the shooter,because the trap and the trapper’s seat rotate 360 degrees. Automatic machineson special rotating bases can also be used.

5-Stand Sporting - Sometimes over-laid on a trap or skeet fieldthis game uses 6-8 automatic traps. There are 3 levels of difficulty:Level I, 5 single targets with full use of the gun for scoring; Level II,3 single and a simultaneous pair; Level III, 1 single and 2simultaneous pairs. Shooters (squad of five) can move from stationto station with a predetermined menu of shots and combinations, orin a sequence unknown to the shooters. 5-STAND SPORTINGis a registered trademark of Clay-Sport International, Inc., Alberta,Canada. In the U.S., 5-STAND is licensed by the NSCA.

Quail Walk – Another version of sporting shooting. A quail walk or walk-up involves the shooter walkingdown a path in a “more-or-less” straight line. Just as in “rough” shooting in the field, the shooter carries aloaded gun in anticipation of targets being presented while walking. Manual traps or automatic traps can beutilized.

©2002 International Hunter Education Association5

NSCA 5-Stand Sporting

Crazy Quail

Student Lesson Procedures

1. Begin by asking your students how many of them have ever shot at clay targets for fun or competition.If you have a significant response ask for a show of hands specific to trap, skeet, sporting clays, andinformal shooting using hand throwers or portable traps. Hold up a standard clay target used intrapshooting so students will know exactly what you are talking about. Pass the target around the room.Explain that there are different sizes, styles, and colors of clay targets for different types of shooting,such as sporting clays.

2. Explain that many hunters shoot clay targets to help them improve their skills in the field. Sporting claysis the best clay target discipline when trying to simulate actual hunting conditions. Also explain thatmillions of non-hunters also shoot clay targets for fun and competition.

3 Review the importance of firearm safety rules and safe methods of transporting guns. Hold up shootingglasses and ear protection, and stress the importance of using this protective gear at all times.

4. Project overheads of trap, skeet, and sporting clays fields. Briefly explain where the shooters stand,where the clay targets are thrown, and the basic paths shooters follow as the games progress.

5. Tell the students where to find local clay target ranges, and give them contact information for clubsand/or the Scholastic Clay Target Program.

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©2002 International Hunter Education Association

Enrichment Activities

1. Visit a trap, skeet or sporting clays range. Issue eye protection and ear protection for all participants,including parents or visitors. Observe shooters as they participate. Explain the procedures, and answerquestions.

2. If possible, have the students participate in a round of shooting. Follow your State or Provincial policiesand procedures for live-firing

3. If it is not possible to visit a range, consider having students experienced in the various disciplines tell

Glossary

ATA Amatuer Trapshooting Association

Clay target Targets made of compositions including clay soil. Recently, bio-degradeable targetshave been developed that safely degrade in a little over two years. Clay targets arealso called clay birds, or pigeons, a holdover from the days when live birds were usedfor targets.

High House In skeet, targets are thrown from two different houses, one higher than the other.

Low House See “High house.”

NSCA National Sporting Clays Association

NSSA National Skeet Shooting Association

Squad A group of shooters participating in a clay target competition

Trap Name of a specific clay target competition, but also used to describe the machineused to throw clay targets. When live birds were used in competitions, they werereleased from “traps.”

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Student Activity Sheet

Word Find

Crossword

ACROSS4. In trapshooting, two targets are launched at the same time.5. Amatuer Trapshooting Association6. _______ clays use trap and clay targets to simulate hunting

DOWN1. Like trap singles, but the shooter stands further back than 16 yards but no more than 27 yards behind the traphouse.2. A group of shooters participating in a clay target competition3. A round of ______ consists of 25 targets in a set sequence of singles and simultaneous doubles.

TRAP

SKEET

CLAY

TRAPHOUSE

SQUAD

DOUBLES

HANDICAP

SPORTING

TARGET

SHOOT

©2002 International Hunter Education Association8

Student Activity Sheet Answers

Word Find

Crossword

TRAP

SKEET

CLAY

TRAPHOUSE

SQUAD

DOUBLES

HANDICAP

SPORTING

TARGET

SHOOT

©2002 International Hunter Education Association9

ACROSS4. In trapshooting, two targets are launched at the same time.5. Amatuer Trapshooting Association6. _______ clays use trap and clay targets to simulate hunting

DOWN1. Like trap singles, but the shooter stands further back than 16 yards but no more than 27 yards behind the traphouse.2. A group of shooters participating in a clay target competition3. A round of ______ consists of 25 targets in a set sequence of singles and simultaneous doubles.