The sport of clay target shooting has been around since the late 1800's, but probably as a result of Australia's successes in recent International competition it has become very widely known as an active past time for all members of the population.   The sport is organized on a Country, State, State Zone and finally Club basis. 

       
There are three principle forms of clay target shooting, known as "Disciplines",  *  DTL (or Down The Line),    * Skeet,  * and Sporting. 

 
Of the three, Sporting probably has the largest following.   Each of the three Disciplines throw various permutations of target types and patterns from machines known as traps which are activated in the main by electronic voice systems when the shooter calls "pull".   Both DTL and Skeet have targets thrown by the traps from fixed positions whilst Sporting uses traps set up  in natural bush surroundings.

Targets for DTL are thrown by the trap at random within a proscribed arc.  Competitors shoot in turn from one of five positions arranged in another arc behind the trap house.

There are several variations to DTL including Handicap, Points Score, Ball Trap, Continental and Double Rise to name a few.  

The Skeet range differs in that two traps are used.  The first is mounted in a tower some 3m in height at the left side of the range (the high tower).  The other trap is located in  the "low tower" to the right of the shooter.  Both traps throw their targets across the shooter's view either in singles or two targets at once. Again the firing stands are arranged in an arc to further confuse the already confused competitor.

   
This picture shows the nature of the "Sporting" discipline, with a group of competitors awaiting their turn to shoot at the clay target thrown from a hidden trap.    A walk in a bush setting on a lovely day appeals to many, but remember competition also takes place in cold and wet weather.

The weapons used are primarily under and over 12 gauge shot guns with strict limitations on shot size.   Size 7 is the largest permitted (the scale of sizes goes the wrong way,  7 is quite small).   Using very small shot effectively limits the maximum range of the charge to perhaps 200 metres and at that distance  falling shot would feel like rain drops. The clay targets are bio degradable  and break down into the soil under the influence of the weather.

SKEET SHOOTING

Skeet is a clay target shooting sport. There are 2 types of Skeet, American Skeet which is administered by the NSSA (National Skeet Shooting Association) and Olympic skeet which is also one of the ISSF shooting events.

Skeet is a recreational and competitive activity where participants attempt to break clay disks flung into the air at high speed from a variety of angles. The firearm of choice for this task is usually a high quality shotgun although many American skeet shooters still use inexpensive semi-auto and pump action shot guns with great success. The use of clay targets replaced the more traditional target of live birds, as a cheaper and more reliable alternative.

The event is in part meant to simulate the action of bird hunting. The shooter shoots from 7 positions on a semi-circle, and an 8th position halfway between stations 1 and 7. There are two houses that hold throwers that launch the targets, one at each corner of the semi-circle. The throwers launch the targets to a point 15 feet above ground and 18 feet outside of station 8. One house launches targets from 10 feet above the ground ("high" house) and the other launches it from 3 feet above ground ("low" house). At stations 1 and 2 the shooter shoots at single targets launched from the high house and then the low house, then shoots a double where the two targets are launched simultaneously. At stations 3 through 5 the shooter shoots at single targets launched from the high house and then the low house. At stations 6 and 7 the shooter shoots at single targets launched from the high house and then the low house, then shoots a double. At station 8 the shooter shoots one high target and one low target. The shooter must reshoot his first missed target, or if no targets are missed, must shoot his 25th shell at the low house station 8. This 25th shot was once referred to as the shooter's option as he was able to take it where he preferred. Now, to speed up rounds in competition, the shooter must shoot the low 8 twice for a perfect score. Skeet shooting has been an Olympic event since 1968. Olympic Skeet differs from ordinary Skeet in that the targets are shot in a different order, are faster and will appear with a delay of between 0 and 3 seconds after the shooter has called for them. In addition, whereas in American skeet the shooter may call for the target with the gun held "up" ie. pre-mounted on the shoulder, in Olympic Skeet the shooter must call for the target with the gun held so that the gun butt is at mid-torso level.

SPORTING CLAY SHOOTING

Sporting Clays is a clay pigeon shooting sport. Often described as golf with a shotgun, the sport differs from skeet and trap shooting in that it involves shooting clays at various locations which are launched at different velocities and angles. The original idea behind sporting clays was to create an experience that more closely reflects actual hunting conditions. Whereas top-tier skeet and trap professionals may have hit ratios nearing 100%, the best sporting clay shooters hit their targets only about 85% of the time.

Although the sport is challenging, it is quite popular with novice shooters and ordinary hunters. While professional shooters opt for expensive double-barreled or autoloading shotguns, the game can be equally enjoyed with an inexpensive pump-operated hunting piece. Naturally, safety is paramount. Proper hearing and eye protection is required while on the course.

A typical course will consist of eight to twelve stations. Varying numbers of clay pairs are shot at each station, with the total shots for an outing adding up to 50 or 100 (two or four boxes of shells, respectively). Advanced shooters have the clays thrown as simultaneous pairs, while novice or intermediate shooters can opt for the clays to be thrown on report (the second clay launched the instant that the shooter fires at the first clay). Clays are thrown at different angles and speeds; sometimes across the shooters view, towards the shooter, or away from the shooter. The shots are intended to simulate hunting for quail, grouse, pheasant, dove, or other game. Many courses have traps which throw clays from tall towers simulating high-flying ducks or geese. Some courses have clays that roll and bounce along the ground to simulate rabbits.

TRAP SHOOTING

Trap is a clay pigeon shooting sport, one of the ISSF shooting events. It is a recreational and competitive activity where participants use a shotgun to attempt to break a clay disk flung away from the shooter at high speed. The modern game of trap is in some ways a replacement for a game where the targets were live pigeons. Indeed, one of the names for the clay targets used in shooting games is clay pigeons.

The layout of modern trap shooting is different from skeet shooting in that there is only one house that releases targets and the shooters only move through 5 different positions. There are two basic forms of trap: International and American.

In international Trap competitions, the course of fire is 125 shots for men and 75 shots for women. There is also a 25-shot final for the top six competitors.

American Trap is popular in the United States and different from International Trap. Official events and rules are governed by the Amateur Trap Shooting Association or ATA. The ATA also runs the Grand American Trap Shoot Championship in Vandalia, Ohio. American trap is broken down into three categories: 16 yd singles, 16 yd doubles and, handicap which is shot between 19 and 27 yds.

In singles each shooter takes one shot at five targets in each of the five positions in sequence and is shot while standing 16 yards back from the trap house. The trap rotates back and forth so it is impossible to know which way the target is going to come out.

Handicap is the same as singles but shot from further away. You start at the 20 yd line and work your way back as your average improves over time. Extra yardages may be given if you win a championship or other major event. No two shooters on the same squad should have a difference of more than three yards between them.

Doubles is shot from 16 yards and the trap is fixed to fire straight away. Two targets are thrown at the same time and you get one shot per target. There is no second shot on any target in American trap singles or handicap.

International events require a shooter to shoot at 125 targets with a 25 bird run-off in the event of a tie. When shooting American trap for practice or fun a squad of five will shoot 25 targets each for a total of 125. Registered ATA shoots require shooters to shoot 100 targets per squad and they are allowed to shoot as many squads as they wish during non event shoots. Most of these shoots are for your personal average or handicap yardage. In order to qualify for the Grand a shooter must shoot 2000 singles, 1500 doubles, and 2000 handicap targets.

DOUBLE TRAP

Double Trap is a clay pigeon shooting sport, one of the ISSF shooting events. It is a recreational and competitive activity where participants use a shotgun to attempt to break a clay disk flung away from the shooter at high speed. The modern game of trap is in some ways a replacement for a game where the targets were live pigeons. Indeed, one of the names for the clay targets used in shooting games is clay pigeons.

The layout of double trap shooting is similar to that of trap shooting. The shooter stands 16 yards behind the house that releases the targets. Two targets are released simultaneously from the house. They follow set paths, usually 35 degrees to left and right of straightaway. The shooter can take one shot at each target.

In international Double Trap competitions, the course of fire is 75 doubles for men and 60 doubles for women. As the men's event enjoys Olympic status, it also involves a 25-double final for the top six competitors. The women's event was taken off the Olympic program after the 2004 Summer Olympics and so final shooting for women was discontinued.