SPORTING CLAYS: THEN AND NOWLuke Walker and Parker Gunnell

WHAT IS SPORTING CLAYS? A shooting sport that involves shooting a shotgun at a flying orange target.

THE CREATION OF THE SPORT Began in the early 1800’s Great Britain People of high economic and social status. Invented to practice bird hunting skills.

THROWERS: THEN VS. NOW Human Trap Mechanical thrower Automatic mechanical thrower

TARGETS: THEN VS. NOW Glass balls stuffed with feathers Clay discs Improved clay discs Biodegradable clay discs

MODERN TARGETS Mini Midi Standard Rabbit

TERMS Pull Clay Thrower Report Pair Shell Piece Clear/safe Powder

REQUIRED MATERIALS Gun Shell Holder Ear protection Eye protection Ammunition

CLOTHING Shooting vest Durable Clothing Non-binding clothing Shooting Shirts

SAFETY Keep the Gun pointed in a safe direction at all times. Do not treat the firearm as a toy. Only load the gun when you are ready to shoot. Know what is behind the target. An example from a real safety waiver:

“1. The risk of handling firearms and being near others that have firearms in their possession;”

“2. The risk of ear damage from noise;” “3. The risk of injury from ammunition, clay targets and shot from other guns;” “4. Walking in rugged country, including encounters with wildlife, animals and

insects;” (Buffer Creek)

TYPES OF FIREARMS Single Action Double Barrel Over Under Pump Action Automatic

GAUGE .410 28 20 16 12 10 8 4

CHOKES Cylinder Improved Cylinder Full Modified Skeet

CHOKE CHART

AMMUNITION

TYPES OF CLAY SPORTS Skeet

Trap

Sporting Clays

ORGANIZATIONS NCSA- National Sporting Clays Association Olympics State Hunter Education Programs

ETIQUETTE Each shooter must “pull” for the other shooters. Follow all safety rules. Promptness Awareness Ask experienced shooters if you feel like you are doing something wrong.

TECHNIQUE Lean forward Point your feet in the direction in which you intend to break the target. Place your cheek on the stock. Slap the trigger. Follow through Point the gun, don’t aim it. Lead the target before firing. Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYh3yFbspEw

FROM A FINANCIAL STAND POINT Average Prices

Shotgun- $300 to $10,000 Ammunition- $6 to $8 per box which contains 25 shells. Glasses- $5 to $200 Shell Holder/Vest- $5 to $40 Cost per round- $5 to $20 per round of 25. Thrower- $150 to $700 Clays- $10 per 100 Ear protection- $1

COURSE LAYOUT Separate stations (similar to golf course) Spread out through the woods or open fields. Shoot from a wooden pallet type stand.

POPULARITY Youth up to 21 years old: 9% Women of all ages: 7% 22-64 years old: 71% 65+ years old: 13% (The Sporting Clays Demographic)

WHO? Anyone who can see and is physically capable of shooting a shotgun. (All of this room’s occupants.)

WHERE? All parts of the U.S.

Clubs Skeet Fields Private Properties

Any person can shoot skeet in any location where there is a plot of land where the shot can land safely.

FUN FACTS FOR THE DAY… On April 7, 2014, a man shot the end of his foot off by resting the barrel of

his gun on his toes. The youngest person to win the Sporting Clay Championship is Annabelle

Ayres who was 13 years old. Nash Buckingham’s 12 gauge HE Grade Super Fox shotgun sold for

$862,500.

AND IF YOU’RE REALLY GOOD… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-L_M8C7GNmI

CITATIONS Shot Size Chart. N.d. Photograph. Ballistic ProductsWeb. 14 Apr 2014. <ballisticproducts.com>. Wern Valley Sportsmens Club. N.d. Photograph. Wern Valley, Waukesha . Web. 14 Apr 2014. <wernvalley.com>. "Benelli Top Guns - Speed Shooting." YouTube. YouTube, 3 May 2012. Web. 21 Apr. 2014. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-

L_M8C7GNmI>. "Biodegradable Targets." EARTHFRIENDLY. n. page. Print. clayshootingusa.com "Buffer Creek Sporting Clays." Waiver and Release Agreement. Buffer Creek Sporting Clays. Web. 9 Apr 2014.

buffercreeksportingclays.com "The Sporting Clays Demographic." Shotgun World. N.p., 31 Oct. 2009. Web. 21 Apr. 2014. www.shotgunworld.com "Auto-5 Semi-Automatic Shotgun." Browning. N.p.. Web. 19 Mar 2014. Dalseide, Lars. "Spencer Arms pump action shotgun made for black powder shells." (2013): n. page. Web. 19 Mar. 2014. ASCTP. "Shooting Etiquette for Trap, Skeet, and Sporting Clays."Arizona Scholastic Clay Target Program. Phoniex: 2009. "shooting equipment and history." (Olympic). Olympic.org. Web. 19 Mar 2014. www.olympic.org "Sporting Clays Choke Chart." Briley. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2014. www.briley.com "Sporting Clays Course Design." (Shooting Academy) - What is Sporting Clays? www.shooting-academy.com. Web. 25 Feb 2014. "‘Sporting Clay’ accident injures Marylander : Newsradio 1070 WKOK." Newsradio 1070 WKOK RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. wkok.info/news "Catfish Gumbo." : Roosevelt Shotgun Brings Record-Setting $862,500. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2014. catfishgumbo.blogspot.com/ "How to shoot a shotgun." YouTube. YouTube, 3 Feb. 2010. Web. 21 Apr. 2014. www.youtube.com