POLL - Predicting the Numbers of the 2026 Grand American Handicap (GAH) - POLL

Discussion in 'Americantrapshooter.com. - Trapshooting forum.' started by merlo, Jul 19, 2026 at 11:29 PM.

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What will the number of competitors be on the Grand American Handicap 2026?

  1. Under 1300.

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  2. 1,500

    20.0%
  3. 1,600

    40.0%
  4. 1,700

    13.3%
  5. 1,800

    6.7%
  6. 1,900

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  7. 2,000

    13.3%
  8. 2,300

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  9. 4,000

    6.7%
  1. merlo

    merlo Mega Poster Forum Reporter

    There is a new Executive Director at the ATA. Will he be able to draw a big crowd?
     
  2. Jeff Becker

    Jeff Becker Kolar05

    It will be the largest trapshooting handicap event in the world. Ohio State Handicap Championship would be the 2nd largest. But im sure we will here how they both suck.
     
  3. Family Guy

    Family Guy Mega Poster Founding Member

    Wrong Jeff...

    I just returned from the SCTP National Championship at the Cardinal Center. They had over 10,000 entries. Also 3,000+ shooters per event.
    The High School Shoot in Michigan would be 2nd or 3rd considering the huge youth shoots in Nebraska and Wisconsin.

    The Grand will be 4th with Ohio and PA 5th. (not sure that of order) OH is about 1/2 what it was 11 years ago.

    Hopefully we won't have to audit the ATA again. Several years ago the forum caught them publishing numbers that doubled the actual entries.

    If the Grand has a few events with 4,000 entries and over 10,000 shooters paying then you may be right. Are you putting money on those numbers Jeff?
     
  4. Dobyns

    Dobyns Well-Known Member

    Why is Ohio about 1/2 what it was 11 years ago? Could Ohio's reasons explain why other states numbers have also declined?
     
  5. XDelegate

    XDelegate USMC Retired USMC Retired Past State President Member State Hall of Fame

    Registering targets is something we used to do so we could attend the big shoots like Ohio, PA , and the Grand. Just my opinion but when those venues fail to offer a good product nothing is left.

    There wont be 300 shooters between OH and PA that attend the Grand. But, there were 10,000 entries in a youth shoot in Ohio. What does that say about the ATA Leadership? Regardless....the Executive Committee continues to reward themselves with $20,000 free guns.
     
  6. michigan_berry

    michigan_berry Active Member

    Comparing the High School shoots to the GAH is apples to oranges. The SCTP shoot had 672 shooters in the 200-target handicap event (pulled from the SCTP Results site). They're also shooting skeet and the international games as well. I believe all of the targets for Nationals at Mason were 16-yard. I love that such large numbers of kids are competing at those events but it’s not a 1:1 comparison to the Grand.
     
    Al Peter likes this.
  7. Smithy

    Smithy Mega Poster Founding Member

    '
    SCTP's 3,300 shooters in the singles event alone is no comparison to 1,700 shooters in what used to be the "Grand" American Handicap.

    The Grand wont have a total of 3,000 entrants for the week.

    The Grand died by design. Those that killed it will ride the pony over the cliff. The ATA becomes increasingly irrelevant.
     
  8. Jeff Becker

    Jeff Becker Kolar05

    My bad! Once again i fogot to say that ADULTS can participate in. Is there anyone that can tell me where the largest trapshooting handicap events each year are held?That ADULTS can also shoot.
     
  9. 410

    410 Member US Navy Retired

    Who said ADULTS aren't there? There is also the College events. They aren't counted in that 3,300 singles event. My daughter was there.

    The last person standing event had shooters shoulder to shoulder for 5 1/2 banks. That was the evening event only.