Trapshooters leaving ATA shooting and Switching to games shooting

Here in Southeastern Ohio there has been an increase in Games shooting, like buddy shoots, there has been an influx of new younger faces coming to buddy shoots, and Sporting Clays. It is nothing to have 75 Sporting Clays shooters at Athens Sportsman's Club, and they will shoot 2 rounds, and they bring things to eat, Like Chili, Vegetable Soup and share it with shooters at the clubhouse. One thing here in Southern Ohio 4 clubs shoot under a 27 yard roof to keep you out of Sun, Rain, and Snow, the trap fields are lighted for night shooting, What shooters have said they are tired of the waiting game in ATA shooting, wait to shoot 16 yards, and then wait for the Handicaps, and wait again for doubles, it wastes a whole day for the family. We have guys bring in guns to sell or trade. Has anyone else seen this happening? They also have those Fuel Oil Heaters we had in the military to keep warm on those cold nights, they have them vented up, and then an angle up and out to front of roof then up above the roof with a vent cap to keep the fuel oil fumes and smoke from being under the roof.
Dr.longshot

 

Gary, where are the 4 clubs under a 27yd roof? Not interested in SC but would like to try my luck at games.

 

Sub $2 gas is going to be the best thing for trapshooting attendance in the last 10 years.

 

RE: and they bring things to eat, Like Chili, Vegetable Soup and share it with shooters at the clubhouse

On another posting you were complying about shooters bringing things to eat?

Is this good or bad?

 

Charlie Pidcocks in Chauncy Ohio, Hilltop Gun Club, Harrisburg, Ohio, Athens Sportsmans Club Near Fox Lake Athens, Ohio, Gun Club Nelsonville, Ohio just off US Route 33 Down the road from Dee's Diner. More clubs are putting the 27 yard line under an extended roof for inclement weather shooting.
Dr.longshot

 

It makes for a close group of shooters, and something to do before and after the shoot, plus during when you wait your turn. More clubs should try it. Complying not Complaining
Dr.longshot

 

Gas here in Lancaster is $1.659 a gallon and still falling, I get $.05 off paying cash off posted price, this sure helps in travel costs, more money for shooting
Dr.longshot

 

Sporting clays seems to be growing steadily while trap is falling off at the clubs I shoot at and many of those now shooting sporting are guys I used to squad with at trap shoots. I guess sporting clays is the newest so it seems to be generating the most interest. The majority of sporting clays shooters are also considerably younger than my trap friends.

 

Josh I am seeing that younger age group also, and they seem to be growing, they love those challenging targets
Dr.longshot

 

It sounds like a few clubs I remember in Illinois. Frankfort, no roof, but we had some fun times on Wednesday and Friday nites. I guess the boys at Palos have fun on Sundays, sans the roof.
Game shooters are gypsies and go from game to game, club to club. Not so much on being members of all clubs, it could get expensive.

 

There is more of a social aspect to shooting games that is not as obvious when shooting registered ATA targets ... If you miss go sit down and shoot the bull with someone until the next game ... Simple as that ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

I would love games if we were all shooting factory loads. I get a little flinchy when Jim Bob puts the stick of dynamite in the barrel.

 

Family Guy, come on now, you know those loads the shooter to your right is using, that throw flames three feet out of the barrel are very well thought out loads. Probably perfected over the years with a little trial and error and a perhaps a blown receiver or two. You've got to be more trusting of your fellow shooter.

 

Yes, and if they wrap the reciever with Duck tape do not stand next to them for any reason, unless there is at least a 20 foot separation between you and Jim Bob ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

Twice a year in Kentucky they have a 60 bird buddy shoot, it is like no other you have 9-10 ways to win that depends on whether they pay 50/30/20 or 40/30/20/10 the shoot is Wednesday before Thanksgiving and New Years Day, Each 10 bird buddy has it's own Money Pot, only those breaking a 10 qualify for it's money, there are 6 of these 10 bird money pots to shoot off for. In past years I have seen them over $500.00 each. Shooters drive over 200 miles one way to participate. Louie Morgan is usually there w/his buddies. Some guys use Remington Nitro Mags 1 1/2oz #4s in the 10 bird shootoffs, This is a serious BIG MONEY shoot. I would like other clubs start some of these shoots.
If you hit one of the Calcutta Payouts 3 or 4 places, that's one of the monies you can win + any of the 6 Ten Bird Events possible to hit the Money 7 times out of a possible total of the 10 monies. One other thing you don not have to play the Calcutta, you can shoot just for the 6 Ten Bird Monies, I forgot there is a Lewis Class option also that pays 2 classes 50/30/20 that will add one more money you can win.
Dr.longshot

 

I was in Ohio last summer, Jerry H. and I shot at Charlie's on a Friday night. We had a ball, won some, lost some. I did notice Charlie uses a very tough to break Bio target? They would break but tough as nails to smoke one!!

HAP

 

Hap, good to have you over here. You know eventually you're going to have to tell us your secret to running 200 straights in big shoots. Way to go at the Autumn Grand.

 

Thanks Josh! The secret,, if there is one, is shooting one target as if it's the most important shot you ever made! It's a mental test one goes through to finally make the last shot count.

HAP Gene Hapney (Vail, AZ)

 

Years ago I would go to Jaqua`s to shoot and that place was packed with shooters. Last couple of shoots was just a handful. Still love the game though.

 

Three clubs out of the five in this part of the world have given up on trapshooting eg. singles, handicap and doubles. They will offer nothing this year but games and one turkey shoot. They did not host ATA events anyway but have the trapshooting format. I suspect that before long the shortfall in revenue will wake them up to the fact clubs cost money...... Larry

 

Ohio has their grand back. They call it the Cardinal Classic. They have the Buckeye Classic and the Ohio State shoot. You would be hard pressed to say that trapshooting is failing in Ohio. They built their version of Vandalia.

OH has 3 of the top 5 biggest shoots. The registered shooting promoters should drink some of Ohio's coffee.