On our recent trip to Korea I was very fortunate to be invited to a shoot at the Danyang Clay Shooting Range. The facility is nestled in the mountains in northern central South Korea, near the city of Jecheon. The range is dedicated to international trap shooting and is a wonderful, fully equipped centre with the most modern equipment and covered shooting stages.
We had two squads consisting mostly of Danyang club members, but there was myself, a Kiwi and an American shooting to provide an international feel to the event.
By Canadian standards the shooting was fairly expensive. You buy the ammo, and the targets are included with the ammo purchase. A box of B&P #7 1/2 international trap shells cost 30,000 Won (1,120 Won = $1 CAD).
Competitors were shooting many makes of shotguns, from the requisite Perazzis and Berettas to Miroku and Sung Shin. Target shooters and hunters may own guns in Korea, but they cannot keep them at home. They are required to store them at the club or a police station.
I was given the loan of a Miroku which did not fit me particularly well. It took me fully half of the practice round to discover that the gun was shooting to the left. After that I was able to hit fairly well. The Kiwi and the American were also struggling as most of the stocks on the club guns were too short for western size men.
The shoot was very interesting. I finished second, and thus felt I had done my share to uphold the reputation of Canadian shooters - but I was fully ten birds behind the winner who shot 23's and 24's all day. Even if I had been shooting my own gun I am not sure I could have stayed with him, he was very good.
Our hosts were very gracious and extremely polite. They were anxious to make sure we had a good time and seemed genuinely happy to have some fresh blood to shoot with.
The club has an active training program for newcomers, with one bunker dedicated to throwing only straight away targets. This allows the new shooter to learn the ropes of international trap without becoming too discouraged by the difficult targets. They do not shoot ATA trap so the training bunker is the newcomer's first introduction to the sport.
The reverence shown to trap shooters is best exemplified by the bronze statue located at the entry road to the club. Shooters are treated with utmost respect. I look forward to returning there one day, perhaps for more serious competition.
Sharptail
We had two squads consisting mostly of Danyang club members, but there was myself, a Kiwi and an American shooting to provide an international feel to the event.
By Canadian standards the shooting was fairly expensive. You buy the ammo, and the targets are included with the ammo purchase. A box of B&P #7 1/2 international trap shells cost 30,000 Won (1,120 Won = $1 CAD).
Competitors were shooting many makes of shotguns, from the requisite Perazzis and Berettas to Miroku and Sung Shin. Target shooters and hunters may own guns in Korea, but they cannot keep them at home. They are required to store them at the club or a police station.
I was given the loan of a Miroku which did not fit me particularly well. It took me fully half of the practice round to discover that the gun was shooting to the left. After that I was able to hit fairly well. The Kiwi and the American were also struggling as most of the stocks on the club guns were too short for western size men.
The shoot was very interesting. I finished second, and thus felt I had done my share to uphold the reputation of Canadian shooters - but I was fully ten birds behind the winner who shot 23's and 24's all day. Even if I had been shooting my own gun I am not sure I could have stayed with him, he was very good.
Our hosts were very gracious and extremely polite. They were anxious to make sure we had a good time and seemed genuinely happy to have some fresh blood to shoot with.
The club has an active training program for newcomers, with one bunker dedicated to throwing only straight away targets. This allows the new shooter to learn the ropes of international trap without becoming too discouraged by the difficult targets. They do not shoot ATA trap so the training bunker is the newcomer's first introduction to the sport.
The reverence shown to trap shooters is best exemplified by the bronze statue located at the entry road to the club. Shooters are treated with utmost respect. I look forward to returning there one day, perhaps for more serious competition.
Sharptail
