Ranges that have added skeet fields or sporting clays, what are your experiences?

I'm starting to think that 5 stand would be the way to go. Most people don't know skeet from billiards and just want to shoot moving targets. The number of people that are actually going to compete in competition is negligible. The price isn't going to be much different by the time we build the high and low houses and do the wiring, pads, etc.
 
I belong to the Montreal Skeet Club. IIRC, we have 8 fields with both trap and skeet machines and one five stand layout. On a typical weekend day, we will be running the Five stand, two to three american skeet fields, one Olympic skeet field, and two to three ATA trap fields. At least one of the trap fields is being used for initiation of new shooters, including first timers who rent firearms and must be supervised. Amongst long time shooters, there is a small contingent of dedicated trap shooters and a larger contingent of dedicated skeet shooters. Of the dedicated skeet shooters, most shoot trap on occasion. The same is not true of trap shooters, who seem to stick to trap shooting for the most part.
 
bdft said:
I'm starting to think that 5 stand would be the way to go. Most people don't know skeet from billiards and just want to shoot moving targets. The number of people that are actually going to compete in competition is negligible. The price isn't going to be much different by the time we build the high and low houses and do the wiring, pads, etc.
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5-stand is a good way to go. If you want to shoot crossers to satisfy the skeet shooters, you can set that up. If you want to throw trap-like targets for the trap shooters you can set that up. If you want to set up easy targets for beginners, you can do that. Lots of flexibility with 5-stand.

Good idea to look at the investment costs and how you will fund this. Five machines makes a reasonable 5-stand set up. Machines of "club level" quality will cost $3500+ for a standard machine to $4500+ if you want rabbits, chondels, etc. Five machines plus a wireless controller and shooting stands and whatever other work needs to be done will run you $22,000+. Considering wasted targets and charging $6 for a round of 25 targets, your margin on a case of targets will be about $7.00. Going to take about 50 pallets of targets to pay for your initial investment. If you are shooting 10 pallets a year, that's not too bad. If you are shooting 3 pallets a year, it's a long payout.
 
bdft said:
We are kicking around the idea of overlaying a skeet field over one of our trap fields. Some shooters are interested, some are ambivalent and some are very much opposed to anything other than trap. Their argument is that if you add skeet or sporting clays, no one will shoot trap. Those of us in favour argue that it will bring in younger, different shotgunners who don't shoot trap because they percieve it to be more regimented. More shooters, of any kind, makes for a better stronger club. Any experiences like this across Canada and what was the result?
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If Noone will shoot trap because there are other options, then shouldn't that alone be reason enough to put them in?

To me that reads like "people only shoot trap because we have no other options".

Also, if the people against it are old Fudds, then thats just more reason to do it. Shooting needs to evolve from being an old white mans club if we expect to survive the next 50 years.
 
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bdft said:
Very true but the world is run by those who show up. Old white men seem to show up much more often than anybody else. And then they don't want anybody else around.
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Our club has an average age around 60, mostly white, and everyone prefers skeet over trap. The trap machine was only used twice in an entire season, while skeet ran twice per week from May through August, and weekly the rest of the year. My previous club was much younger, and more people shot trap, although both fields were well utilized. Both clubs support both disciplines, and that is how it should be if they have the real estate and finances to do so.
 
bdft said:
Very true but the world is run by those who show up. Old white men seem to show up much more often than anybody else. And then they don't want anybody else around.
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Can't expect young people to show up if the only game you're offering doesn't cater to their interests.
 
At our club, skeet was generally more popular than trap, right across the age demographic. Unfortunately, we had to close down the skeet range due to a shotfall issue. This prompted us to go to 5 stand, using both the trap and skeet houses as part of the set up. This was a good example of snatching victory from the jaws of CFO defeat. Our setup costs were very modest, as we use the old Winchester single stack skeet machines for most of the stations, served by portable cords for power. With our current setup, the trap field is favoured by the newer shooters, and the 5 stand for the more experienced shooters, with the amount of birds thrown about the same.
We recently got a good deal on some battery powered machines - one teal and one rabbit. This has really added to the presentation mix. Yes - "build it and they will come".
 
Skeet is about twice as popular as trap at my club. Although there is a dedicated trap club about 20 minutes away so that may be a factor.

I know Edmonton has something like a dozen trap fields and not a single skeet field, along with high fees (I'm sure they could afford a skeet field). That seems crazy to me.
 
cam1936 said:
Skeet is about twice as popular as trap at my club. Although there is a dedicated trap club about 20 minutes away so that may be a factor.

I know Edmonton has something like a dozen trap fields and not a single skeet field, along with high fees (I'm sure they could afford a skeet field). That seems crazy to me.
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They also have a 5-stand....as for fees look at the facility and what they provide. They are no different than any other modern club, in fact they are less than many on both target fees and memberships. My wife and I shoot there if we are in Edmonton and of course at the registered shoots there. The non-member daily pass of $20/shooter is perfectly acceptable in my books for the quality of services and facilities they provide. Targets at $8.50/rd are not out of line either for non-members. Still alot cheaper than a day of golfing and alot more fun! Their facility is on Edmonton International Airport ground and if memory serves it is leased which would not be cheap and ground that close to the city with such easy access is not easy to come by especially where being allowed to shoot is concerned.
 
the spank said:
They also have a 5-stand....as for fees look at the facility and what they provide. They are no different than any other modern club, in fact they are less than many on both target fees and memberships. My wife and I shoot there if we are in Edmonton and of course at the registered shoots there. The non-member daily pass of $20/shooter is perfectly acceptable in my books for the quality of services and facilities they provide. Targets at $8.50/rd are not out of line either for non-members. Still alot cheaper than a day of golfing and alot more fun! Their facility is on Edmonton International Airport ground and if memory serves it is leased which would not be cheap and ground that close to the city with such easy access is not easy to come by especially where being allowed to shoot is concerned.
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Great club, I wish they would have hosted the Nationals.
 
the spank said:
They also have a 5-stand....as for fees look at the facility and what they provide. They are no different than any other modern club, in fact they are less than many on both target fees and memberships. My wife and I shoot there if we are in Edmonton and of course at the registered shoots there. The non-member daily pass of $20/shooter is perfectly acceptable in my books for the quality of services and facilities they provide. Targets at $8.50/rd are not out of line either for non-members. Still alot cheaper than a day of golfing and alot more fun! Their facility is on Edmonton International Airport ground and if memory serves it is leased which would not be cheap and ground that close to the city with such easy access is not easy to come by especially where being allowed to shoot is concerned.
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I'm not ripping on the club or their fees, just saying I think it's odd they don't have a skeet field. Not my club though so I have no strong opinions.

Edit: fees are $25/day non member plus $11/round. $8/round for members. Nice club though!
 
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cam1936 said:
Skeet is about twice as popular as trap at my club. Although there is a dedicated trap club about 20 minutes away so that may be a factor.

I know Edmonton has something like a dozen trap fields and not a single skeet field, along with high fees (I'm sure they could afford a skeet field). That seems crazy to me.
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We have multiple skeet shooters from Edmonton shooting with us at Camrose, and you are correct, it is odd that Edmonton doesn't have their own skeet field.
 
cam1936 said:
I'm not ripping on the club or their fees, just saying I think it's odd they don't have a skeet field. Not my club though so I have no strong opinions.

Edit: fees are $25/day non member plus $11/round. $8/round for members. Nice club though!
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I recall seeing a skeet house when the club moved from Sherwood Park. Am I correct?

One has to remember that the Edmonton Gun Club is now a trap shooting club. It is an excellent place to sit down and watch some darn good shooters and their forms.

I believe there is enough demand for a skeet range at the club.

Skeet is an excellent discipline in learning basic shotgun skills and a cheap way to hone sporting clays basics.

Please don't be too hard on me with your critiques.;);)
 
cam1936 said:
I'm not ripping on the club or their fees, just saying I think it's odd they don't have a skeet field. Not my club though so I have no strong opinions.

Edit: fees are $25/day non member plus $11/round. $8/round for members. Nice club though!
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They used to have a skeet range on the west end. It was removed a few years back.
 
Westward1 said:
They used to have a skeet range on the west end. It was removed a few years back.
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I offered to buy a set of machines for them (back when the skeet houses were still there in 2008). I got a hard Pass, they were not interested in any skeet at the club.

I remember shooting skeet at EGC back in 1990-1991 as well as at the Strathcona range. Too bad there is less opportunity. My kid (13) really wants to try it.

What are the logistics of dropping in at the camrose club to shoot skeet? Is this possible?
 
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