Skeet in the Fog

stubblejumper

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
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I have shot skeet in the rain, in heavy snow, in heavy winds, and when it was nearly dark at mid afternoon just before a storm, but on Sunday we shot in the heaviest fog that I have shot in. With no wind, and the machines set properly, it wasn't as hard as a person might think, but it was very difficult to see small chips when some people shot late and broke the clays as they were approaching the far house. We were using all orange targets which helped. but there certainly wasn't much contrast.
 
In the midst of a registered trapshoot one day we suddenly found ourselves in a downpour so heavy you could see the flight of the shotstring of your own and the other shooters cutting through the rain on the way to the target. It was really something to watch the shotstring spreading out as it travelled forward.
Another time I shot a couple rounds of skeet with a fellow member who wanted to try out a new to him black powder muzzleloader shotgun. Man it was alot of fun and laughs watching that huge smoke cloud at the muzzle with each round. We had to ask each other as we took turns shooting if we'd hit the target as you'd lose sight of it from behind the trigger with that enormous cloud blocking your view down the barrels. Lol
 
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Most of the people I shoot with have a hard time seeing the small chips from my targets even on sunny days !! I actually like shooting in challenging conditions, it adds a "who knows where the damn thing will be" factor. I haven't shot in a dense fog yet though, well, weather conditions at least.

Last year I convinced our club to get a few cases of orange "flash" targets. Same flight path, same speeds, but ever so satisfying to see the big puff of orange smoke when you hit the target (and would be great in the fog). We're using the biodegradable targets now that seem a lot harder to break and don't leave a cloud of black smoke like the older, pitch targets. On our 5-stand, I've seen targets get "dusted" and then land on the ground without breaking. When I retrieve them some have had 3 or 4 holes in them !
 
Being an outdoor activity all of the above and then sum.

Ants

Ants living under cement and the ever so helpful other shooter kicking at the holes disturbing the nest before a post change.

Being squad leader and having old ####s constantly moving speakers throwing targets just before you call pull.

The fella that after a 200 bird event still hasn’t figured out that it takes time for the trap arm to come around before calling for a clay.

Semi shotguns of any make.

So no fog really doesn’t bother me haha
 
The craziest condition I ever shot skeet in was at Great Falls, MT. We shot white targets, under the lights about 10 PM in a snow storm: not as difficult as you might think because the targets and snow were flying in different directions.... and it was easy to claim that you saw a little chip!
 
Hey I resemble that remark! :) I shot lots of trap with BP always fun. At our local range I did a couple rounds of skeet with a 12” SxS. Lots of fun but loud. Bad conditions are like hunting, still better than work. A good group of guys always improves the day.
 
One of my first 4 gun shoots was in Oshawa. Overcapacity shoot had to add an extra flight for 12ga at 8am. Went out in the heaviest down pour you’d ever see. I was wearing a bob allen pouch that had a vinyl liner. Half way through a round with 3 shooters, the shells in my pouch were floating! Come third round, rain stopped. The thickest Halifax pea soup fog settled in, could barely see the target. Ref was Norbert Maeves, I asked him what we do if the fog gets worse. He says, sounds like a good shot.
 
The craziest condition I ever shot skeet in was at Great Falls, MT. We shot white targets, under the lights about 10 PM in a snow storm: not as difficult as you might think because the targets and snow were flying in different directions.... and it was easy to claim that you saw a little chip!

I can remember that evening as we were squadded together. Shooting at night is quite an experience.
 
Cow Town Bill;[URL="tel:18737322" said:
18737322[/URL]]I can remember that evening as we were squadded together. Shooting at night is quite an experience.

We had a lighted field at my old home club. Night shooting is fun! Fortunately we did it a few times each season so that the first time I had to do a shoot off at night I figured "I got this"...WRONG! In front of the grandstands at Vandalia, Ohio at 1987 Grand American and they threw ORANGE DOME targets at night!! Man they look small compared to solid white targets under the lights and the further they travel from the traphouse they seem to disappear against the dark sky background.
 
We had a lighted field at my old home club. Night shooting is fun! Fortunately we did it a few times each season so that the first time I had to do a shoot off at night I figured "I got this"...WRONG! In front of the grandstands at Vandalia, Ohio at 1987 Grand American and they threw ORANGE DOME targets at night!! Man they look small compared to solid white targets under the lights and the further they travel from the traphouse they seem to disappear against the dark sky background.

I have heard from others that the night shooting at Vandalia (now Sparta) takes some getting used to. A shooter from Calgary ran 200 in singles and missed the first bird out at the night shoot. Anyway, most shooters would love to get the opportunity to be invited to the night shoot.
Bill
 
I have heard from others that the night shooting at Vandalia (now Sparta) takes some getting used to. A shooter from Calgary ran 200 in singles and missed the first bird out at the night shoot. Anyway, most shooters would love to get the opportunity to be invited to the night shoot.
Bill

I've been to The Grand twice, both times in Vandalia, Ohio, shot a total of 6 events and been to the shoot-offs under the lights twice. Once for the Singles Championship event(1987/88th Grand) and one for the Preliminary Handicap Championship(1999/100th Grand). At the 100th I had to shoot off against Leo Harrison III. We were tied with 6 other shooters with 96's shooting for 6th to 10th place. I ended 10th, there was over 5000 entries that day and first place went to a lone 98!
 
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