Sporting clays etiquette- a rant

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thegunnut

thegunnut

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Having shot the twin cities sporting course last Sunday, ( one of my favorite shoots) i am compelled to bring up the startling lack of manners by some shooters.
Not only newbies, but those who are experienced as well.
It is RUDE and UNSPORTSMANLIKE to keep flapping your stupid mouth when there is a shooter in the station trying their best to concentrate and compete to the best of their ability.
No-one is interested in the near miss traffic accident you saw, nor your opinion on anything when they are trying to shoot.

Yup... In case you are reading this you idiot.... I am the guy who started doing chicken clucking noises to interrupt your talking while my squad mate was trying to shoot.
You appeared to be offended.....too bad.
Your squad members had enough sense to be embarassed.... Thankfully there appears to be hope for them.

The best thing about sporting clays is that it is a social sport.
The worst thing about sporting clays is that it is a social sport.

A little respect for others goes a long way.

Watch for me..... I am the guy who will ask you if my shooting is interrupting your talking.
 
While I get that it is inconsiderate to be distracting when others are shooting, would it be so bad just to ask them to keep it down?

At my club, the best part of shooting clays with the guys is the ribbing and heckling that goes on while we shoot. If some guests joined the shoot we may not tone down our accustomed behaviour unless asked, since we set the tone of our shoot at our club. This isn't intentional, just us having a good time. Might this have been the case with your experience?

I'm just saying that hostile behaviour in response to perceived rudeness is unlikely to result in a good experience for anyone....there might be better ways to approach the situation.
 
Pr..... I have NO issue with squad mates giving one another the gears, as is tolerated by shooting friends.
I am as guilty as anyone of this kind of behavior.
If I do not want you to talk, and you are my squad mate........ I will tell you. No big deal. No harm... No foul.
My favorite comment.... You should see how we treat the people we don't like!!!!!!

In this case, polite commentary made no difference.

If you are from another group, at LEAST be courteous enough to do your yapping out of earshot.
 
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Pr589 said:
I'm just saying that hostile behaviour in response to perceived rudeness is unlikely to result in a good experience for anyone....there might be better ways to approach the situation.
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This. Take the high road, ask politely or don't ask. If you can shoot well when they're talking, then all the better for your concentration skills.
 
The problem at those shoots is they are becoming a victim of their own success. Often you have three or even four squads waiting and people start gabbing some louder than others. When Chatty Cathy is pulling her string behind me the first thing I do is to shut off my electronic headset and bear down. If it's really bad I will just stop shooting and stand there in the box. When they are quiet I will shoot. If they start up again I'll stop. Eventually they learn that if they want to shoot they will STFU.
 
Skeet in the woods…

Reminds me of going to a field trial with horses except we use 20k SXS off road vehicles.

I would do with away with line coaching, pre mounted gun shooting, only have two gun malfunctions and unless you need assistance you walk.
 
We weren't there.. but it does sound like a case of ignorance with the guy who was talking. I started playing golf at 12 years old. Went to the course with buddies around the same age for years. Fortunately gentlemen realised we were a bit inexperienced and offered much etiquette advice over the first few seasons. I think if a guy had of gave us the gears or clucked at us, we would not have been as receptive and maybe not continued to enjoy the sport?
Etiquette is learned OP, maybe some guys don't realise even though the guns are loud, they shouldn't be?
On another note, why not take this opportunity to share some etiquette on this thread so new guys to the sport don't have similar results?
rule1. No talking while shooting.
check.
 
MackForce said:
On another note, why not take this opportunity to share some etiquette on this thread so new guys to the sport don't have similar results?
rule1. No talking while shooting.
check.
Click to expand...
The objective during an organized shoot is to get through the course with minimal interruptions or delays. This usually isn't an issue at registered shoots but tends to come up more often at small club or charity shoots were the participants may not be familiar with the protocol. Here are my suggestions:

1) No line coaching was already mentioned. The guy who is in the box helping another shooter delays everyone else. More frustrating is when Dad brings out his entire family and is coaching all of them. Look it's great you are bringing your kids out and introducing them to the sport but the 20 shooters behind you want to get through the course not watch you teach your 11 year old how to hit a dropping target.

2) Keep your advice to yourself. I don't need you to tell me that I was behind or what I'm doing wrong.

3) Don't stop to pick up hulls. If you must go around later and get them.

4) No extra targets. If you had trouble at a station don't ask to shoot another pair or two to sort it out. Come back later.

5) One set of "lookers" per station per squad and only for the first shooter. And no, you don't shoot the lookers.

6) The maximum number in a squad is 5. It's great you want to shoot with your friends but an 8 man squad (yes, I've seen them that large) should be split into two groups of four.

7) Learn the rudiments of scoring and when a target is established if a target comes out broken or you have a gun malfunction. BTW, if you are having gun malfunctions consider calling it day. Frustrating for you, very frustrating for the people waiting behind you. You may use this as an excuse to buy a back-up gun.​

Finally, keep the safety rules in mind. Only two shots in the gun, open and empty when not in the stand. At a crowded shoot there are lots of people and lots of guns. I'd rather not have your closed shotgun sweep me and you probably don't want to be on the receiving end if it happens. ;)
 
Interesting views. Not sure I agree with all of them, but I do some of them.

I remind people I know quite often that it's considered rude to talk while another shoots. Some sporting events are terrible for this. Like 3 gun, an event where you MUST hear and follow the RO commands.

I find people are often just inconsiderate. Either it's not them shooting or it doesn't bother them so they do it to others.

I think politely mentioning this should fix the issue. Being a smartass won't prove anything. Calmly explain your position and the other party should obide no problems. As noted, some groups banter a lot. Some start to think everybody enjoys it.
 
Claybuster said:
The problem at those shoots is they are becoming a victim of their own success. Often you have three or even four squads waiting and people start gabbing some louder than others. When Chatty Cathy is pulling her string behind me the first thing I do is to shut off my electronic headset and bear down. If it's really bad I will just stop shooting and stand there in the box. When they are quiet I will shoot. If they start up again I'll stop. Eventually they learn that if they want to shoot they will STFU.
Click to expand...

Good Advice.
 
Claybuster said:
The objective during an organized shoot is to get through the course with minimal interruptions or delays. This usually isn't an issue at registered shoots but tends to come up more often at small club or charity shoots were the participants may not be familiar with the protocol. Here are my suggestions:

1) No line coaching was already mentioned. The guy who is in the box helping another shooter delays everyone else. More frustrating is when Dad brings out his entire family and is coaching all of them. Look it's great you are bringing your kids out and introducing them to the sport but the 20 shooters behind you want to get through the course not watch you teach your 11 year old how to hit a dropping target.

2) Keep your advice to yourself. I don't need you to tell me that I was behind or what I'm doing wrong.

3) Don't stop to pick up hulls. If you must go around later and get them.

4) No extra targets. If you had trouble at a station don't ask to shoot another pair or two to sort it out. Come back later.

5) One set of "lookers" per station per squad and only for the first shooter. And no, you don't shoot the lookers.

6) The maximum number in a squad is 5. It's great you want to shoot with your friends but an 8 man squad (yes, I've seen them that large) should be split into two groups of four.

7) Learn the rudiments of scoring and when a target is established if a target comes out broken or you have a gun malfunction. BTW, if you are having gun malfunctions consider calling it day. Frustrating for you, very frustrating for the people waiting behind you. You may use this as an excuse to buy a back-up gun.​

Finally, keep the safety rules in mind. Only two shots in the gun, open and empty when not in the stand. At a crowded shoot there are lots of people and lots of guns. I'd rather not have your closed shotgun sweep me and you probably don't want to be on the receiving end if it happens. ;)
Click to expand...

Excellent Advice
 
The way I see the issue is some folks just don't seem to understand or seem to care there is a difference between a competitive shoot and casual practice? I've never had an issue telling folks to tone it down or take it away from the line at a competitive shoot.
 
the spank said:
The way I see the issue is some folks just don't seem to understand or seem to care there is a difference between a competitive shoot and casual practice? I've never had an issue telling folks to tone it down or take it away from the line at a competitive shoot.
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This was my first thought too, it's one thing to chat and socialise at a weekly casual shoot, it's a different matter if you're at a competitive shoot where things are a little more serious
 
Thanks for sharing that claybuster. Decades ago, when I was shooting a little trap, I was told that there were lots off guys out there capable of winning any given competition - and that the winner would be the guy who could concentrate 300 times in a row. The ability to block out distractions was seen as a skill - every bit as important as consistent gun mount.

I've been back at it - mostly sporting clays - for a little over a year now - and have been exposed almost exclusively to the jovial camaraderie of the sport. I've actually only bumped into one guy who seemed like he had throw someone a dirty look every time he missed a target - and I just chalked it up to a grumpy old man. My first NSCA registered shoot is coming up and I'll keep in mind the ethics you have shared. I'll be able to embarrass myself with my scores. Don't need to embarrass myself with inappropriate behavior as well.

Rob!
 
Expecting others to conform to your world-view will be an on-going exercise in frustration.
A better strategy is to address the problem in a way that is within you own control.
IME, double-plugging - and shutting off the amplification - does the trick.
 
Sounds like it has a lot in common with Golf etiquette. Just going through Claybuster's list, and thinking "yep", "yep", "you bet", etc.
 
I was also at this shoot, and many others at twin city's. When it's busy and there are 10 guys waiting, expect some chatter behind you. If you can't ignore it and concentrate, how do you deal with the other 9 stations banging away? Never a problem with me I guess. I thought the guys did a great job on this course set up. Couple tough birds out there which makes it fun.
 
Gatehouse said:
The CNSCA says it's acceptable to talk in a low voice while others are shooting. :)
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Where does the CNSCA say that? Nothing in their rules about it.

Absolute silence isn't required but courtesy is. Chatty Cathy should also anticipate that ignoring a polite request to tone down their conversation may result in getting some back when they get into the box.

FLHTCUI said:
Trash talking is all part of the game...
Tune in, Tune Out and Bust them Clays.
Rob
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Trash talking isn't part of the game and if it goes too far can be grounds for expulsion from a registered shoot.

http://www.cnsca.ca/cnsca/

d. Expel any shooter assaulting or using abusive language to a Referee, Shoot Official, Shoot Promoter, Score Keeper, shoot volunteer or other shooter upon sufficient evidence presented by the Chief Referee.
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