The death of trap in BC

stubblejumper said:
The regulation machines throw targets faster, and because you can move over 40 yards from each thrower, you can shoot targets that are thrown from above and behind you, incoming targets, or targets that pass broadside at angles of up to 90 degrees, as well as two targets going in opposite directions , on different trajectories. With sporting clays, the variety is even greater, as some targets bounce on edge on the ground, and some are thrown straight up, and some are launched from up to 100 yards away. It comes down to whether you want a real challenge, or if you are content to shoot targets that would be extremely boring for a competent shooter.
Click to expand...

Sounds like it partially depends on the trap set-up at the club. Like i said, i haven't used ours, but i do know that there's only one machine in a fixed position (a bunker) and the shooters must stand at set shooting stations in a row behind the machine, all shooting in the same direction over top of the machine and towards the field in front of it. Sounds like some clubs have more active set-ups, but i'd imagine that varies from club to club, no?

Either way, i said i love it, but i'm sure not very good at it, i'm usually happy if i can hit 50%. So while the DIY set-up might be, as you say, boring for a competent shooter, it's still pretty exciting for me. Come to think of it, that's almost an argument for not getting good! Maybe ignorance really is bliss.
 
I also used to enjoy shooting on my property with a manual thrower. Approx 10 years ago I joined a local club and shot some trap, then switched to 5-Stand. Our season runs May to late November, I shoot 100 targets twice a week during shooting season. I now have a Champion Easy-Bird trap and still occasionally shoot at home, but for me, shooting 5-Stand at the club is way more fun. And even at $6 for 25 targets, it still is cheaper than buying your own clays from Crappy Tire. Unfortunately, as others have mentioned, the number of people who come out regularly is slowly shrinking. I'm sure the high price of shells (and everything else) is not helping.
 
Callee said:
Sounds like it partially depends on the trap set-up at the club. Like i said, i haven't used ours, but i do know that there's only one machine in a fixed position (a bunker) and the shooters must stand at set shooting stations in a row behind the machine, all shooting in the same direction over top of the machine and towards the field in front of it. Sounds like some clubs have more active set-ups, but i'd imagine that varies from club to club, no?

Either way, i said i love it, but i'm sure not very good at it, i'm usually happy if i can hit 50%. So while the DIY set-up might be, as you say, boring for a competent shooter, it's still pretty exciting for me. Come to think of it, that's almost an argument for not getting good! Maybe ignorance really is bliss.
Click to expand...

There are three basic disciplines, trap, skeet and sporting clays, and there are versions of each. American trap uses one machine, and you stand behind , and rotate through five stations, shooting targets going away. Skeet uses two machines, and you rotate through eight stations, shooting single targets and doubles targets going away, towards you, and broadside at various angles. Sporting clays has two or more machines at each of 15-25 stations, and you shoot targets coming and going, above and below, and some bouncing on the ground, or on curved trajectories. If you only hit 50% at trap, you will find skeet tougher, and sporting clays will really humble you.
 
Callee said:
Sounds like it partially depends on the trap set-up at the club. Like i said, i haven't used ours, but i do know that there's only one machine in a fixed position (a bunker) and the shooters must stand at set shooting stations in a row behind the machine, all shooting in the same direction over top of the machine and towards the field in front of it. Sounds like some clubs have more active set-ups, but i'd imagine that varies from club to club, no?

Either way, i said i love it, but i'm sure not very good at it, i'm usually happy if i can hit 50%. So while the DIY set-up might be, as you say, boring for a competent shooter, it's still pretty exciting for me. Come to think of it, that's almost an argument for not getting good! Maybe ignorance really is bliss.
Click to expand...

You have no idea what you're talking about, but that's only because you've never done it.
I didn't have a clue about it either until I tried it.
You should go shoot at your local club and see what it's all about.
 
Hi Otto, I have family in your area, would like to know what clubs are in the area for clay shooting when I am in the area?
Maybe I can shoot there and busy them up.
 
bigmikeyt said:
Hi Otto, I have family in your area, would like to know what clubs are in the area for clay shooting when I am in the area?
Maybe I can shoot there and busy them up.
Click to expand...

Hello bigmikeyt,

I shoot 5-Stand at Eagle Lake Gun Club (Sundridge) and skeet at Rockcut Gun Club (Trout Creek), but both clubs are members only.
 
lmeiszn said:
It's just becoming too expensive these days. Young people don't have the disposable income of the prior generations.
Click to expand...

Yes and no. I think maybe priorities are different now too. I used to work with a guy who always said he didn't have money for XYZ. I suggested he stop grabbing a Starbucks every morning on the way to work and pack a lunch from home rather than buying his lunch everyday. I did some rough math that he'd save at least $60/week and he wouldn't even consider it. I'd prefer to bring my coffee in a travel mug from home and shoot clays every 2 weeks with the 'found money'

I'm not painting everyone with the same big brush, just one example
 
On this forum years ago, a fellow talked about having custom rifles made. Another razzed him about being rich. His answer" I neither smoke or drink. The money saved easily pays for the rifle."

I paid my $14 for two rounds today. It wasn't a total loss, I did break a couple.
 
As noted, all sports and recreation costs money and very few are inexpensive. Hunting, fishing, skiing, snowmobiling, horseback riding, golf, you name it, many can be more expensive than trap. But like for most things, you must decide where to spend your limited recreational funds. All shooting sports are losing participants mostly due to creeping urbanization but more so to changing demographics and lifestyles of our population. Introduce a new Canadian to sport shooting today.
 
lmeiszn said:
It's just becoming too expensive these days. Young people don't have the disposable income of the prior generations.
Click to expand...

It's always been this way.

Nothing has changed, just different folks getting older and noticing they are no longer the youngster at the shoots.

Young people, with average jobs have never been able to afford to shoot on a regular basis or purchase high end firearms/accessories, etc.

The average person, living on minimum wage or under $30 per hour, has a tough time filling the tank of their vehicle, affording insurance on the vehicle, maintenance, rent/food/mortgage and the list goes on.

Factor in an addiction to alcohol, recreational drugs, tobacco, whatever and there's nothing left for any recreational sports.

Factor in a child or children and they're likely living from paycheck to paycheck, and if they're careful/lucky, not accumulating debt.

When I was young, it was common to hear friends say "I'm going to get a rifle from my DAD/GRANDFATHER someday" They just couldn't afford to purchase any type of firearm, let alone feed it and maintain it, or the cost of taking it to a shoot or on a hunt.

Firearms are still relatively popular among young people who can afford them. Many would like to own/shoot firearms but they use the "politically correct" excuse of not being socially correct after the years of social engineering pounded into them.

I did a bit of a survey on video games most utilized by teens and adults. The top ten I saw on several lists all had something to do with firearms as a major excitement point in them.

They're interested, just in a different way.
 
stubblejumper said:
I find it hard to keep a straight face when someone new comes out to skeet, tells us that they shoot 90% with their portable thrower, and then shoots 50% at actual skeet. And it happens quite often.
Click to expand...

That’s part of the reason right there,, the majority of people I know shoot clays in the bush for all the reasons Callee stated. They just want to have a good time shooting clays without all the rules of a club or old timers snickering at whatever shotgun they decide to shoot.
 
Butcherbill said:
That’s part of the reason right there,, the majority of people I know shoot clays in the bush for all the reasons Callee stated. They just want to have a good time shooting clays without all the rules of a club or old timers snickering at whatever shotgun they decide to shoot.
Click to expand...
Nobody at our club cares what shotgun a person shows up with , as long as it functions, and is safe. And we don't care what you shoot for a score, as long as you are safe, and not disruptive. On the other hand, some people do embarrass themselves, when they talk a big story, then shoot very poorly.
 
Shot my first trap event ever on Sunday at a local club in the Fraser Valley. I’ve wanted to give it a go for a while now, bought an over/under last year and finally got out. I’m an older guy but it was nice to see about half of us were first time shooters and every “ new guy” but myself were young guys. They all enjoyed the experience and every one of us agreed we would be back again.
Perhaps with the crap they keep putting us thru with pistols and rifles some of the younger generation will gravitate towards shotgun sports. I thoroughly enjoyed the morning, shot 3 rounds and saw improvement every round so that’s a bonus lol
 
As a kid growing up in Northern BC a got paid $5 to load the trap machine on Tuesday nights, shocking to think kids could do that back then! My dad and the other guys were mostly in their 30s, cool guys with smokes! Last year I visited a friend on the North end of the Island, small town small club but a great trap facility, so they are still out there. Also this fall I picked up some reloading supplies at the Carstairs trap club. It was busy with a competition going on and pleasantly a good bunch of youngsters. With sporting clays very popular these days there is competition and it’s hard to shoot everything. I think the key is get the kids out, take friends, friends kids and show them it’s fun, safe and more fun than chasing your own ball!
 
As a kid growing up in Northern BC I got paid $5 to load the trap machine on Tuesday nights, shocking to think kids could do that back then! My dad and the other guys were mostly in their 30s, cool guys with smokes! Last year I visited a friend on the North end of the Island, small town small club but a great trap facility, so they are still out there. Also this fall I picked up some reloading supplies at the Carstairs trap club. It was busy with a competition going on and pleasantly a good bunch of youngsters. With sporting clays very popular these days there is competition and it’s hard to shoot everything. I think the key is get the kids out, take friends, friends kids and show them it’s fun, safe and more fun than chasing your own ball!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom