Clay pigeon shooting

TRAP

The origins of this sport now called "TRAP" can be traced back to England in 1793. During this activity, a standard 108 mm (4 1/4 inches) clay pigeon is thrown from a "house" located 15 to 25 metres away in front of the shooter. The angle of the trajectory in the horizontal plane changes randomly with each shot over a possible sweep of 90 degrees (Figure 1).

This type of shooting simulates jump-shooting duck, and pheasant and partridge hunting.

SKEET

More than a century passed before any variation on "TRAP" was seen. It was in the United States in 1915 that the first version of "SKEET" was born. The "TRAP" house and a course of 12 stations were used, over 360 degrees (Figure 2, left).

In 1920, for reasons of space and safety, the current version of "SKEET" came into being. A second house, called "high house," was added, 180 degrees from the "TRAP" house, which was then named "low house." By doing so, and by having trajectories aiming away from the houses, we could use the entire 180 degrees of the course. Safety and space aspects were thus regulated (Figure 2, right).

Here again, standard pigeons, which are 108 mm (4 1/4 inches) in diameter, are used. "SKEET" is a type of shooting that is well adapted for upland woodcock and partridge hunters who hunt with a gun dog or for pheasant hunters.

SPORTING CLAY

The first "SPORTING CLAY" competition took place in 1925, in England. This type of shooting combines all possible trajectories, at different speeds and distances. It can take place within the boundaries of a trap or skeet range ("5 STAND," Figure 3), or along a forest course including several stations each with a different take-off pattern.

In the case of "SPORTING CLAY," the various pigeons can be used. There is the standard pigeon of a diameter of 108 mm (4 1/4 inches), the 90 mm-midi (3 1/2 inches), 60 mm-mini (2 3/8 inches), the 108 mm-Battue (which is very thin) and the 108 mm-rabbit, which is very thick. "SPORTING CLAY" is the ideal type of shooting for hunters who hunt waterfowl, woodcock, partridge, pheasant, crow and hare.

I would now like to take a break from the historical and technical aspects of clay pigeon shooting to mention what is going on in our region in this regard. You should know that there are two clubs in the greater Quebec region where you can meet shooters. They will surely be delighted to provide further detail on the information provided in this column regarding the different types of shooting and even to have you try it out. To visit these clubs, please refer to the plans below. At Club Beauséjour (418-839-7272), practices are organized every Wednesday night and Sunday morning. At Club de Valcartier (418-844-2348), practices usually take place on Saturday morning.

It is not necessary to be a hunter to practise this sport, which is actually the case of many of the members who do it for fun or for competition.