Shotgun Games
part 2

Other Shooting Games

Crazy Quail. This game simulates quail rising from cover. The trap is hidden in a pit to prevent shooters from anticipating the flight direction of the target. Targets fly straight away, to the side, or directly toward the shooter, because the trap and the trapper’s seat rotate 360 degrees. Automatic machines on special rotating bases are also used.

Two Man Flush. Using a "Wobble" trap, the targets are launched and fly in all directions away from the trap house. Two shells are loaded in each shotgun and a rail holding 10 shotgun shells is set in front of each shooter to make reloading quicker. Targets (24 total) are launched at 1.5 second intervals. Shooter one takes the first two, shooter two the next two, and so on.

Trap House Sporting Clays. A self-contained transportable unit (often on a trailer) holding 15 traps positioned at various angles. They present targets similar to those seen on a traditional sporting clays course. Shooting stations, separated by safety screens are positioned around the periphery of the unit. This game requires little space and can often be used on traditional trap and skeet fields or any safe open area.

Five Stand. This game utilizes 6-8 automatic traps. There are often different levels of difficulty: Level I features five single targets with full use of the gun for scoring. Level II features three single and a simultaneous pair. Level III features one single and two simultaneous pairs. Shooters in a squad of five move from station to station and shoot a predetermined menu of shots and combinations.

Quail Walk. Often incorporated into sporting clays shooting. A quail walk or walk-up involves the shooter walking down a path in a "more-or-less,’ straight line. Just as in shooting in the field, the shooter carries a loaded gun in anticipation of targets being presented while walking.

Supersport. This game uses 15 to 30 automatic trap machines spread over 10-30 acres and buried in bunkers, on top of hills, placed behind trees or bushes, or up in towers. It is the ultimate simulation of a live bird hunt. The shooter uses a controlling computer to indicate the number of targets presented and the degree of difficulty desired. As the shooter walks the course, sensors located on the course pick up signals from transmitters worn by individual shooters. These are relayed to the course control computer which adjusts the machines, angles, and the number of targets. A noise simulating the particular bird (target(s)) is generated prior to use. The automatic traps present targets at all angles, heights and directions to provide the elements of surprise found in true hunting.

Flushes, Flurries, And Mixed Bag. A "Flush" begins at the call of "pull" and five clay targets are launched in crossing and going way flight patterns, with a new bird in the air about every second, until 50 birds have been thrown.

A ‘Flurry" begins the same way, but the five targets are all traveling towards and over the shooting stations, like a covey rise. A target is released from one of five traps until 50 birds have been launched in about a minute.

In a "Mixed Bag" targets simulate a high flying pheasant, or a bouncing rabbit, a darting woodcock, a springing teal, or crossing doves, or any combination of the above. At each call of pull a double is shot. This scenario is repeated eight times per shooter. The first shooter attempts a nineth pair for a total of 50 birds. There is a 3 minute time limit.

Starshot. A game of clay pigeon shooting invented primarily for easy viewing by spectators and a television audience. The layout consists of an upright semicircular tubular steel framework. The steel framework is divided into pie slices. Each slice is further divided by smaller semi-circular arcs that make the structure look similar to a large dart board half sunk in the ground. The sections of the framework are numbered 1 to 12. At the base of the structure, i.e. the dart board bulls-eye is a large pit containing four traps which release targets at different speeds across the face of the structure. The number of points scored for each target hit depends on the sector in which the target is broken. The highest scores come by breaking clays within the lower, narrower sectors of the field.

This material adapted from Black’s Wing & Clay. All rights reserved.