Shotgun sports have been around for centuries, dating back to the mid-18th century in England, and remain some of the most popular events for both international competition and recreational shooting. Trap shooting is the oldest of these sports, which involves shooting clay birds from five locations behind the trap house. The trap is an electromechanical device that randomly launches a bird in different directions, presenting a challenge to the participants. Typical events are based on 25 rounds per shooter, five at each of the five stations behind the trap. While the concept is simple (shoot the clay birds when it’s your turn), constantly hitting a moving target is another story. Here are three tips on how to improve your cheat game (none of which involve buying more expensive gear).
lean on it
One of the most overlooked factors in trap shooting is your stance. Since birds can fly in various directions and trajectories, you need to be able to find your target, swing, aim ahead of the bird, and pull the trigger. With the wrong posture, this will end up being a jerky movement and you won’t be able to catch birds consistently. Your front foot should be facing the direction of the trap house, and your back foot should be about 45* from that, about shoulder-width apart. Here’s the key: you should lean forward and put most of your weight on your front foot. This allows you to swing sideways in any direction in a fluid, controlled motion, giving you the best opportunity to hit the bird.
Never look down the canyon
This one is completely counterintuitive, but looking down will cause you to fail most of the time. Most people are used to looking through the scopes of their rifles or lining up the sights on their pistols, so naturally you’ll want to aim the barrel of your shotgun at the bird. There are two main reasons this is wrong. First of all, the bird is a moving target, and to hit a moving target, you have to shoot in front of it. If you pull the trigger when the bird is in your crosshairs, you will lose behind it. Second, the human eye is good at many things, but focusing on two things (at different depths) at once is something it has trouble with. You must have both eyes open when shooting traps, and focusing on both the bird and the bill often ends up with your eyes not focusing well on either. The sooner you learn to follow the bird and aim your shotgun to hit the bird’s leading edge, the better off you’ll be.
Take your time
This tip is especially for new shooters, but even seasoned shooters will appreciate it too. There is a fine line between waiting too long and rushing the shot. As soon as a bird is released, many new shooters will be happy to shoot and will end up missing the bird before they even get a chance to aim the shotgun near the bird. You want to hit the bird while it is on the rise or at its peak; if you wait until it drops, then you’ve waited too long. This is a fast action sport, and you obviously want to be fast, but give yourself enough time so your hands point the shotgun where your eyes tell you to shoot.
Shooting a shotgun is simple, and the concept of trap shooting is very straightforward. However, as always, the devil is in the details, and the more disciplined you are in the details, the better shot you’ll be. Maintain proper posture by leaning forward, shoot in front of the bird without looking down, and take your time. Practice these tips and you’ll see improvements in no time. Stay safe and happy catching!