Sporting clays a great tuneup for hunters, fun challenge for shooters

Shooting a round of sporting clays, which is often called "golfing with a shotgun" is a fun, challenging target shooting activity that allows hunters and non-hunting shooters alike to test their skills using fast-flying clay targets in natural settings.Like golf, bowling, fishing and many other sports, this activity can be enjoyed equally by participants of all skill levels. Fellow shooters are usually more than willing to help coach less experienced participants when asked for advice.Sporting clay courses use 8-to-20 stations set up in a wood lot or other natural settings where a variety of clay targets are launched. Most courses have golf carts available to allow less mobile participants a way to navigate the paths leading from station to station.Hunters will recognize targets that are designed to imitate the flightpaths of different game birds, such a springing teal, flushing pheasant, passing dove, incoming duck or even a bouncing rabbit. Yet, to a non-hunter, they are simply quick-moving clay targets.The equipment required to participate includes a shotgun, safety glasses, hearing protection and a vest capable of holding enough ammunition to complete a round — 50 or 100 shells. Empty hulls can be pocketed after they are shot to reload or disposed of at each station.The club's clay pigeon throwers, called trappers, inform each group of shooters where the targets will be flying and in which sequence before showing their flightpath ahead of the first shooter at each station. The mechanical target launcher or "trap" is a term from yesteryear that refers to when live pigeons were flushed from baskets (traps).At each station, the clay targets may be offered as a combination of singles, report pairs (where a second target is launched at the sound of the first shot), following pairs (where targets are launched sequentially) and true pairs (two targets released at once from the same or opposite directions) to reach the course total of 50 or 100.The trapper electronically launches the targets when the shooter indicates their readiness to them by calling "pull."They are launched in various combinations of trajectories, speeds, angles and target sizes from 60 to 110 mm in diameter and are regularly altered to keep the course fresh for members who frequently shoot.When all of the group has shot the station, someone in the group will yell "clear" and the trapper will lead them to the next one. (It is customary to tip the trapper(s) for their work at the end of the course.)Gun safety is of paramount concern to all participants of this activity. Don't be offended when a veteran shooter quickly reminds anyone who strays from safe gun-handling practices to break open the action of their shotgun while walking to the next station to visibly show the unloaded gun, with the barrels safely pointed downward.Also, shot shells are not loaded until the current shooter is up on the platform just prior to their turn to shoot, then the gun is confirmed to be cleared of ammunition before departing the platform. Shot pellet size is normally limited to 7½ or smaller to reduce downrange travel to others on another portion of the course.The Ohio Sporting Clays Association (ohiosportingclays.com) has more than a dozen clubs that host National Sporting Clay Association tournaments and promote, govern and encourage sporting clay participation.They have certified shooting instructors who can speed up the learning process by teaching fundamental tips, beginning with properly fitting a gun and then the fine details such as understanding choke size selection, quickly locating the target and how to effectively lead a target to score more hits.Locally, there are two courses open to the public including WR Hunt Club, 5690 County Road 237 in Clyde (419-547-8550) and Brier Oak Hunt Club, 5316 Sandhill Road in Bellevue (419-483-4953).A sporting clays shooter focuses on the target as the course "trapper"referees his shot. (John Hageman)