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The Definition of the Sport

TRAPSHOOTING Trap shooting has been a sport since at least 1793 when it used real birds, usually the then-extremely abundant Passenger Pigeon. Fake birds were introduced around the time of the American Civil War as the Passenger Pigeon was nearing extinction and sufficient numbers were not reliably available. Clay targets were introduced in the American Trap is popular throughout the United States and may well be the most popular form of clay target shooting in North America. Official events and rules are governed by the Amateur Trap Shooting Association or ATA. The ATA is generally considered the governing body of American trapshooting and is one of the largest shooting sports organizations in the world. Another governing body is the Pacific International Trap Association (PITA) which is active mainly in the western US. PITA rules are nearly identical to ATA rules.

AMERICAN TRAP is broken down into three categories: 16 yd singles, 16 yd doubles and, handicap which is shot between 19 and 27 yd. In singles each shooter takes one shot at each of five targets in each of the five positions in sequence, while standing 16 yards back from the trap house. The trap rotates back and forth so it is impossible to know which way the target is going to come out. Handicap is the same as singles but shot from further away. Adult male shooters start at the 20 yd line (19 for new Lady or Sub-junior shooter) and work their way back, "earning yardage" for shooting a score of 96 or higher, winning a championship or other major event, or shooting the highest score when 15 or more competitors shoot that event. No two shooters on the same squad should have a difference of more than three yards between them. Doubles is shot from 16 yards and the trap is fixed to fire straight away with the left and right targets appearing to be straight away when standing between positions 4 & 5; and 1 & 2, respectively. Two targets are thrown at the same time, with one shot per target allowed. There is no second shot on any target in American trap singles or handicap.

DOWN-THE-LINE(DTL) is a form of trap popular in Great Britain, Australia, and South Africa. It is similar to American trap singles except that two shots are allowed, with three points awarded for a first-barrel hit and two for a second-barrel hit.

AUTOMATIC BALL TRAP (ABT)/WOBBLE/CONTINENTAL Like ATA trap, the horizontal direction is randomized, but also the target vertical height is varied from l.5 to 3.5 meters. The horizontal throwing angle is widened from the ATA 22 degrees to 45 degrees resulting in a much more extreme target flight path than in standard Trap shooting (the trap oscillates up and down as well as side to side), The distance is set at 75 meters. Squads of six shooters shoot in rotation as in Olympic Trap and shooters at stations 1 and 5 stand at the 18 yard mark while positions 2-4 stand at the 17 yard mark.. Two shots are allowed at each target with no penalty scoring. A phono-pull system may be used. Although this version of trap is not sanctioned by the ATA, many shooters consider it to be both, more challenging and engaging as well as a more realistic preparation for bird hunting. International Trap Officially referred to only as trap, and also known in the United States as international trap, bunker trap, trench or international clay pigeon, the single-target Olympic trap shooting event has a history over a hundred years old. It is considered more difficult than most other trap versions in that the distance to the targets and the speed with which they are thrown are both greater.

Targets have a minimum height of 1.5 meters and a maximum height of 3.5 meters as measured 10 meters in front of the bunker. Targets are thrown between 61 and 65 mph depending on the target height to get the 70 to 75 meter variable distance required. The maximum target angle is 45 degrees. There are nine set programs for the fifteen traps that are used in all countries of the world. Also, the Olympic target is made harder, to handle the higher target speed and is slightly larger in diameter (110mm vs. 108mm) than the standard American trap target but has slightly less height. Squads of six shooters take turns shooting from five stations. Shooters move to the next station after each target in a shoot-and-move rotation. The shooting stations are located in a straight line. On the call “pull” (phono-pull release system is utilized to insure equitable target releases), a clay is thrown from one of three fixed traps directly in front of each of five shooters. Two shots may be used for each target with no penalty in scoring. Each shooter gets two lefts, two rights, and one straightaway target from each station. Shot charge is restricted to 24 Grams (approx. 7/8 oz.) using any safe powder charge (plated shot is allowed). A match (qualification round) consists of typically 125 targets, then the top 6 shooters shoot a final round of 25 targets which is added to the qualification round score to determine winner and places.

OLYMPIC TRAP DOUBLES/OLYMPIC BUNKER DOUBLES/OLYMPIC TRENCH DOUBLES Here, two targets are launched simultaneously from two traps of station three’s set of three fixed traps. As in Olympic singles, squads of six shooters shoot in rotation from five stations, shooting a round of 20 or 25 pairs (40 or 50 targets). Scoring is one point per target hit.

UNIVERSAL TRAP-UTR/FIVE TRAP/UNIVERSAL TRENCH it is a step up from ABT and is known as "Fair Ball Trap" because whilst the targets are very similar to ABT in terms of their speeds, heights and angles, every competitor will shoot at the same randomized scheme of targets launched from the 5 Traps. This eliminates the possible luck element brought about by the use of a single trap that continuously oscillates.

HELICE shooting is one of the most challenging shotgun sports in the world. The discipline was originally called ZZ- birds or Electrocibles. This discipline simulates the flight of a live bird. Helice launchers are small oscillating electric motors that spin targets at high revolutions. The targets consist of two winged plastic propellers in which a white witness cap is clipped. One of five traps in front of the shooter releases the target on call; two shots are allowed at each target and when released the target flight is erratic and totally unpredictable. The shooter has two shots to disengage the white witness cap off of the orange propeller. The witness cap must land within the fenced ring. Discipline in shooting is required to master this game. Helice is an exciting and challenging sport for the novice or experienced shooter, which offers an alternative experience to those wishing to try something distinctly different. The friendly and exciting atmosphere of the Major Helice competitions is partly aided by the presence of bookies taking bets combined with the unpredictability of the Targets. It can get quite noisy behind the shooters stand, so prima donnas beware!