Trap Shooting Etiquette

The game of trap is less of a social game and more of a game of concentration and focus. Some of the shooting etiquette guidelines below are for safety and some are simply just common sense. Even though trap shooters uphold themselves with a high level of seriousness during a round, it doesn't mean that there isn't room for fun and games after the round is over or while in the crowd spectating. No matter how serious you are, if you make a mistake like dropping the 25th target during a perfect round, you and your fellow shooters will find plenty of time for jokes and laughter after the round is over. Become familiar with the following and practice them as often as you can:

1. Make sure you stay with your squad and ready with all of your equipment. While the current squad is shooting, your squad should be “on deck” and ready after they complete their round.

2. If you are leading your squad (meaning you are the shooter on Post 1 when the round starts) visually check that everyone is at their post and ready before initiating each round of 5 shots.

3. During the round, if and when you move from Post 5 to Post 1, make sure to look to the leader of your squad and give him a thumbs up that you are ready. They may be waiting for you to be ready and set before continuing with their own shot. Do not close the action until your turn to shoot.

4. Remain on your post, standing facing the trap quietly, until the fifth man has fired and then move to the next post. Turn to your right when leaving Station 5.

5. At the end of the round remain still on your last post facing the trap until the last man has fired the last shot.

6. Muzzle control is everything, never point barrel at anyone, always carry gun with barrel pointed up or down.

7. Do not have a loaded round in your action (regardless if your action is not closed) when walking from one post to another, or when having a problem of some sort.

8. If using a semi auto action shotgun: make sure your gun is equipped with a shell catcher. No one likes when spent hulls are flung in their face. Recover empties at end of shooting.

9. Try not to talk or yell out as you may cause a clay to be thrown outside of your turn if the microphones pick up your voice.

10. If using a pump or semi auto: try not to close or open your action in front of the microphone as you may cause the machine to throw a target out of turn. Over-under shooters that blow the smoke out of their barrel after shooting could cause the same thing to happen.

11. Wait until the end of the round to reach down and pick up empty shells from the ground. Movement from other shooters may distract someone who is lining up for their next shot.

12. Be mindful of your barrel. Even though you are working on your follow-through in order to be the next Olympic hopeful, it tends to make people nervous when looking down the smoking barrel of a shotgun that was just fired and swung to the left or right too dramatically.

13. When closing your action make sure to have your barrel pointed down range. A lot of beginner shooters (more specifically pump action shooters) tend to close their action with the gun facing down towards the ground. If an accident were to happen not only would you most likely take off your own foot but you could seriously injure the people around you.

14. Do not rest your gun on the toe of your shoe--you may use a gun buddy (magnetic rest).

Keeping the above in mind will make you a better squad shooter and prepare you for competition shooting. The end goal is for everyone to share the same common courtesy and in return, experience the same level of enjoyment from shooting.