Hi Guys: I'm looking to join the ATA this year. I've done a lot of local shooting and Trap Leagues and now I think it's time to step up to the plate, so too speak. I was pondering about what it's going to be like at my first registered shoot. Directions getting there, where to sign up, who to talk to, the whole chain of events leading up to my first registered shot at 16yards. Will it be a lost or dead target? Thought I'd throw it out there and hear from other ATA members and jar some memories of your first ATA shoot. Dave T.
Find a club close to you ... the management there can help with all your questions... For the most part trapshooters are great people and will not lead you astray... as for lost or hit target you have alreasy hit the first target before so don't dwell on it just go out and have fun and it will break ... good luck and welcome to the ATA
First you'll have to classify. There'll be a table and a person will put you in a class for the singles and doubles and check your handicap yardage. Since yiuve never shot registered have an idea of your league average and this is where you'll join the ATA.
Next you'll move down the table and pick a squad for the events. If you know others there you can maybe shoot with them. You can join any squad with an opening. In handicap there can be no more than 2 yards difference in the squad until you move back, then it can be 3.
Next you take the slips they gave you to the cashier and pay. If you want to play the Lewis or any purses you tell the cashier. Don't at first.
Then you look to see what traps you're on, get your stuff and wait to shoot!
Good luck and have fun. Treat it just like your league. You have to break your targets the same way.
This thread begs some good stories. "At My First ATA Shoot": I'll throw a short story into the ring; it's a true story. At my first shoot, I was squadded for singles on a short squad with only one other person who was a very seasoned AA shooter. He stormed away from the field when we two got there. Something about squad rhythm or something like that. That gruff old dude, may he rest in peace, never introduced himself or was welcoming. I ended up shooting alone. The old gruff dude stormed off from the field and became resquadded with some folks he knew, i.e., his cronies.
I did not have shooting glasses, had overdressed, and shot a roaring 81 with my Beretta 303!!! I'd overheated due to too many clothes and my glasses fogged up.
Later on that year, when I was more familiar with the environment, I learned that that "old dude's" secretary was a beautiful young lady I'd dated a few years prior to the trap adventure. After learning that coincidence, I realized I had some kind of one upmanship over the old dude. We got along, but he let me know in no uncertain terms that he felt I "marched to a different drummer"...I thought he did. May he rest in peace. Hint: He was a So-Cal shooter who loved MX-3 combos and collected quite a few.
Lesson learned: 1. Maybe he was gruff because he was unable to date his beautiful young secretary, but, more likely, 2. Be nice and welcoming to all newbies as one can; it can be a humiliating experience the first time out.
Glass Balls Whats that...lol... I started in 98 and have had some great shoots, last year was my best, but had the most fun the first year.... Meeting new people, and seeing different clubs. My worst shoot was The last year the grand was in Ohio, decided to shoot GAH only due to lack of funds, played all the money and broke a snappy 79....I haven't been to Vandalla since...
Remember mine. Signed in, got terrorized about what yardage I should be on ("Yardage, what's that?"). Got put on the 20. Was a little late to the line, squad was waiting. Unleash my 870 and had a 90 in singles. Boy, did that squad shoot fast! No hiccups. Came back to handicap and showed up on time, cranked out a 92. Old Bob Allen 2-pocket shell bag is not ideal for counting shots. Would have played the Lewis if I had known what it was. Didn't know that doubles existed. Didn't win anything, but was hooked. That was 1991. No regrets. Good luck.
My first registered doubles targets. Former Beeline gun club in Mesa, Arizona February 1987. Already a little nervous when I go to the line and find I am squadded with Britt Robinson and Don Mackerman(deceased, Iowa Hall of Fame, multi time All American). Now I am scared. Both found out I was a newbie before we shot. Dropped a couple of shells and held up the squad picking them up. After we were finished both took the time to welcome me to the sport. One of my all time great memories.
1946 at the old Lewiston Idaho Gun Club down by the Snake River. Broke a snappy 91 and was 16 years old. Some of the people at that shoot became life long friends and squad mates.
Spotted my future wife in the clubhouse. She was at the shoot with her dad and we both recalled the event when we met again as college seniors. 53 years of wedded bliss ensued - as best I can recall.
Trapshooting was the central part of my dad's life and I didn't fall far from the tree.
Getin your head that it is just another shoot, no matter who runs it. Same rules, same targets and you've prolly seen every target there is to see already. They also are your targets - shoot them your way. No rule says you have to do it the way other members of the squad are doing it.
and later
no matter how you do, don't get distracted by bells and whistles on your or other guns. You cannot buy a target. If your gun fits properly what you need to do is shoot it.
My first was at Miramar in 88 or 89. I won both the C singles and short yardage handicap. Long time before I did that again.
My first time at Registered trap was Mid July, 2003. Took my son to Buffalo Gun Club, Buffalo, MN. because a friend of mine said they shot there on Sunday's. My son just got his first shot gun and wanted to shoot it NOW. Found out they didn't have open shooting, because of a registered shoot, but was invited to shoot it. Wally Shelstad, Ron Baker, Denny Stienhaus, and Denny Spurling (the Lit himself) were very helpful. We signed my son and I up for ATA shooting!
It was a windy, but bright day. I shot a 96 singles, 95 handicap and 91 doubles with my trusty rusty browning field grade pump (BPS) and won the singles and the handicap. Got a punch that day before I even knew what the game was and won the Lewis. My son had a great time and his new gun crushed the targets. Needless to say we were hooked! Found a life time of friends and a whole new family that day! What a re-union we make every spring!
Dave T. Welcome to a lifetime of enjoyment and a world of new friends. The best that life has to offer in my humble opinion! Head down, crush the targets, smile for the camera, and just have a ton of fun! Welcome to our world!
My first registered was in 1979 at Deer Creek Conservation Club. I had shot about 1,000,000 targets at Deer Creek before I shot my first registered target. The Saturday night shoots were great. One of the local farm ladies always made supper. We would have supper/play cards/shoot a practice/shoot the bull/listen to all the oldtimers and wait untill it was dark enough for the lights to really work well. Deer Creek had the best lights in all of central Indiana,at that time. Guys would roll in all afternoon and evening. The calcutta would sell and the shooting would begin. After the program the games would start. 50 guys in a line shooting a killer wasen't uncommon. We would shoot untill everyone was out of shells. The lights were never shut off before midnight and often much later than that. Quite a few of the guys that shot there at Deer Creek are still shooting and still loving it as much as we ever did.We were just younger then and could do all the yard work and catch up with the honey do list,after church and before it got dark. Sunday was the only chance to get the chores done because I worked 10 hours a day and 5 on Saturday. I guess I can honestly say"those were the days" Patrick Swartz
Oregon State Shoot, 1968 at Camby. This was only weeks before I went into the Army and then to Viet Nam. I had shot a few PITA targets prior to shooting ATA.
1981 Buffalo City Gun Club in Jamestown, N.D. Shot 89 in singles with my 870 Wingmaster magnum and won the novice trophy.
I think I went to two other shoots and then didn't shoot again until 1993 when I moved to Idaho. First shoot in Idaho I shot a 96 in the handicap. The winning score was disqualified becuase I stood on the 19 instead of the 20. The next week I went to the Idaho State shoot and broke a 99 from the twenty and won the handicap championship with the trusty 870..................haven't won one since.......................
1973 Spokane Gun Club. Missed the 1st 2 targets out. Finished with a 98 to win B class
Sonny Daniels
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