[spitter]

Boy oh boy... the animosity that I interpret from some of these posts.

Is it just me or does anyone else get the impression that a segment of old, white, blue collar, retired, fixed income, registering-target, option-playing trapshooters are bitter and really despise the fact that there has been an ongoing shift in the make-up of today's American Trap.

There is real money out there for trapshooting... you can bump into it everywhere - young, white, people of color, gray and white collar YUPpies, DINKS (do we still use those terms?!)... every occupation you can imagine - clamoring for shooting sports, one of which is recreational (read practice) American Trap, FOR FUN and not playing options...

It must really put a bur up some folks a$$... new people - (use any racial/social slur you deem appropriate)... and if one doesn't shoot registered or doesn't register enough targets/play options - the impression you're given is that they're not (I'm not) a real trapshooter... we don't count...

To that... I say "go )*@# *(^*&%# !"

I had an epiphany 15 years ago... and those who didn't get with the program are now out of the program... we value and embrace our senior members for their wisdom and guidance; as role models and mentors to our new shooters, they have found a balance in their current role.

We encourage diversity in every aspect... age, color, religion, income bracket... we're still too vanilla, but we're working at getting more green!

Oldsters skills have diminished - cataracts and arthritis have impacted their abilities to be competitive, but their ability to nurture in the clubhouse and have fun on the line is the lasting legacy, giving them purpose... do they still shoot?! absolutely!

There are fewer straights shot on the line... they may have lost more than most will ever attain.

American Trapshooting is alive and well at those clubs/ranges, urban and rural, who embrace the new paradigm... if one thing is certain in life, change will always continue to occur.

We throw some registered targets. We have some who travel to area shoots. A smaller segment travel to regional and national events... but ATA membership is a tougher sell and only a fraction of our membership will ever register any targets. However, as our membership grows, the number of folks who will register targets will grow as well...

The money to pay the bills is in practice and leagues... and we're getting it by the buckets... BEST last two years in 12, numbers up HUGE... double digits.

The money train left the station a long time back... and I do feel for you folks who see the evolution of the sport as a personal threat to your beloved trapshooting... I have no good words of comfort as I see little chance of any return to the heyday of money and options.

Recreational (practice) trapshooters, trinket shooters - should not be the anathema...

With regards,

Jay

 

[oleolliedawg]

Trapshooting's evolution can be likened to the Wooly Mammoth's. Is that what we want? Sure, our league had a decent year with app. 375 shooters and some actual growth. Unfortunately, it can't be compared to the real numbers we encountered in the 70's when nearly 800 shooters did their Sunday thing!!

 

[creek]

"Is it just me or does anyone else get the impression that a segment of old, white, blue collar, retired, fixed income, registering-target, option-playing trapshooters are bitter and really despise the fact that there has been an ongoing shift in the make-up of today's American Trap".

In answer to your question...........Jay, it's just you!

John

 

[wayno]

keep on keepin' on, jay. your vision is the future of the sport. as an old dog, who used to shoot about 3000 registered birds a year, i congratulate you.

and i am thankful for my little club in piedmont north carolina, where the whole point is shooting 50 or so a day, just for shits and giggles.

 

[Oregunner]

Jay, I belong to a multivenue gun club that has over 1000 members. Shotgun shooting is alive and well here. We put on one registered trap shoot a year, and just finished our winter trap league. We shoot practice and games every week and have a good time. It is fun to hear the stories about the good old days when there were "___" squads at a shoot (fill in the blank) and you could win big bucks, even a car! Those days are gone. It's a different world, but hopefully one that still provides some recreational entertainment from the shooting sports, that is affordable to a wide range of people. Good post, and keep shooting! Mark

 

[Steve W]

If you understand the fundamental principle of how American Trap was invented, you'll see why.

American Trap was the first and pretty much the only game brought shotgun sport to an average Joe in the world.

Easy and inexpensive (cheapest if I may use the word) in both range set up and minimum instruments required to participate. Kind of lower (easy) skill to start for beginners.

These were the reasons American Trap are more popular everywhere in this country. And that's why you see more blue collar trap shooters from the beginning of this sport.

 

[oleolliedawg]

Option playing old, white, retired, fixed income and blue collar trapshooters are still shooting plenty of trap in this part of PA. These old Dutchman are way too smart to donate their hard earned money to professional ATA registered trapshooters!!

 

[dead on 4]

I was always told as you age change was tougher to swallow and old people get angry because they can't slow down change much less stop it, they want everything to stay the same. It's less threatening if everything stays the same keeping them in their comfort zones.

I didn't really understand what was being told to me for a long time, although I knew you can't go through life looking at the rear view mirror. It wasn't until I started reading posts on TS.com did I come to realize the prophecy comes true for every aging generation as I've never heard so many complaints about change in the trap shooting world.

From my view many parts of the country are having banner participation in ATA shoots spite of no money, slow and narrow tragets, it's called change and seems to suit a number of trap shooters sooting these events, they all must be young and accept things as they are not as you wish.

Surfer

 

[oleolliedawg]

Watching my 6 yo son play basketball and scoring points reminds me of Trapshooting. His team won "the world series of basketball" last Sat. AM. Of course the net is significantly lower than regulation so the kids have a better chance of scoring.

Since Trapshooting is now done with narrower angles and shorter Doubles than in the past we can say we've successfully encouraged the "feel good" mentality into our once fine game. I wonder how many points Wilt Chamberlain would've scored on my sons' net height!!

 

[dead on 4]

Andy, what was, was, it's not our generation at least mine. They have to figure it out not us. Our time is gone that's why I shoot games, they haven't softened this part of clay shooting, at least yet.....................


Surfer

 

[oleolliedawg]

Surfer, what generation? If you've been to an ATA shoot lately the average age of participants is in my age group-older!!

 

[dead on 4]

Crap Andy they're not all as old as you........... What I'm saying, the new shooters many younger than you or I didn't experience three hole targets and what's beening thrown today is OK by them, if this were not so, there would be more of a national outcry to change back to the third hole and there's not.



Surfer

 

[Quick 1]

Very nice post Sarge!

 

[BIGDON]

Great thread now let's put all shooters under a certain age against all those rotten, trouble making "Oldsters". Talk about splitting the group, sounds like a Obama trick

I now know what Bush felt like. Instead of "blame Bush it's blame the OLD shooters". What a crock of crap. The older shooters did more for this game and continue to do more than all of the PRACTICE shooters out there.

If you don't want to shoot registered ATA then don't. You are obviously not a competive person. You obviously don't want to measure your progress or lack there of against other shooters. Fact is most old shooters can whip your so-called young butts, so don't talk about deminishing skills.

I haven't trashed you the practice shooters until now but only after you have tried to put the blame on my age bracket for the ruination of Registered Trap. You probably get all warm and fuzzy when you run a 25 on the practice trap, put your big boy pants on and go do it a competition where it means something and is recorded and some pressure goes with it.

You really ought to get out more before you run off at the mouth and maybe you should check the ages of the BOD and others before you bash the Old Farts running the game.

Don
Age 72 still banging reg. birds and who has given more back to the game than most of you have even thought of. I will keep shooting registered, old rules - new rules, I don't care as long as I can make it to the line.

 

[Bird30]

I wonder if they are referring to shooters like me. Shot my first targets in 1948. I am 82 and shoot a thousand targets at the state shoot ever year. I am having a little trouble breaking a 100 anymore but I am still trying. My eyes aren't as good as they use to be and it upsets me when I miss a target but I still try. By the way I am a blue collar retired worker, duck hunter, rabbit hunter and bird hunter.


Dave

 

[senior smoke]

Jay:
I agree with Big Don's response. I have read your thread 4 times wondering if you are talking down to the older shooter or not? You mention that us older shooters have found a balance in our current role? I do not think I personally know you, or have ever met you, so I really don't know the type of person you really are, so I will not attempt to make any judgement.

All I can say, most of us older shooters shot targets, spent our hard earned money, and contributed to the success of this sport. Like I said, I don't know what your true intention was by posting this thread, but I am offended as I resent being lumped together as "we all know our current roles".

If your intention was not to talk down to us, I appologize. If it was, I would think that most of us old timers have earned a certain amount of respect as we have been shooting long before most of you even knew what a gun was.

Like I said, I don't know what your true intention is, but hopefully you have more respect for the people who have shot before you.

Respectfully,
Steve Balistreri

 

[APrice]

It's the new world order guys. Nothing wrong with denigrating old, white guys with a little cash in their pocket that they worked for. Say anything negative about blacks, latinos,muslims, queers or fat women though and you are the scum of the earth.

 

[oleolliedawg]

Sorry Fred, long range rifle shooting is in the same shape as Trap with many of the same problems. Even their magazine folded for lack of interest.

Surfer, the average todays' newer shooter has no idea what constitutes a three hole target and probably never even read the rulebook.

Go get 'em BigDon-attack, attack!!

 

[Redcobra]

If I want a car, I'll buy one not shoot for it.
At our club, we are open to the public. Our club has 5 skeet fields and 3 trap fields (one is Wobble), we put on registered skeet shoots (NSSA) and no ATA shoots, yet the trap fields are the money makers for the club. We rent guns (full size, youth, 12g and 20g)
We get families, youngsters, Dinks, etc. Most new shooter and younger ones shoot the trap fields and the 5-stand. The older regulars all shoot skeet.
Go figure.

 

[southjblue]

I have to agree with the older shooters---Without us this sport is doomed---
I shoot at 2 very good clubs and without the old guys the club would be bankrupt---You big dogs will have to find another place to shoot---Kiss our AXX because without us your history---Better find a way to get some young blood---Most at my 2 clubs may hit a 25 every wk or so----Just saying----
George @SJB