Frequently Asked Questions

Safety is the first order of business when it comes to shooting sports. That is primarily the reason why the injury rate is 1%! Yes, according to sport injury statistics:  

• More than 775,000 children, ages 14 and younger, are treated in hospital emergency rooms for sports-related injuries each year. Most of the injuries occurred as a result of falls, being struck by an object, collisions, and overexertion during unorganized or informal sports activities.

Shooting sports are one of the safest sports there is! Safer than walking sports! Our goal is knowledge, safety, and respect for all firearms.

As with any sport there are associated costs for equipment, fees and participation. If you want to shoot for fun you can participate for $150 - $160. Other costs are $3.00 per round (25 shots) payable to the club and the cost of a box of shells.  SIGN UP HERE!

Really serious and want to become the next Olympic gold medalist or want to shoot more competitive and different disciplines let us know. We'll guide you where you want to go.

ATrap shooting, often called “American trap shooting” to distinguish it from other forms of trap shooting, is but one of many sports based on shooting small disks launched into the air. These disks are of various sizes. They are shaped somewhat like a Frisbee and fly in a nice arc through the air. They are made of various combinations of substances so that they break when hit.  Learn More

No worries, we want everyone to learn to shoot and have fun doing so. We have plenty of loaners and don't want anyone to decide not to participate for that reason alone.

Do not go out and buy a gun before talking to a coach! Any shotgun you currently own will do for trap. If you plan on shooting Skeet or Sporting Clays you will want an over-under or automatic shotgun as two rounds are needed (pump action will work but is not very accurate). Please check with a coach before buying a gun to make sure your getting the best gun for the sport. Required accessories are hearing and eye protection. We will have some extras for those who forget theirs. There may be an extra gun available for those who want to try before buying one. Just let us know ahead of time so we can accommodate. As for the ammo, 7 1/2 is the largest size for most ranges.

Shot size is counterintuitive. One would think the larger the number the larger the size. It is actually reversed. So this means a shot size of 9 is smaller than say 7 1/2. The largest size for most American shooting sports is 7 1/2 with 1 1/8 ounce load. Shooting this combination will make a shooter sore and tired by the time they shoot a couple hundred rounds. The ideal combination for most competitions and practice rounds is 1oz load (7/8oz is better) and 8 shot size. FPS or Feet Per Second is also important and keeping under 1200FPS will keep a shooter shooting for longer.

To start out just come and try it out. To be part of the league you will have to become SAFE Certified or have a hunting license. All other training will happen as we go along.

What happens is we have a welcome and informational practice on the first day. We then have 3 weeks (including the first day) where the athlete can shoot from 1-3 times during the week to practice for the "team" for which they have to be invited to join. (Our CTL "team" will be expected to shoot, at a minimum, 6 rounds in the three weeks prior to competition beginning.) We all then shoot a 6 week competition season where scores are kept and used for awards at the end of the school year. There is a total of 10-12 weeks all together with a fun shoot (with parents) at the end of each season. After each week I submit the scores for CTL. We have one sponsored competition shoot we do in the spring at Howard Township Conservation Club and hope to add others. We also have a fun hunt in the fall. You will get weekly emails with updates during the season and as needed off season.  

Some shooters join Claytakers to add to their shooting schedule and learn more shotgun sports. At Claytakers they learn about Skeet and Sporting Clays.

Yes, students may participate in as many other sports they wish. If they sign up for Clay Target League there are required amount of shoots and we'll work with your student to get them all in.

No, all shoots are conducted at our home clubs. If you decide to do events and competitions the  farthest drives are around 2 1/2 hours.

Anyone from grade 6 to 12, either homeschooled or in school. Even disabled or handicapped are encouraged to come out.

Donate to our endowment, it's tax free! This will support us in the years to come. Contact us if you want to adopt a student and help them with some or all of the costs associated with shooting or rides to practice. We will also accept donations of guns and ammo, please speak with one of the coaches to find out the best method.

NO GUNS ALLOWED ON SCHOOL PROPERTY!  Students and parents must return home after school to pick up their guns and ammo. No guns or ammo (real or fake) should ever be brought onto school property.  See safe school zone in pictures. 

There is no good or bad in shooting sports. There is only an opportunity to learn and get better. As coaches we work hard to figure out where the skills are and the areas that need improvement. As with golf there is also handicaps based on skill. Everyone, once they have a gun in their hand has the opportunity to become very successful. As with anything in life "Practice makes perfect."

• Must be in High School to obtain the MLHS Letter. Middle School students will get a Patch corresponding to their level of accomplishment. 
• Must be eligible according to their schools policy. (Students can be removed for other behaviors even if they are academically eligible.)
• Minimum of 8, not competition shoots (practices).
• Must shoot in one sanctioned shoot. ATA, SCTP, our Howard Township is an ATA event. 
• Must participate in Fundraising, secure $150 in sponsorships, or equivalent donation.
• Promote the sport by completing 4 hours of community service in regards to shooting sports. Work at club, participate in work days at a club, others, check with coaches. 
• Shoot a 21 average as compiled by the coaches to obtain a Varsity Letter
• Shoot a 13 average as compiled by the coaches  to obtain a JV letter. 

•  Make sure you are in hearing distance from the field you are assigned to so when your squad is called you are there and ready with all of your equipment.

• 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.
  
• 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.
  
• Remain on your post, standing facing the trap quietly, until the fifth man has fired and then move to the next post.
  
• During and at the end of the round remain still on your last post facing the trap until the last man has fired the last shot.
  
• Do not have a loaded round in your action (regardless if your action is not closed) when walking from one post to another.
  
• 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.
  
• 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.
  
• 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.
  
• Wait till 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.
  
• 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.
  
• 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.
  

Everyone who shoots with us qualifies for a NRA shotgun qualification badge along with a Trap rocker. There are also more distinguished awards for a few of the athletes.
There is 5 levels of qualification that one can achieve in The NRA for Trap shooting.
The first level is Pro-marksman which requires a score of 11 or better in 25
The second level is Marksman and this requires a score of 14 or better in two consecutive rounds.
The third level is sharpshooter and that requires 18 or better in 3 consecutive rounds.
The fourth level is expert and requires 22 or better in 3 consecutive rounds.
Last and most challenging is the Distinguished expert award. Those that can shoot 24 or better in 10 consecutive rounds or 95 or better out of 100

Varsity Letter is for those who come to shoot every week, they put in at least 4 hours of service with any  of the ranges, shoot a competition match, and obtain a sponsor for the team.
Other Awards include:
Most Improved
Most Consistent
Most Targets Viewed
25 Straight
50 Straight
75 Straight
100 Straight

Top Average Score for the Year
Top Male Athlete Average Scored (Top average scorer not included)
Top Female Athlete Average Scored (Top average scorer not included)

T3 Embodiment Award
Recognizes the athlete who meets the criteria that shows their love of the sport.
They will be a team player who is supportive of their teammates and coaches, and always talks positively of their team.
They will volunteer at the ranges we visit and will find ways to help the team succeed.
They will have gotten their sponsors to help the team financially.
They will work on their score by practicing as much as possible.

Andrew Pappenfuss Titan Trap Awards
Proper respect and gun education is a must as our young citizens carry on this unique American tradition. In order to carry on this tradition Andrew Pappenfuss has created the following 2 $50 Awards that will be applied to the Midway Foundation Endowment in the Athletes name.
1-Titian Trap Top Shooter Award
This award goes to the shooter with the most busted targets from the current year.  
2-Titan Trap Potential Award
This award goes to the individual to whom the coaches feel is an up and coming T3 top clay buster.