Req 1i — Shotgun Sports and Local Opportunities

Shotgun sports revolve around breaking clay targets (also called “birds” or “clays”) launched from mechanical traps. Each sport presents targets differently, and each develops a different set of skills. Here are the three most widely available sports you should know:

Three Shotgun Sports

Trap

In trap, shooters stand at five stations arranged in a line behind a single trap house. The trap throws targets away from the shooters at varying angles. You do not know the exact angle until the target launches, so you must react quickly and shoot the target as it moves away from you. Most trap targets are rising and moving outward.

• Stations: 5, in a line (the “trap line”)
• Targets per round: 25 (5 from each station)
• Key skill: Quick target acquisition and consistent mount
• Why it’s popular: Trap is the most widely available shotgun sport in the United States. Many Scout camps with shotgun programs use trap-style setups.

Skeet

In skeet, two trap houses—a “high house” on the left and a “low house” on the right—throw targets across a fixed flight path. Shooters move through eight stations arranged in a semicircle. Targets cross in front of you, so you must lead the target (shoot ahead of its flight path). Some stations present doubles—one target from each house simultaneously.

• Stations: 8, in a semicircle
• Targets per round: 25 (singles and doubles)
• Key skill: Leading crossing targets and handling doubles
• Why it’s popular: Skeet teaches you to read crossing angles, which is directly useful for bird hunting.

Sporting Clays

Sporting clays is often called “golf with a shotgun.” Shooters walk a course of 10–15 stations, each presenting targets that simulate different hunting scenarios—incoming birds, crossing shots, overhead targets, rabbits (targets rolling along the ground), and more. No two stations are the same, and no two courses are the same.

• Stations: 10–15 per course
• Targets per round: Typically 50 or 100
• Key skill: Adapting to varied presentations
• Why it’s popular: The variety makes sporting clays one of the fastest-growing shotgun sports. It rewards versatility over repetition.

Finding Local Opportunities

To identify places in your community where you can practice:

• Search the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) range finder at wheretoshoot.org for ranges near you that offer trap, skeet, or sporting clays.
• Contact your local gun club: Many communities have clubs that host weekly trap or skeet nights. Most welcome new shooters and offer rental guns and instruction.
• Check with your Scout council: Your council may operate a shotgun range at a camp property, and shooting sports directors can point you to approved ranges nearby.
• Ask your counselor: Merit badge counselors for Shotgun Shooting are often active at local clubs and can connect you directly.

Getting Involved

Most clubs allow walk-on participation for a per-round fee. If you decide to continue, many offer annual memberships, youth programs, and coached leagues. Organizations like 4-H Shooting Sports, the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP), and USA Shooting have structured youth programs with team-based competition.

The Counselor Conversation

Be ready to name and explain three sports, identify at least one real location near you where each is available (or explain what you found when you searched), and describe the steps you would take to get started.