[Trois_beaux_canards]

I just got back from a weekend up north (MN). While up there my brother, myself and cousin went to one of the greatest sporting clay ranges I have ever been to. besides the fact that it was fairly cheap (before you consider shells and gas), the owners were extremely nice people. The owner, his wife and his dad, along with his two sons accompanied us the whole time. I think I'll bring my gun every time I go north!
He mentioned doing "hunters clays" at some point. have any of you ever seen/heard or done this before? Where did you do it? I guess the clays release when you trip a laser or something like that. Sounds very cool!

 

[puddlerjumper]

That does sound pretty awesome. I want to know where I can do this.

 

[Take'em Now]

Hunters clays is pretty much like sporting clays, but most of your shooting is less then 50 yards, each presentation is set up just like hunting ones. (No 80 yards, crossers, or no 300-foot tower) You can use pretty much and gauge gun (other then 410) Where sporting clays (bigger better courses) you need a 12ga.

Their are no "lasers" involved. Their may a couple of stations, where they make you walk, and while walking (no more then 20 feet) they release a target, to simulate a flushing pheasant, quail or rabbit

 

[apexhunter]

Now THAT sounds like fun! Since sporting clays has evolved into such a competetive realm where presentations are so unlike anything one would see in the woods or field that I for one have become disenchanted with it. Hunter's clays, on the other hand sounds like a true representation of hunting and I would definitely like to shoot a course or 2. I like the idea of being between stands (obviously in a very well regulated fashion) and have a trap release a going away/crossing bird or maybe a rabbit.

It sounds more like the origins of sporting clays where targets truly represented actual hunting scenarios instead of all but impossible distances and angles. While I have enjoyed SC over the years, the fact that one typically needs to change setups (choke tubes) between stands just to be competetive or to make it enjoyable has turned me off. No longer does it represent a day in the fall woods.

 

[slowshooter]

I like sporting clays.

I do.

The shots are possible. And heck, just put in an improved mod and you can hit pretty much all of the clays. Well, except for the one you miss. :lol3:

FITASC is even more fun - harder that sporting. But accordingly more fun.

 

[waterfowlhunter]

I love sporting clays, I just shot a course for the first time that has 18 stations and you get either the odd or even stations and it keeps groups from waiting for a station as much. they also have 4 thrower positions at each station so you can choose the "hard" or "easy" throwers. It seems that the skeet shooters in our group shoot the easy better and the hunters shoot the Hard better. I prefer Long crossers and high incoming targets and they had a lot of them. The only down side is that it is state run and $19 pre 50 rounds. Most other courses in the area are $15. Would it be just the thing to have the cash to create your own coures in the back 80, When I win the Lotto It will be done :yes:

 

[Frank Lopez]

Hunter's clays is what the British originally called the game. In fact, when Brister first brought the game over from England, thats what he called it, but it really didn't stick, so they substituted Sporting for Hunter's and the rest is history. The original concept was for a course to duplicate shots that would typically be encountered in the field. The game was basically a course set up on the various "shooting grounds" and was used by the English shotgun manufacturers as a training facility for their clients. Once it became a competitive sport, most resemblances to actual field conditions vanished. No more low gun requirements, rediculously long targets (that a good instructor would advise most clients form taking at live game) and it became a game of optical illusional whit between the target setter and the shooter.

The bottom line is that if you can find a clays course that cater's to hunter's clays, it is one of the more realistic courses and a valuable training tool.

Frank