What Is a Sporting Clay?

Sporting clays are a very difficult form of clay pigeon shooting. The game involves moving to different areas called stations and shooting at targets launched at difficult angles and trajectories in an effort to make it more like actual hunting.

  1. The Course

    • Sporting Men

      Sporting clays are conducted on a course with 10 or more stations called stands or butts. The various stations will have clay targets launched to simulate different types of wild game in flight. One example is two targets launched with one being low to the ground to imitate a rabbit while the other might go straight up like a dove.

    History

    • Hardware

      Sporting clays and similar shotgun sports have their origin in Victorian England. In the 1880s, English sportsmen would shoot at glass balls filled with feathers as practice for bird hunting. This activity quickly became very popular with sportsmen both rich and poor.

    Shotguns

    • Shotguns are used for sporting clays shooting. Participants use single or double barreled guns and enthusiasts may spend up to $3,000.00 for competition guns, according to Pacific Sporting Arms.

    Learning

    • Competing

      Nearly every state has shooters' organizations and clubs. These clubs are eager for new members and offer classes and workshops to teach the new shooter sporting clays shooting.

    Competition

    • Ducks Unlimited

      Sporting clays contests are held in many states and overseas as well. In America the most renowned contests are the National Sporting Clays Championship and the U.S. Open Sporting Clays Championship.

    Philanthropy

    • Each year hundreds of shooters compete in tournaments to raise funds for charitable causes. Ducks Unlimited and children with cerebral palsy are both supported by shooters.