The stalking of clay prey

Press, 19 July 1989, Page 34

The stalking of clay prey

Those tired of run-of-the-mill sporting thrills are stalking new prey. For them, the newest, the hottest and arguably toughest sport to take aim at is something called “Sporting Clays.”

“It’s like golf with a shotgun,” explains Kay Marshall of the United States Sporting Clays Association (U.S.S.C.A.). “You move around a. course, stop at different stations and then shoot at moving targets.” Instead of blasting at wildlife, Sporting Clays’ enthusiasts set their sights on brightly coloured discs, which soar and dip, leap and vanish, just like the mallards, grouse, rabbits, pheasant or foxes they emulate.

“It’s a real challenge to hit some of those targetsand when they come flying out of the brush,” marvels Kay Marshall. “You might get a bird flying overhead and a rabbit rushing out at the same time. The element of unpredictability is what people like.”

Shooters, accompanied by a guide, walk a marked course through a varied terrain of hills, trees, swamps and streams (some clubs offer golf carts for this pur-

pose), then stop at various stations to wait for their clay prey to be flushed from their machine-age nests. Blowing these sham species to pieces is a growing fascination. In 1986, there were just two American Sporting Clays courses, both in Texas — now there are more than 150 courses and 200 tournaments. The U.S.S.C.A. national tournament held earlier this month in Kansas City attracted 430 participants. “Once you’ve tried it, you get hooked,” says Charles Scheible, of the Pawling Mountain Club in Dutchess County, who competed in the tournament and finished in the top 20. “The main appeal is the diversity of situations. Each place you go, the targets, which have been created by devious brains, are totally different. That’s really the challenge.”

The sport of Sporting Clays started in England 60 years ago, primarily because of the scarcity of public hunting lands. Three years ago, it started to take off in the United States for much the same reason. Today, there are nearly a dozen places to shoot sporting clays within

160 kilometres of New York City, although many of the clubs are privately run. At Mid-Hudson Trap and Skeet in New Paltz, one of the few public courses, Sporting Clays enthusiasts “come from all walks of life” and all parts of the metropolitan area, said Jenny Davis, who owns the course with her husband, Hugh. Customers, who bring their own shotguns, range from occasional sport shooters to seasoned shotgun enthusiasts. “It’s not an elitist sport at all,” one fan said. “You get all types.” The Davises charge $U512.50 (SNZ2I.BO) for 50 targets — SUS2S ($NZ43.60) for 100 provides up to two hours shooting for a party of five.

“People are bored with trap and skeet shooting and are looking for something a little more exciting,” Jenny Davis said. “This is a lot like the real thing.” The fast-growing sport has another significant selling point. "You don’t have to get up at the crack of dawn to go out duck hunting,” Jenny Davis added. “You can come, shoot, then get in your car and go home.” NZPA New York