Clay Target Shooting Procedures

READY: From the moment a shooting round begins, all athletes on the firing line must stand in the “READY” position including:

• • Both feet entirely within the shooting station area.

  • Holding the shotgun with both hands.

  • A live round may be in the chamber, but the action MUST be open until it is the athlete’s turn to shoot.

START: Upon a “START” command from the scorekeeper, each athlete, in turn, will:

• • Take proper shooting position.

  • Load shell(s) as required by type of sport/shoot.

  • Close the action of the shotgun while the shotgun is not on the ground.

  • Clearly call “PULL” or some other command for the target.

  • Shoot at the target.

  • Scorekeeper does not comment when a target is “HIT”.

  • Scorekeeper will say “LOSS” loudly, when a target is missed.

  • Discharge empty shell.

  • Wait for your next turn.

  • An athlete may close the shotgun action only after the previous athlete has completed his/her turn.

  • No athlete will turn from the shooting station before the athlete’s shotgun action is open and empty.

  • At the end of each round, the scorekeeper will announce the scores for that round in firing order.

LOSS: A missed target must be declared “LOSS” when:

• • It is not hit during its flight.

  • It is only “dusted” and no visible piece is broken from it.

  • An athlete, for no permitted reason, does not shoot at a regulation target for which the athlete has called.

  • The athlete is allowed two “misfires” per round if they were not able to fire his/her firearm because he/she has not released the safety or has forgotten to load it.

  • Any misfires beyond the two permitted during a round will be assigned a lost target.

DISPUTED CALL:  In the event of a lost target dispute:

• • The athlete immediately raises an arm to notify the scorekeeper.

  • All athletes must unload their shotguns and make them safe.

  • The scorekeeper defers to the entire squad for a majority ruling decision.

  • If a majority ruling cannot be made by the squad, the lost target score will stay as-is.

  • Unless there is a disputed call, no score can be changed after the next athlete in line has completed his/her shot.

REFUSED TARGET: An athlete may refuse shooting at a released target if:

• • A target is not released immediately after the athlete’s call.

  • The athlete is visibly disturbed by some external cause.

  • The scorekeeper agrees that the target was flying along an irregular path other than that specified in angle, elevation or distance.

NO BIRD: A scorekeeper may declare a “NO BIRD” when:

• • A broken or irregular target emerges.

  • Multiple targets are thrown at once from a single thrower. (trap)

  • An athlete shoots out of turn.

  • Another athlete fires at the same target.

  • The scorekeeper notices the athlete was visibly disturbed by some external cause.

  • The scorekeeper notices the athlete’s foot position is outside his/her area.

  • The scorekeeper detects a violation of the athlete’s allowed time limit.

  • The shot is discharged involuntarily before the athlete has called for the target.

  • A target is thrown before the athlete’s call.

  • A target is not released immediately after the athlete’s call.

  • A target’s trajectory is irregular.

  • There is an allowable malfunction of the shotgun or shell.

  • Any broken or chipped target thrown from the house will be re-thrown for score regardless of if the score recorder calls “no bird”. This includes if the athlete fires and hits the broken target. Only clear and whole targets are considered legal for competition.

MISFIRE: Failure to fire due to a shotgun malfunction requires that the athlete calls for a “CEASE FIRE” or “STOP” and all shooting must stop immediately.

• • All athletes must unload their shotguns and make them safe.

  • The RSO (Range Safety Officer) must examine the situation and determine if the shotgun can safely function for the remainder of the round. If the RSO deems the shotgun unusable for that round, the athlete must finish the round with another shotgun not already in use. If the athlete does not have access to an alternative shotgun then the athlete must take a zero score for each remaining target that round.

  • Once the RSO has deemed the shotgun unusable for that round, the shotgun cannot be brought back onto the field for any reason until the start of a new round.

  • The round may resume once the cease fire issue has been resolved and the “Start” command is given by the scorekeeper and/or RSO (Range Safety Officer).

SQUAD OUT: Upon the completion of a round, the scorekeeper will declare “SQUAD OUT.”

• • Athletes will make their shotguns safe, and carry the shotgun in the approved manner and exit the station. 

  • All athletes are responsible for collecting empty hulls used during their round and disposing them in the assigned receptacle.

SCORES: Scorecards must be initialized after each round.