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Shooting Around the Clock: The History of Skeet Shooting
Since the days of the ancient hunters men have been looking for ways to improve their hunting skills. Better hunting meant more food. As mankind progressed and hunting became more of a hobby, it still remained a competitive activity for those involved. In 1915, a grouse hunter by the name of Charles E. Davies began looking for a way to take his shooting skills to the next level.
Davies began shooting at clay targets and the activity soon caught on with the surrounding public. Live pigeons were originally used during the first round of some shooting competitions, but by 1923 the sport had progressed to what we know today as skeet shooting. The name “skeet” is derived from a Scandinavian translation which means “to shoot”. The first national competition was held in 1935.
The original setup was a complete circle with a 25 yard radius, and a circumference marked like the face of a clock. The trap was set at 12:00 and the targets were shot over 6:00. Each competitor had two shots at each of the twelve stations. Thus, the term “shooting around the clock” was born. The setup had to be redesigned a bit when a neighbor started a chicken farm in the firing range. A second trap was placed at 6:00 and shot targets over 12:00. This reduced the danger to the foul while still giving the shooter the same experience.
The sport also has significant practical relevance. During World War II gunners used skeet shooting as a form of training. Skeet shooting helped them to improve their leading and timing on targets in mid-air. The focus on the war put most gun clubs on hold during the conflict, and many never reemerged.
Skeet shooting, however, proved to be popular enough to resurface after the war had ended. The National Skeet Shooting Association that still operates today was reestablished by a group of skeet enthusiasts in 1946. The sport’s popularity continued until it debuted at the Olympics in 1968, and it continues to remain popular today.
