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There are three main forms of competitive clay pigeon shooting, and they include trap shooting, skeet shooting and sporting clays. Each one is a sport unto itself with its own rules, regulations, associations, competitions and equipment.

Trap shooting has been a popular sport since 1793 when real birds were used as targets. Eventually fake birds were introduced. In modern trap shooting, the shooters move through five different positions and shoot at released traps.

Skeet shooting is both a recreational and competitive sport whereby sharpshooters try to break clay disks flung into the sky from various angles. Most sharpshooters use a double-barreled over and under shotgun for this sport. These guns are often sold as “skeet guns.” Use Canada 411 to find a gun dealer in your area.

Sporting clays is often referred to as “golf with a shotgun,” because the average course involves 10 to 15 different stations from which to shoot. These stations are spread over an area less than 35 acres in size. This sport simulates the sport of shooting live targets. Sport clay shooting involves shooting at different angles, speeds, elevations, distances, trajectories and at targets of differing sizes.

These three forms of sharpshooting are very popular in Canada. In Canada, Susan Nattrass is a trapshooting superstar who recently won a gold medal at an international competition for women trapshooters in Brazil. She was also given the prestigious position of carrying the Canadian flag in the upcoming summer Olympics, in which she’ll be competing. Like many other talented Canadians, Nattrass is keeping the sport of sharpshooting alive and well.