KTVQ

Posted: Nov 29, 2009 5:56 PM
Updated: Nov 30, 2009 9:44 AM

Big game hunting season wrapped up Sunday.  But for those you who are still looking to practice your shot.  There's a solution.

For more than two centuries gunmen have yelled the word "pull" and a target has been released from a cage.

Originally that target was a live pigeon, but over the years the birds have been swapped out for clay disks, referred to as clay pigeons.

It goes by the name of trapshooting and it attracts folks young and old.

"A couple of the guys at the clubhouse up here took us under their wing and showed us how to do it and I got hooked on it," admits Billings Trap Club Board of Directors Secretary, Jerry Lindh.

There are a few versions of the sport, but the one we chose to learn involves 5 shooters, 25 shells each, and rotating positions with 5 shots at each spot. 

"You know, half of it's the sport and the other half of it is the comradery of meeting new people, meeting new friends, having to come out here and shoot with other guys," explains Lindh.  "We slam each other a little bit, but we still take it pretty seriously and it can be competitive and a lot of fun."

Ah yes, some manly competition, but lets not forget about the ladies.

Rachel Brown, 15, has been shooting for a couple years now and is a member of the Billings Trap Club youth team.  

"You don't get to do this at school or everyday.  It's different than what all my friends do, so I like it," Brown says.  "I like to shoot."

And she is quite the shot, along with all the other experienced shooters hitting pigeon after pigeon.

So for someone who's never even shot a gun before, the task of shooting and shattering a small, clay disk soaring through sky doesn't seem likely.

But this batch of trapshooters are eager to teach a beginner.

"We'll get you started, there's always somebody here that will take people in and show them how to do it," says Lindh.  "Then you get hooked.  You start breaking birds and it's a lot of fun."

Now, being someone who has never gone hunting before, I really can't say what that first kill feels like.  But with the help of a few experienced shooters, I did manage to hit a few "birds" that day and it was pretty satisfying.

So, when hunting season winds trapshooting could be a nice hobby to pick up in between seasons.

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"Angela's Adventures" is a segment that will air every other Sunday on Q2 at 5:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.  The focus of each story will be on an outdoor activity.  The goal behind each story is to motivate Montanans and Wyomingites to get out and enjoy their surroundings!  If you have an idea for Angela send it to adouglas@ktvq.com.