Story by Tom P

“Pull!”

Boom goes the shotgun and, if eye/muscle coordination is in synch and the ever-important follow-through is made, poof goes the clay target, oftentimes referred to as the “bird”.

Welcome to the worlds of trap, skeet, and sporting clays. These shooting sports are fun gigs and quite addicting, especially the latter, and are great primers for the fast-approaching upland and waterfowl hunting seasons.

While all three pursuits require shotguns (typically 12, 20 or 28 gauge), they are three distinctly different endeavors even though the goal of all three is to powder, crack or chip a bird, thus signifying a hit (“kill” in clay vernacular).

Trap consists of five individual stations, with the birds thrown from a trap house out in front of the shooter at different going-away angles that are deceptively difficult to hit.

Skeet offers crossing shots at clay birds whizzing by at different angles and speeds. A different game than the above, for sure, but certainly as demanding.

The most challenging though, at least from this corner, is sporting clays. Devised to simulate hunting conditions, the standard course consists of 15 stations (some elevated or over water) and targets that fly overhead from behind the shooter, side to side, along the ground and straight up in front. Theoretically, these resemble targets represented by pheasant, quail, woodcock, ducks, and rabbits. (A similar game, “Five Stand” is also gaining in popularity).

Ocean County boasts a very good clays course, Red Wing Sporting Clays (609-381-1200) located at 317 Sooys Landing Road in Port Republic (GSP exit 48 southbound). Because of its adjacent expansive campground, the course is closed until late September, then it’s open until mid-May, just prior to the Memorial Day weekend.

If you’re up for a road trip, the Garden State’s Crème de le Crème of sporting clays courses is found at 449 Ramah Road in Millville, approximately a 40-minute drive from the Ocean County Area. Operated by shooting champion Joe Scull (“Scully”), Cedar Creek Sporting Clays (609-517-4245; open 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday) offers a 15-station course and is host to regional, national and international shoots. Both expert and novice shooting positions and targets are at every station. Shotguns can be rented and lessons are available by expert, student-friendly instructors.

Be warned, however: all three shooting games can become an obsession very quickly, much like golf or fly fishing. There are worse things…

Inside Angles: Rather shoot a handgun and learn how do it safely? Visit Garden State Shooting Center at 1955 Swarthmore Avenue in Lakewood (732-987-6990). This facility offers a state-of-the-art indoor shooting range, handgun and rifle shooting safety and self-defense instruction by NRA-certified personnel, and various seminars. Super-popular is the Thursday evening “Ladies Night” deal. Handguns and rifles are available for rent, and individual, family, and junior memberships are available. Hours are 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m.8-p.m. Sunday.

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