ACADEMICS, INTEGRITY, AND MARKSMANSHIP (AIM)

SAFETY IN TRAPSHOOTING FOR FLORIDA TRAPSHOOTING ASSOCIATION CLUBS AND RANGES
7/12/2009

The following information has been developed for the purpose of consistency in training new and old trapshooters in the safe handling of firearms and the rules and etiquette procedures utilized during trapshooting competition as well as in practice.

Prepared by: William Bill L. Winstel, Florida State Director AIM and National Coach Development Staff.

THE FOLLOWING FOUR RULES WILL BE FOLLOWED AT ALL TIMES:

    • ALWAYS TREAT YOUR GUN AS IF IT IS LOADED!
    • ALWAYS POINT YOUR BARREL IN A SAFETY DIRECTION DOWN NEVER UP!
    • ONLY LOAD ONE SHELL AT A TIME, WHEN YOU ARE READY TO SHOOT!
    • ALWAYS KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF AND AWAY FROM THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOU ARE READY TO SHOOT!

GUN SAFETY

  • OPEN AND OUT: All guns should remain open and empty (unloaded).
  • LOAD YOUR GUN ONLY ON STATION: (TRAP FIELD STATIONS 1-5)
  • GUNS IN RACKS FOR SAFETY (OPEN AND UNLOADED)
  • HOW TO TAKE YOUR GUN FROM THE RACK AND CARRY TO THE FIELD (Emphasize muzzle down)
  • MISFIRE/HANGFIRE/SOFT LOAD (SQUIB-WAD IN BARREL)
  • ALWAYS WEAR EYE PROTECTION
  • ALWAYS WEAR HEARING PROTECTION

HOW TO SHOOT TRAP//TRAP HOUSE AND OTHER AREAS

  • Explain operation of the trap house (include trap house, flag and its operation, the scorer/puller, voice activated pullers, and manual push button puller.

SQUAD SETUP

  • Five (5) Shooters to a Squad (including one (1) squad leader (starts on position #1).
  • Squad Leader Calls Squad to Ready
    • Squad Ready?
    • Puller Ready? (Check for Safety)
    • Look Forward
    • Lets See One, Please
    • Pull (Explain that PULL is a command)

ROTATION (Always Turn to the Right)!!!!!!!!

  • Safety First: Gun Open and Empty and Turn to the Right.
  • Walk to Next Station.
  • Station Five, Turn to the Right and walk to Station 1

TRAPSHOOTING ETIQUETTE

Safety

    • Safety is the most important courtesy! If someone is being unsafe, tell them politely. If they smart back to you or fail to change the unsafe behavior, tell one of the coaches.

Movement

    • Do not do things that would distract another shooter while he or she is shooting, such as moving, closing your gun as they call pull, bending over to pick up a dropped shell or empties or talking.

Personnel

    • Always treat shoot personnel with respect! Do not abuse pullers, trap loaders, or anyone else on the range grounds, period. There is to be no violence or horseplay on the range grounds at all. A gun club is one place where everyone is treated as a friend. Failure to follow these rules will result in you leaving the range and waiting for your ride by the gate, gun and all.

Hold Your Attention On The Game

    • Trap shooting requires your full attention; do not be looking at people watching you or at the next trap house. An excellent attention holder and good eye training is to watch a piece of broken (shot) bird fall all the way to the ground. Try it for all the birds shot on your squad. You will expand your attention span and develop greater eye coordination with this exercise.