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 To be successful at hunting your shooting skills have to be intuitive, quick, flexible and accurate, particularly at small game hunting.  Spending a little bit of time sighting in your gun and target shooting just before hunting season just doesn’t do it.  Shooting skeet will give you the shooting skills needed to be a successful hunter.  It’s a sport that you and your family can enjoy and you can do it year round.

Shooting skeet at a range employs the use of shot guns, the main stay for small game hunting.  The problem with shot guns is the range.  Trap machines are designed to test your skill by having a clay thrower project skeet at various distances and trajectories just perfect to enable you to judge the various ranges that your shotgun can handle.

Clay throwers require you to have the skill of quickly aiming and leading your target before firing which greatly increases your chances of success. Leading skeet requires instinctual knowledge of distance and speed typically gained only during practice. Leading must continue through the shot in what hunters typically call follow-through. Hunters must point gun sights just in front of moving targets and match the speed at which targets move. The lead must be smooth and continue straight through the shot.  In shooting skeet this becomes a natural instinct with practice

Shooting skeet will hone in the shooting skills needed to bring down that game whether it be small game, birds or big game.  The trap machines will help with dexterity and get you use to various shooting challenges.  Give it a try.

  Shooting skeet requires practice, practice, practice.  Just reading about it doesn’t do it. You may know all the rules and proper techniques but unless you put them to actual practice your skeet shooting will not improve.  As they say a bad day on the shooting range is better than a good day at work.

So what is the solution? Yes, practice; however, you don’t want to practice the wrong things, so you do need to pay attention to your form and the rules. Getting the proper instruction is important because when you don’t get the results you’re looking for you need to be able to analyze the cause and correct your technique. To do that you first need to understand the basics; consequently, you may need to get instruction from a professional, the time and money will be well worth it.  Of course if you have a friend who is accomplished at shooting skeet that works too. 

Once you have the basics down you need to use those techniques at the range and start shooting skeet. Each time you practice shooting skeet you need to practice with a purpose. If you start missing the target, analyze the situation and fix it. You will soon find out what works for you, be patient and keep at it, your efforts in shooting skeet will be rewarded.

   When entering a skeet shooting competition each competitor must bring their own shotgun that has the same exact range as every other person’s shotgun in the competition. Officials test all shotguns beforehand to ascertain that they all comply with the meet’s regulations.

When shooting skeet a competitor is usually allowed only one shot per skeet and may never move from the shooting point. He can fire from any bodily position, such as kneeling, or lying down. Each participant can take their turn at shooting a round followed by the next competitor or he can continue shooting, if this is done then they must wait for the scoring results of the judges.  Then the next competitor takes his turn.

Static rap machines are located at each site. In shooting skeet one skeet can be targeted at a time or in multiples.  Trap machines can also launch from different locations, forcing competitors to keep on their toes. Multiple skeet can be launched for one flight wherein the shooter is allowed one shot at each skeet.

The sole object of shooting skeet is to hit the target before it lands. The time between the launch of the skeet and before it begins falling is quite short, often as little as a second. Most skeet are not designed to fly very high and so falling to the ground occurs as soon as the maximum velocity is achieved. Normally the time from the launch and the time in which it lands is less than 5 or 6 seconds for professional competition. In order to score the skeet must not only be hit but must be destroyed.

  To be successful in shooting skeet you need to be able to anticipate the flight of your target. If you don’t understand or anticipate the flight of your target shooting skeet can turn into an exasperating experience. Depending on the clay thrower skeet can travel in a set trajectory; and start its fall at different times.  Skeet can fall from 150ft. to 300ft. in a single round; you have to be ready for this.

Some skeet and/or trap machines are aerodynamically designed to fall faster and/or elevate more gradually or more swiftly. Skeet that elevates more gradually may only begin falling at the end of the shooter’s turn or even more challenging the fall may take place at different times during the round. Again, dependent on the clay thrower, skeet that move more swiftly can achieve peak trajectory and can start falling immediately.

Before each round a shooter must understand what trajectory, velocity and timing of the decent that the trap machine has been set for, there is no secret to this, it comes from observation and practice. It is true that in shooting skeet each round may have a different delivery dependent on the clay thrower.  This can be overcome with proper form.  Practice your swing plane and lead in front of a mirror and when comfortable bring it to the practice range. Keep practicing with a smooth swing plan and lead until you are successful, the entire action should be automatic without thought. At this point your brain will automatically adjust for the various speeds and trajectories as well as the eventual target drop.

Want to improve your score?  When shooting skeet control your muzzle, bring the pointed end of the barrel in front of the target as it flies and keep following the target as you bring the shotgun to your shoulder.  Keep the barrel of the gun moving in front of the target as you pull the trigger, that way the shot will stay in front of the target. If you stop leading the target the shot will end up behind and below the target causing a miss and a lost point.  The solution?  Keep pointing your muzzle in front of target even as you pull the trigger.  The result?  You will see the target disintegrate before your eyes.

In shooting skeet it’s a continuous process because you must quickly reload and point the muzzle behind the next target and in a smooth motion lead the target in the direction of its flight.  Again keep leading the target as you pull trigger.

With experience you will be able to predict the trajectory, speed and direction of the target and keep leading the target even after the shot.  Your reward will be seeing the target disintegrate before your eyes and earning a point. As far as practice goes there is no better way that to have your own trap machine.  Owning your own clay thrower will allowyou the flexibility of practicing when convenient for you and you will be able to work on specific weaknesses.

With all this action going on we must always keep safety in mind.  For example:
-  Always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.
-  Your shotgun should be unloaded before shooting and after.
- Always follow the rules of the range.
- No alcohol/drugs

If you can swing a hammer and hit a nail or swat at a fly on your arm, you can be shooting skeet in no time. However regardless of the competitive spirit one must never forget that safety comes first. A shotgun is a dangerous piece of equipment and you have to be safe one hundred percent of the time to avoid a tragedy.  You’ll need safety equipment too, safety glasses and ear protection a must.

First step is to get use to swinging the shotgun to your cheek without hunching over or ending up in some contorted posture.  Best way of accomplishing this is to practice in front of a mirror and or have a person who is trained in shooting skeet assist you.

The arena for shooting skeet consists of eight positions, seven of which form a semicircle, with the eighth located halfway between stations one and seven. A trap house (clay thrower) sits on both ends of the semicircle. Trap machines launch clays from these houses of which the height and position of the launched clays are impressively precise.

Your stance should be kept forward with your front leg bent. Want to hit the target?  Keep your eyes open and lead your shotgun in front of the target with no pauses or drifting gaze, you will do this and you will miss the target.  Shooting skeet takes patience, practice and concentration all of which will have to become second nature to you. Don’t get discouraged, you are outside, with friends so relax and enjoy.

Entering a tournament brings your shooting skeet experience to a new level.  Now all the practice and anticipation will be tested.  Expectations should be high, because if they are not you shouldn’t be competing.  Shooting basics and tactics’ are put to the test. You have your balance, swing and gun mount in control and at this time everything is on automatic and happens instinctively.

In competition trap machines are on automatic and when multi targets are launched there is no time to think about what target to break first. When shooting simultaneous (true) pairs, decide ahead of time which target you will break.  In shooting skeet you are generally better off if you shoot the behind or lower target first, that is, unless one target may disappear behind cover or is decidedly more difficult. Shooting the lower target first allows gun recoil to bring you automatically to the upper target. Shooting the back target first allows your swing to continue smoothly to the front target. If your shooting skeet competitively this needs to be worked out ahead of time so during the tournament it’s an instinctual happening

Continual practice is essential in shooting skeet but it’s fun too, unless you’re experiencing a cold streak and just not hitting targets.  This happens to everyone and it is only a matter of time before it’s your turn.  When you’re experiencing a missing streak, change something:  Change one of your postures, double your lead or, give yourself less think time by moving your gun hold  so your target view is closer to the break point. Pull the trigger the instant the gun is mounted to your face and the target is in focus.

If you are new at shooting skeet check your gun fit. Have your gun fitted so it shoots where you look. This test requires that you first have a consistent, well practiced gun mount. To test for gun fit, set up a pattern board at 16 yards. Fire several consecutive shots by mounting and shooting at a center dot without aiming, but by merely pointing at the target. If the highest pattern density is off center, take the target and your gun to a competent gun fitter for adjustment.

Regular practice improves scores. However, when practice no longer improves your scores frustration results and your self confidence takes a hit instead of the targets. It may be time to get an independent opinion and take a lesson from a certified NSCA instructor. A competent instructor can diagnose specific shooting problems and improve your proficiency. The dollars paid to a competent instructor are quickly returned in better scores and saved ammunition. You will feel so much better. Remember shooting skeet is supposed to be fun.

 In shooting skeet you need to get down to the basics and that starts with ending up with a proper mount with a controlled gun swing.  If we mount the gun as we swing to the target, the mount takes no time and allows your pointing instincts to take over your swing.  As your eyes become sharply focused on the target, finish the gun mount and shoot the instant the target is in sharp focus. In shooting skeet good scores come when these basics become natural and that happens with practice.

For example, when pointing your gun, focus on the target and not the gun barrel or bead. Point, don’t aim. Aiming slows your swing and causes you to shoot behind. Generally competitive trap machines send out a shot string ten to fourteen feet long, use it to your advantage by pointing slightly more in front of a target. If you miss crossing targets, you are probably shooting behind. Try to “miss” in front by doubling your lead, and if still missing, try doubling the lead again.

To help hone your technique in shooting skeet try using low recoil target loads in practice. Shells containing 7/8-1 oz shot are adequate for practice. The lessened amount of shot with more powder gives these shells high velocity, low recoil, and excellent pattern integrity.  After awhile you might want to use these in tournaments.

In all shooting, practice safety first for yourself and for others. Always wear hearing and eye protection. Keep your gun unloaded and the action visibly open until you’re ready to start shooting skeet. Once you are finished shooting, make sure the gun is empty and the action is open. Always keep the gun’s muzzle pointed down range. Never point a gun muzzle backward over your shoulder. These are basic safety tactics which we need to be constantly reminded of because during the excitement of shooting skeet we tend to take them for granted.

 As with safety balance is important and does aid in our safety efforts. Practice swinging and mounting an unloaded gun to your face in front of a mirror. Make sure you stand erect. Do not lower your face to the gun or tilt your head. This tends to happen over time and sneaks in on you without you knowing it. Lift the gun straight up using a short concise motion. Be sure to use both hands equally, as though they were connected by a steel rod. Mount the gun precisely from the same starting position each time. Practicing on these finer points is important because once the clay thrower releases the target everything has to happen naturally.

When shooting skeet or practicing, position your feet so that a line extending from your rear heel to your leading foot points to where you will break the target. Keep your stance relatively narrow. This position encourages a smooth swing and a good follow through enhancing your performance in shooting skeet.