Trap Shooting Adventure

Hey again everyone, as some of you might know, I got a shotgun before this adventure in order to get into the Northern Plains/Midwest hunting sports thing.  I have to admit that while I wouldn't feel bad about shooting a pheasant or quail, I really wouldn't see it as super fun either.  I'd have to ask someone else to take the bird, clean it, and eat it which probably isn't the most manly thing on a hunt.  Now, as far as my shooting experience, I've shot skeet back home in the distant past, and I was hoping to do that here.  Turns out they have a huge Trap shooting range and dozens of leagues that shoot most nights of the week.  So, thanks to a nurse at my clinic and her very nice, very patient husband, Amanda and I headed out to the Trap range this past Thursday night.  For those who don't know, skeet shooting involves moving to different locations and shooting at targets that are shot from different shooting machines while Trap has 5 very discrete spots all within 20 feet of each other and the clay pigeons fly out of a little covered machine in various directions and you take one shot at a time.  5 people take up the 5 stations and you each shoot 5 targets one after the other then move to your right to the next station then repeat and so on.  This way each person shoots 5 shots at each of 5 stations (25 shots) per round.  Well, that gets to me...I cautiously walked up to the first station, loaded my new shotgun with one shell, and shouted "Pull" into this little microphone at my station.  Out shot a clay pigeon and I pulled the trigger...but nothing happened.  Huh.  Oh yeah, gotta take the safety off.  "Pull" again and out goes a second target and I pull the trigger...and who knows where that shot went because it sure didn't bother the clay pigeon.  Okay, no problem, let's try again..."Pull" and fire again and once again who knows where I'm shooting but it definitely isn't at the target.  It looks like a good day to be a clay pigeon.  About this time my shooting partner, who has been perfect on his first few shots offers a few tips: 1) open my eyes, 2) move the gun toward the target instead of trying to pick a spot ahead of it's trajectory and hoping for the best, 3) hold the gun securely (nice).  Back we go to shooting.  About 4 shots later I hit one and boy was that good.  However, when I looked back for some approval from my supportive wife, I noticed the growing group of teenagers who were relaxing on the porch watching my "show."  They were smiling but I don't think it was because they were impressed (I later saw these same 18 year olds hit about 23 or 24 out of 25 that night).  Oh well.  For that 25 shot round I ended up hitting 4 and then my hosts called over the son of the owner to watch behind me and he gave me some more tips: 1) once again, both eyes open and look through both instead of just the left, 2) rest your cheek on the shotgun to stabilize it, 3) don't shoot ahead of the targets...I mean behind...I mean I can't tell where you are shooting...is your gun made right?!  Slight exaggeration, but I went back to it for a second round and had slight improvement, hitting 7 or 8 with a nice 3 out of 5 stretch in the middle where I started to feel pretty tough.  After that, I had used up my 50 shells and my shoulder/cheek were already starting to throb so I put the gun down and watched a league with Amanda during which I saw about 50 different styles/stances and probably learned nothing that will help me.  I guess I just need to practice...a bunch.  I will, and we head back this week...wish me luck.  Will keep you updated on my work and sportsman exploits, talk to you all again soon.

Jason