Trap Field at Wood Lane Farm
 

Until a few months ago I had never shot ATA trap. I participated in a charity trap shot and really enjoyed it. I've now completed construction of my own trap field, as close to ATA specifications as we could get it without the help of an engineer.

I also acquired a Parker SC SBT, L. C. Smith Specialty SBT and an Ithaca 5E Flues SBT. I shoot trap just about every day now and let the guns compete against each other. Don't ask me which one is usually the winner.

Very cool. What kind of trap did you get? Vintage trap shoot at John’s place next weekend.

Originally I had an Atlas AT50. Very reliable but I wanted more capacity. So I bought and AT250. Also have a remote foot release. I'm ready anytime, anybody wants to get together.

Good choice on the Atlas. I’ve had a 250 for eight years. Gréât machine.

John, now you need pigeon traps. If a set of electric Barnabies is out of the question, I have a set of real old manual traps from the old Hegins range in PA. Linda wants them out of the garage, so they are for sale. You can pick them up at the Vintagers.

Great suggestion by Eightbore on the pigeon traps. If that doesn’t work out a ZZ Bird ring would be good.

For low budget shooting with trap guns, "stick birds" are a real challenge.

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Wow! That took a lot of work. Looks great.

It was a lot of work but mostly for Bobby. He's the guy who works with me and builds everything and fixes everything and pretty much does everything. Not sure what I'd accomplish around here without him.

Nice!

Trap field
 

Good job Bobby!

Oh yeah and you too John, that’s really nice.

Wayne Erskine (from Shennendale) used to come to PSC years ago for the skeet shoots and would bring his “stickbird” contraption . I never woulda thought a man could throw a bird straight away from me and not be able to scratch it down with two shots , but that almost six foot long thing he had would wing the heck out of them . This was before using a golf club handle and shaft . His contraption was hickory or ash with a big metal plate and spring for the target .

I still have my bird sticks but haven't used them for a while. I kind of quit after sending a clay target through the side of a camper that was parked a bit too close to the field.

bill that thing must really sling those sticks....charlie

Yes, Charlie, the hole in the side of the camper was a surprise for me. At the Ommelanden range in Delaware, anyone who didn't want to shoot trap, skeet, or sporting clays could shoot stick birds. Stick birds were charged by the hour, not by the bird. The thrower would work as long as you wanted to shoot for a set price. The thrower always outlasted the shooter. An "hour" usually went south after about twenty minutes.

At Shennendale granted it’s in Augusta County so plenty mountains and the skeet fields sit on top a good size mountain . I’ve seen Wayne Erskine sling targets that went well over 100 yards and quickly :eek:

I’d like to see a picture of a stick bird. This is the first time I’ve ever heard of them.

I'd like to see one too but Murphy doesn't know how to take pictures or post them.

Aren’t “stick birds” simply clays thrown from a hand-thrower?






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Yes it's a hand thrower .

And generally the handle on the thing is 36-60 inches long .

Stick birds are thrown at a velocity probably two to three times the velocity of a hand trap. Remember, I told you about the time a target was thrown through the side of a camper. Embarrassing but true. Very seldom is a bird thrown from a good bird stick broken on the second shot. In fact, it is not often visible with the naked eye by the time you are ready for the second shot.

Where can I get a Stick Bird Stick? Walmart?