Skeet Shooting Offers a Bang for the Buck
By Cynthia Saunders
December 2007
I picked the coldest and windiest Saturday morning yet of the season, but that didn't deter either one of us. When Michael Advocate of Advocate: Skeet Shooting Lessons (413-229-2143/800-359-3969, operating year round) invited me to the Stockbridge Sportsmens Club for my first skeet shooting lesson ever, I wasn't sure exactly what I was getting into, but I knew a little blustery snow wasn't going to stop me.
Things started in the warm lodge where Michael and I sat and talked through a technical run down of what I'd need to know outside. It began with essential safety rules and moved into a basic lesson about how to hit something flying almost 50 miles an hour through the air in front of you.
I had never thought about this before, but Michael's explanation made it clear: To shoot something flying through the air, you can't shoot directly at it; you have to shoot at where it's going to be when the shot gets there. Makes sense, right?
Michael had me practice with an unloaded gun that had a laser pointer on the end of it. Once I was in the proper stance, weight shifted forward, and the gun wedged up under my right cheekbone, I practiced running the red dot of the laser along the top edge of the molding on the far wall until I could trace a smooth line.
Before we went out, Michael illuminated the basic rules of the game. A semicircle of cement stations links a high house and a low house, each of which contains machinery that shoots a clay disc at the push of a button. The high house shoots from 10' off the ground, the low house shoots from 3 1/2'—why? Well, originally to give hunters a way to practice for shooting at live targets. Moving from station to station requires the shooter to adjust for different angles, and keeps every shot in the game unique.
For my purposes, we were only shooting from the seventh station, right next to the low house. This is the best place for beginners to get a feel for the sport, since the angle requires no lead—you can aim straight at the target, which, on a windy day, can be challenging enough! After a couple of tries, and with Michael's helpful suggestions, I got the hang of it and managed to shoot one down.
When our hour was up, I could hardly believe the time had gone so fast. From learning a little about the technical background to shooting at the discs, I was focused and pleasantly challenged. Typically, an introductory skeet shooting lesson is two hours long, and I can understand why—there was so much to learn and try! Michael and I have actually already made plans for my return, and I hope to bring a few curious friends with me. I'm hooked, and I want to share it.
About Cynthia Saunders
Cynthia Saunders is a freelance writer and the Director of Education for the Barrington Stage Company. A North Adams native and current resident, she is excited to live within walking distance of her favorite restaurants, yoga studio, and movie theatre. She can be contacted at cynthia.saunders@gmail.com.