Around The ATA – January 2024

Atlantic Provinces

Happy New Year from the Atlantic Provinces.

To gun club managers in the Atlantic Provinces: It’s time to start thinking about your club’s 2024 ATA shoot schedule. Registered shoot applications are available on www.shootata.com, and completed applications should be forwarded for approval to Janaya Nickerson, Atlantic Provinces secretary. Janaya’s contact info is available on www.shootatlantic.com. Reach out to us if you need any help with the process.

You should have also received a limited number of complimentary ATA memberships for first-time members. If your club hasn’t received yours, contact the ATA office or send me a note, and I will inquire for you.

For those planning their 2024 shoot schedule, here are shoots to consider:

The Vancouver GC in Richmond, BC, will be hosting the 2024 Canadian Trapshooting Championships June 25-29. Shoot information is available on the Canadian Trapshooting Association’s webpage www.shootcanada.ca.

The 2024 Atlantic Provinces ATA Provincial Shoot returns to Newfoundland and the St. John’s R&GC Aug. 28-Sept. 1. Stay tuned to www.shootatlantic.com for the latest updates and information on this year’s shoot.

A complete list of 2024 ATA provincial shoots is also available on www.shootcanada.ca.

AP shooter Barry Turner attended the Autumn Satellite Grand American at the Tucson T&SC in early November. Barry reports that this year’s shoot was a lot of fun with great weather and nice targets. The shoot also marks Barry’s graduation to competing as an ATA senior veteran. Barry first shot at Tucson T&SC some 42 years ago and reports that he has seen the club evolve from a small volunteer led operation into a very sophisticated, professionally run enterprise. Barry also considers the club a premier shooting facility in North America and highly recommends their shoots. For Barry’s full shoot report, check out the Atlantic Province’s APTA Abroad section on our webpage.

For more information on the Atlantic Provinces Trapshooting Association, feel free to contact me at aabassan @gmail.com or visit shootatlantic.com.

Andrea Bassan

ATA Delegate

New Jersey

Again, happy New Year to all of you reading this issue of Trap & Field Well, another new year started on the first, so let us make the most of it.

Rick Batesko from Ground Swipers down in Forked River put together, with Butch and Heather Salomon from Howell TC and Steve Ottrando from Mallard GC in Monroe Township, the first Triangle Shoot. The contestant could start at either of the three clubs and then rotate to the next club of his or her choosing and then to the final club, that he has not shot at yet, finishing the 300-bird singles event. This year’s A class winner, and the shoot high gun, was Charles Lehmann Jr. with 284×300, Bob Jarvis was A runnerup. Christopher Palmer was the B winner, and William Searing was B runnerup. Fred McDonald was C winner, and Gene Ferrence was C runnerup. Richard Luongo was D winner, and Robert Desalvo was D runnerup.

Steve Ottrando from Mallard TC reported that 41 pies were given out during their Thanksgiving Pie Shoot. In addition, free hamburgers and hot dogs were also available to all the contestants.

To all New Jersey readers, the current NJSTA secretary, Tony Pietrofitta, has put in his resignation letter, effective June 2, 2024. If a qualified candidate comes forward before then, Tony would be more than happy to show him or her what it all entails to carry out the post as ATA state association secretary.

Remember, this time of year your local gun club needs your support. When the membership renewal letter comes in, send in the check right away, or better yet, go down and shoot a couple of rounds and pay it then. You will save the cost of the ever-increasing postal fee. The club has fixed costs all year long, and with shooting down due to the cold and rain or snow, cash flow slows drastically.

I see where Ground Swipers has a Winter Festival Shoot scheduled for Jan. 20. Give the club a call for particulars at 609-693-9762.

If you have an idea for an article or just a question, I may be reached at 732-546-7910 or by e-mail at [email protected].

Joe Sissano

ATA Eastern Zone Vice President

New York

Hello from New York State and happy New Year. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and spent plenty of time with loved ones.

I am sorry to say that Roger Buglione of Mt. Pleasant SC passed away July 11. During his career, Roger registered 12,000 singles, 3,750 handicap, and 900 doubles targets. Roger was standing at 22.5 yards. Our deepest sympathies to Roger’s family upon his passing.

The New York State ATA has also learned of two other shooters who have passed away. Ed Mezger, who was on the New York State ATA Board of Directors, passed away Nov. 7. Ed started registering targets in 2020. Charles Snell of LeRoy, NY, passed away this past September. Charles started registering targets in 1979 and was 87 years old. Our deepest sympathies to both gentlemen’s families on their passing.

I am sorry to say that an old friend of mine has passed away. Steve Manley passed away Sept. 24 and was 76 years old. Before moving to Pennsylvania, Steve was the photographer and webmaster for the New York State ATA and did a wonderful job. Our deepest sympathies to Steve’s family on his passing.

Some registered target attainments to be mentioned. Reaching a total of 25,000 singles targets were Jeffrey Ravella, Charles Briwa, Michael Lesniewski and David Urban. Reaching a total of 25,000 handicap targets were Paul Rapoli and Charlie Brush. Reaching a total of 50,00 handicap targets was John Valenti. Finally, reaching a combined total of 100,000 registered targets was Thomas Walter Jr. Congratulations to all these fine shooters for their attainments and keep on shooting.

The 2024 ATA All-American Teams have been announced (based on 2023 performance). I am glad to say that seven New Yorkers have made the teams. On the Lady I first team was Heidi Womer with a total of 1,718 points. On the Lady II second team was Tammy Wildenstein with 1,195 points. On the sub-junior second team was Alex Tucker with 901 points. On the sub-veteran second team was James Flint with 877 points. On the veteran first team was Urban Womer with 1,560 points. Finally, on the senior veteran second team, Keith Miranda with 1,210 points and William Wallis with 997 points. Congratulations to these fine New York shooters.

Please remember that if you are going for All-American points, no matter how many points you have earned at different shoots, the teams are selected for shooters with their highest seven shoots with All-American points earned.

Please stay warm during the winter season. If you are traveling south or out west for the winter, please be careful and travel safely.

If anyone would like to have something written in one of these articles, please contact me at [email protected] or phone me at 585-519-9543. Please stay healthy, safe and in good spirits. May God bless you all.

Dave Cichelli

ATA Delegate

Ontario

Greetings from Ontario, Canada!

As I write this article in late November 2023, we are quickly approaching the American Thanksgiving, scheduled for Nov. 23 (the fourth Thursday of November each year). For Canadians, we have our Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October (Oct. 9 in 2023).

We in Canada celebrate Remembrance Day Nov. 11 each year (this recognized the final end of the Great War, also known as World War I). Armistice finally ended this war on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month (1918).

The USA originally called its Remembrance “Decoration Day” with an early tradition of decorating graves with flowers, wreaths and flags. It started on May 30, 1868, to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers on the Union side, but this quickly expanded to include the decoration of more than 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers who were buried at Arlington National Cemetery. In 1873 New York was the first state to designate Memorial Day as a legal holiday. After World War I, the scope of honoring fallen soldiers expanded to all those who died in all of America’s wars, and in 1971 congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act to be celebrated on the last Monday of May each year. As this article briefly illustrates, our two democracies share similar values: Thanksgiving and Remembrance/Memorial Day. We just celebrate on different dates.

Paul Shaw

ATA Delegate

Alabama

Happy New Year! I hope everyone got everything they wanted for Christmas. With all of the new shotguns and truckloads of shells, I expect to see some real good scores!

Congratulations to John White IV for being selected as a member of the 2024 ATA All-American open second team. Great shooting, John!

With winter upon us, now would be a good time to clean your guns and make any repairs deemed necessary. Also on those real cold days when you are sitting around the fire looking for something to read, get the rulebook out and read it!

Joke of the month: Signs seen on the road: Outside of a vet’s office: My horse’s name is Mayo. Mayo neighs. Outside of a shoe store: Shoe Repair . . . I will heel you, I will save your soul, I will even dye for you. Out on the road: Pilates? Shoot, I thought you said pies and lattes.

Word of the month: Damn: Also expressed as . . . consarn it, dadburnit, dadgummit, dagnabbit, doggone it, I declare, or I’ll be dogged. “Dadgummit! You better not have scratched my bumper.”

Please keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers. Without the men and women of our armed forces protecting this country, we would not be able to enjoy this great sport. When you see a soldier, thank him or her for their service.

If you need my help or have any news to report, contact me at [email protected].

Wayne Sartwell

ATA Delegate

Florida

Hello all from the most Southern, Northern State!

Florida trapshooting is about to begin our shooting season, and by the time you read this, it will be in full swing. Please refer to Gun Club Scores in this issue or shootscoreboard.com for club shoot scores. Thank goodness it is finally cooler.

Recently I have been asked, “How can I make it into the Trap & Field Magazine?” Good question. A few ways come to mind, and the first being you or your gun club representative contact me about your outstanding achievement. Another is by ATA recognition. For example, shooting your first straight or making AA or AAA and the 27-yard line status.

Continuing Cancer Awareness Month (October) The Silver Dollar SC held their annual Shoot for the Cure shoot. This year’s turnout was the largest by far! The weather was perfect; there were more than 45 sponsored teams. Shooters ranged from self-proclaimed experts to the “How do I shoot this thang?” Lots of donations were given, and the auction was a success. Everybody and their grandmother brought confectionary delights for donations, and a couple of pies were auctioned off and brought more than $150 each! The tally is still out, but Bill Miller assured me that this year’s donation to Shoot for the Cure will definitely exceed last year’s check of $45,000. I can’t thank all of the individual folks, but I can list sponsors: National Aviation Academy, Seminole Hardrock Hotel & Casino (Tampa), Karl Flammer Ford, Arrow E Ranch, Equity Lifestyle Properties, GoodGuys Golf Carts, Robertson Electrical Service, Building Point, White Flyer, Trammco Environment Solutions, Legendary Screen Printing & Embroidery, Inter-Bay Electric Company Inc., Federal Ammunitions, Beretta, Fox 13 Tampa Bay, Schaer Development, Abatement & Demolition Services, Central Glass & Windows, the Meyer family, Bascoms Chop House, Valley Bank, Apyx Medical Corp., Bunch of Birdies, Oschere Consultants, Astorquiza Family. 2 for 1 Delivery, Elite Air, Century Bank, Park & Eleazer Construction, Silver Seitz, Bill Currie Ford, Team Merica, the Donaldson family, Faithful Delivery, All State Title Company, Billy’s Stone Crab, First Security Mortgage, Southern Lending, Tina Hoover / ReMax, Qualified Services Corp., Ruffolo Hooper & Associates, Elite Electrical Solutions, C.R.I., Avila Country Club, Clenzoil, Make a Difference. Thanks again, all!

The 2023 FTA Fall Championship went off without a hitch (well, there was a small hitch on Day 1, but we got by) Attendance was up from the previous year by the following, resident shooters, +18%, non-resident shooters +150%, You heard right, 150%! You could not have ordered nicer weather. The biggest takeaway you should get from this shoot is, “I won everything!” I won resident and non-resident, everything! Of course I’m lying, I am just checking if you are really reading this stuff. Somewhere in this magazine there are complete results of who did what (no, my name is nowhere to be seen), but below are a few highlights: event winners: Event 1 Prelim Singles, junior, Cody Meredith; AA, Jack Schumpert; A, Hidalgo Rangel; B, Donald Kerce; C, C. P. Burke; D, Peter Redfern. Event 2 Prelim Handicap, winner, Steven Hebert, junior, Cody Meredith. Event 3 Championship Singles, winner, Nancy Patterson; Lady II, Lorrie Bumsted Valois; Lady I, Roselle Gainer; senior vet, Jake Jacobs; veteran, Paul Becker; sub-veteran, Henry Gainer; junior, Meredith; sub-junior, Emily Gribbin; AA, Hidalgo Rangel; A, Lewis Knack; B, Thomas White; C, Shane Platt; D, Arthur Berkoski. Event 4 Championship Doubles, winner, Matthews DeBord; Lady II, Patterson; Lady I, Karen Harrington; senior vet, Patrick Larsen; veteran, Lewis Knack; sub-veteran, Adolfo Miliani; junior, Meredith; sub-junior, Emily Gribbin; A, Jimmie Ballard; B, Thomas Harrington; C, Ben Schumpert; D, Fernando Salvador. Event 5 Championship Handicap, winner, Henry Gainer, junior, Meredith; sub-junior, Gribbin. HOA, AA, Meredith; A, Patterson; B, Henry Gainer; C, Platt; D, Roselle Gainer.

Congratulations to husband and wife Henry and Roselle Gainer for winning the husband-and-wife challenge race and doing so well in all of the events. Congratulations to Nancy Patterson for breaking a 100 for the first half of Saturday’s Singles Championship and to Cody Meredith for breaking a 100 in the second half. I would like to give a thank you to all who participated. A thank you to Silver Dollar SC for hosting the shoot and a thank you to the Florida Trapshooters Association for all of their hard work putting the program together.

ATA Rule of the Month:

SECTION II INFORMATION FOR SHOOTERS

PROCEDURE FOR JOINING ATA

ANNUAL MEMBERS

Application for Annual Membership may be made online at www.shootata.com by following the membership instructions and payment method or at any registered shoot by filling out an application and the payment of $20 dues to the ATA. Sub-junior, junior and junior gold annual members shall pay $12 dues to the ATA. A temporary receipt will be given to the shooter upon receipt of a proper application. The temporary receipt should be retained as evidence of payment and be used in lieu of an Average Card until the Average Card is received. The ATA will issue an annual Average Card in the normal course of business. This card will be marked to indicate the shooter’s handicap yardage. Full membership rights are effective upon receipt by the member of the Average Card.

Annual members have all the shooting rights and privileges of life members but may hold no office in the ATA. Annual members, who have been active members (e.g., having registered targets) in any two (2) target years, are entitled to vote for the state/provincial Delegate and Alternate(s), at the annual business meeting of the state or province.

Annual memberships are renewable by mail or at any registered shoot. To renew by mail, send your complete name, address, including zip code, and $20 ($12 for sub-juniors, juniors or junior gold) to ATA, 1105 E. Broadway, PO Box 519, Sparta, IL 62286.

LIFE MEMBERSHIPS

Life memberships are obtained by the submission of a properly completed application and the payment of $500. Senior life memberships for those 65 years and older are $250. Life members pay no annual dues thereafter. Upon approval of the application, the ATA will issue a Life Membership Certificate and the life membership is effective upon receipt by the member. Life members, provided they are members of the state/provincial association are entitled to vote for their state Delegates and Alternate Delegates to the ATA. Only life members may hold office in the ATA.

Please note: If a shooter pays dues at a shoot, he/she must retain his/her receipt until receipt of an ATA Average Card. Unless the shooter can show evidence of membership fee payment, he/she may have to pay again. Shooters must record all scores before receipt of an ATA card and then transfer these scores to the new card.

If a shooter does not receive an ATA card within four (4) weeks, he/she should send a letter to the ATA, 1105 E. Broadway, PO Box 519, Sparta, IL 62286, advising the ATA that an application was made on a certain date and give ATA the name of the gun club that received the application and payment.

I will try to keep all of you informed and entertained with what’s going on in Florida. I want to especially recognize shooters and clubs.

My e-mail is [email protected].

Thanks for the opportunity to serve.

Mike Reynolds

ATA Delegate

Mississippi

The calendar has cranked over to a new year. Wow, how fast time flies these days. It seems only a few days ago we were finishing up our state shoot, and then “pop” and we were off to the Grand and “snap crackle” and it was Christmas. Time stands still for no one, but, boy, sure wish it would slow down a little. We have been in the 2024 target year for five months, and now we are rolling into the 2024 calendar year. I hope everyone is staying well and registering targets as you can.

The winter months are difficult on our Mississippi shooters, the same is true for other mid-south states. While the weather may be snowier and colder in other regions, it is not wetter or wetter/colder/wetter/windier/wetter than here. Speaking of wetter—we really need the “wetter” part of that equation, as we are still in a severe drought. In fact, we will see a lot of pine trees die (or dead already) and many hard woods (oak, hickory, etc.) that will not leaf back out next spring due to the severity of the drought.

As you can, I encourage you to get out and register as many targets this winter as you can. Doing so helps your local clubs and helps build your target count for the year. As far as I know, targets count to avoid penalty class/yardage for the 2024 Grand American will most likely be the same (or very close to the same) as the 2023 Grand—1,000 singles, 1,000 doubles and 1,000 handicap in the current target year.

I know the Mississippi State Shoot target count to avoid penalty will be the same as last year: 1,000 singles, 500 doubles or 1,000 handicap targets in the current and previous target years combined. We are very lenient for target numbers, and thus all shooters should make it, if they get out and hustle a little. Get on out there and support your local clubs and build your target counts in the process. If you look around, there are several excellent places to shoot ATA targets in Mississippi: Capitol GC in central Mississippi, Starkville GC in northeast Mississippi, and Coast R&PC in south Mississippi all have monthly trapshoots set on the ATA calendar. Visit the ATA site for dates and programs.

Again, I am going to remind you about equipment maintenance. Do not put off any needed adjustments, additions, repairs and/or cleaning your guns and equipment may need. Do not wait until just before important shooing events to catch up on preventative maintenance, cleaning and lubrication. Having things ready will generally result in a more harmonious outcome.

The 2024 Mississippi State Trapshoot will be held May 23-26 at Capitol GC located between Jackson and Clinton. Preparation of the program has started, and shoot plans are being made. Please make plans to attend and support the shoot and the efforts of those working on the shoot.

Everyone be safe, and I look forward to seeing you on the trapline.

Will McCarty

ATA Delegate

South Carolina

Here’s the big news in case you haven’t heard it. Both our Hall of Fame Shoot and the state shoot are moving for 2024. Moving both date of shoot and location.

The Hall of Fame Shoot will be April 6-7 at Greenville GC, Conestee,SC.

The state shoot will be April 17-21 at the North Carolina homegrounds at Bostic, NC.

The reason for the changes were totally business. If you want more info, talk to any of the board of directors of the SCTA.

Our state shoot will be 1,300 targets, so shooters will have the maximum opportunity to earn All-American points.

Our shoot will be in conjunction with the North Carolina Hall of Fame Shoot. North Carolina will provide trophies for NC residents only for the 200 singles on Saturday and the doubles and handicap on Sunday.

All other shooters will vie for our in-state and out-of-state trophies.

I hope you can attend. There will be many more camper spaces and plenty of parking.

In the achievement department, Garry Welch has reached 25,000 singles. Garry recently earned a full yard in a handicap event in Alabama’s Rebel Yell Shoot. Good shooting, Garry.

When you read this, winter will have arrived, so Big 50 and monthly shoots will depend on the weather. Living here in South Carolina gives us a good chance of good weather, so put your sweatshirt on and go shoot. Get your mandatory targets, so no penalty yardage and to qualify for our State Team.

April will be a full month of shooting with our Hall of Fame Shoot, the state shoot 10 days later then the Georgia State Shoot the following week. Make your plans and get a big pile of shells. I hope to see you at all three shoots.

Jim Faber

ATA Delegate

Tennessee

Happy New Year. It’s time to plan our 2024 shooting vacation for the Southern Zone.

The 44th annual Southern Satellite Grand American is March 10-17 at the Silver Dollar SC in Odessa, FL.

Florida State Shoot is March 19-24 at Odessa. South Carolina State Shoot is April 17-21 at Bostic, NC. Georgia State Shoot is April 25-28 at Covington. Mississippi State Shoot is May 23-26 at Jackson. Alabama State Shoot is May 30-June 2 at Mathews (AIM is May 29). North Carolina State Shoot is June 4-9 at Bostic. Tennessee State Shoot is June13-16 at Nashville, TN (AIM is June 11-12). Kentucky State Shoot is July 3-7 at Berea (AIM is July 2). Virginia State Shoot is July 3-7 at Stephenson. West Virginia State Shoot is July 10-14 at Stephenson, VA. The ATA Southern Zone Shoot is July 19-21 at Berea, KY; Biloxi, MS; and Odessa, FL.

The 26th annual Dixie Satellite Grand American is Sept. 24-29 at Bostic, NC.

Read the rulebook, please.

For more info, check out our website shootatatn.com. You can reach me at [email protected].

Billy Cook

ATA President

Louisiana

A small group showed up for Red Chute’s Nov. 5 shoot, but a fun time was had by the few. Ed Gunter, Sean Taylor, Mike Lawler and I enjoyed shooting singles and doubles, which made for a quick day.

Toby Bancroft Memorial Gun Club, TBMGC, had a nice turnout of 17 for their Nov. 11 shoot. It was a cloudy, cool and windy day. Donny Sanders won the singles with 96, which was a very good score with the wind. Steven Skipper was runnerup with 91. Donny also won handicap with 87, followed by Dan Booth with 85 (sub-vet) and Steven Skipper (runnerup) with 84. Doubles scores were on the low side, so I won’t mention them. We had several new members show up for their first registered shoot. They were Connor Starks, Ryan Starks, Kevin Fuller, Reed Whitman, Mason Frasier, Hayden Frost and Eli Bailey. Welcome to the trapshooting community. A shout-out goes to Danny Batten, Todd Dumas, Kevin Fuller, Donny Sanders, Amie Skipper and several others who pitched in and helped with the scoring, loading and hull collecting efforts; our volunteers always make the work portion of the shoots easier for all the others.

TBMGC is a gun club in West Monroe that was started by Toby Bancroft Sr., the patriarch of the prominent Bancroft family here in Monroe. It currently hosts the Louisiana State Shoot the first weekend in May. It has two dedicated trapfields and two trap overlays on the two available skeet fields. Five-stand is available. For its monthly shoots, normally the second Tuesday of the month, it has a small but dedicated group of shooters. The background is tall, mature pines, which most of our shooters seem to like. Join us for a monthly shoot or make plans to attend our state shoot here (make plans early, as participation is limited due to our smaller size). It’ll be Louisiana’s 100th state shoot.

We here in Louisiana hope you had a great holiday season and are starting to shift your gaze to all the upcoming great shoots in 2024.

Check out our website, www.latrap.org. There’s information on registered shoots of interest to our shooters, the scores/winners of our Louisiana shoots, and information on all the gun clubs in the state that host registered shoots. Feel free to drop me a note to [email protected] if you have any news or comments you would like highlighted.

Jim Jenkins

ATA Delegate

Missouri

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! What are you thankful for? This great nation is and has been blessed with so much that’s taken for granted that we don’t stop to think about it often enough. One of the many things that I am grateful for is all those who spend countless hours running and maintaining the facilities that we shoot at, some with no compensation other than an occasional thank you! We have reached the time of the year when most of the registered shooting has come to a halt. There are still many gun clubs that throw targets during the winter months in league and fun shoots so that you may keep the cobwebs out of the barrel of your favorite target-breaking machine. For those who have the time and resources to travel to the warmer climates, please don’t rub it in our faces when we are digging out of the snow drifts this winter. Ha ha!

One of the last large shoots for the calendar year is the Autumn Grand in Tucson, AZ. This year there were nine shooters from Missouri who made the trip. Congratulations to the following shooters who won trophies this year: Anna Rawe, eight; Justin Ballantyne, four; Dan Alspach, two; David Blum, two; Troy Ellis, one.

Each year the ATA recognizes the best of the best as the All-American Teams. On behalf of the Missouri Trapshooters Association BOD, I would like to congratulate the following Missouri shooters wh made the 2024 AA teams: open first, Zach Nannini; Lady I first, Anna Rawe; Lady I second, Hannah Hopson; sub-junior second, Grady Fallert; junior first, Jordan Ziercher; junior second, Andrew Herbig; junior gold second, Hunter Spruill; sub-vet first, David Deitch; veteran first, Steven J. Fuller; senior vet second, Gary Gooch; chair, Ziggy Tkaczenko.

By the time you read this, the Christmas celebrations will most likely be over for another year, and we will be in the new year. With the winter weather and limited opportunities for some, it is the time of the year when some get the winter blues. If you know someone who has limited opportunities to get out, this would be a great time to reach out to them, sometimes a phone call is all that it takes to cheer them up.

NKJV Philippians 2—3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interest, but also for the interest of others.

If anyone has anything to report on or has any concerns, please contact me at [email protected] or 816-863-9003.

Shoot often, shoot well and be safe!

Stephen Ricketts

           ATA Delegate

Texas

Howdy from Texas!

I hope everyone had a merry Christmas and a happy New Year! I am looking forward to 2024, and I hope you are too. Things get a little slow this time of the year, so I will keep this short.

I would like to start off by congratulating our Texas shooters who achieved All-American: senior veteran first team: Marvin Allbright, Larry Tagtmeyer; veteran second team: Troy Collier, Jeff H. Webb; sub-veteran second team: Billy Hopson; Lady I second team: Jennifer Rutger; Lady II first team: Yaani-Mai Gaddy, Patty Todd; Lady II second team: Jerri Webb; junior gold second team: Seth Cooper.

The Zone II shoot held in El Paso was a success, and we could not have asked for better weather. Attendance there is always unpredictable since it is the extreme west end of Texas. If you look at a map, it’s really more like central New Mexico. What helps attendance is that El Paso makes a good pit stop and warm- up shoot for Texas shooters traveling to Tucson for the Autumn Grand. Texas had 44 shooters attend the Autumn Grand, with many of them taking home some hardware. A detailed list can be viewed on the TTA website at shoottta.org. Yaani-Mai Gaddy has been very vigilant on keeping it up to date with all of the current “happenings and goings on.”

I also need to mention that the TTA offers life memberships for a one-time fee of $50. Although not required to participate in an ATA shoot in Texas, it is appreciated. If you would like to become a TTA life member, please contact Randy Boeding, our state secretary. His contact info can be found on the TTA website or contact me, and I can pass it along to you.

As always, I would like to encourage you to volunteer at your local club and support youth shooters. Should you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me or one of the current TTA officers. We will be glad to help when possible.

Thanks again for your support, and I will see you at the next one!

Billy Hopson

ATA Delegate

Arizona

Congratulations 2023 Arizona State Trapshooting Team members for the 2023 target year. Note: Age-based categories are defined in the ATA Rulebook under Section IV. K. Special Categories. Junior gold is included in the men’s team. Men’s target requirements are 2,000 singles, 2,000 handicap and 1,000 doubles. Target requirements for the women’s, veteran and senior vet teams are 1,500 singles, 1,000 handicap and 500 doubles. Sub-junior and junior target requirements are 500 singles, 300 handicap and 200 doubles.

Men’s/open—captain Chris Cusumano, .897; Nathanial Pizinger, .8900; Michael Petrisko, .8894; Gregory Spiczka, .8663. Women’s—captain Kaitlin Quan, .9095; Denise Shute, .8565; Allisen Reese, .8474; Tracey Petrisko, .7583. Sub-junior—captain Jackson Link, .8462; Avery Kaiser, .8289. Junior—captain Alexis Fernan, .9107; Wyatt Pizinger, .8798; Christopher Reese, .8596; Gary Hargis, .8535; Eli Angel, .8057. Sub-veteran—captain David Landwerlen, .9302; Don Williamson, .9233; Curtis Bietz, .9079; Steve Haynes, .9008; Darrell Goen, .8815. Veteran—captain Jimmy Heller, .9364; Walter Allen, .9230; Max Peevyhouse, .8980; Darvin Thomas, .8964; Steven Stella, .8842. Senior vet—captain Tim Robb, .9500; Jim Copsey, .9225; James Sharp, .9165; Fred Frazier, .9015.

Gunner Manterola was Rookie of the Year with .8664.

           Don Williamson

           ATA Delegate

Idaho

As you read this, it’s probably cold outside since it’s January. But the good news is that the days are getting longer, and before you know it, the season will be upon us. Here in Idaho the Camas Prairie League has started, and you can look up scores and see how all the gun clubs are doing.

Well, the State Teams have been selected, so here’s sneak preview of who will be recognized at the state shoot.

First team—Grant Williams; Michael Houser; Bruce Bradley; Russell Pierce; Kyle Perry; Zane Kent, sub-junior; Joseph Pestarino, junior; Jim Bauer, veteran; Del McDaniel, senior vet. Second team—Scott Abo; Kent Sakamoto; George Stevens; Alex Bringhurst; Chester Carter; Corbin Dayley, sub-junior; Robert Renteria, junior; Leonard Wehking, veteran; Walter Storey, senior vet. Ladies’—Gwendolyn Houser, Kelsey Wickham, Lahoma Turner, Kelly Kennedy, Krys George.

High-average leaders: singles: men: Michael Houser, .9842; women: Wickham, .9692. Handicap: men: Williams, .9557; women: Wickham, .9193. Doubles: men: Williams, .9635; women: Gwendolyn Houser, .9100.

Congratulations to these shooters. Now we know what to work for this year!

Leonard Wehking

ATA Delegate

Utah

The calendar year is coming to a close. Thanksgiving just finished, and the holiday season is upon us. Utah weather hasn’t been freezing so far, a sad fact for the skiing enthusiast.

The Autumn Grand in Tucson ended mid-November, and Utah had an excellent showing, with some good scores posted by our usual suspects, Joe Sudbury, Sean Hawley, Grayson Stuart and Chris Kinder.

I want to highlight one of our young, up-and-coming shooters this month. Madi (Madilynne) Scott. Madi has been a regular at most Utah shoots the past year, as well as the Autumn Grand in Tucson. She is grateful that her mother, Heather, is willing to take time off work and take her to all these shoots. Madi is working hard to succeed, and her mother is working hard to help her succeed.

Madi started shooting clay pigeons for a local high school club and registered her first ATA targets in 2023. That year she registered 3,700 targets. She has already shot 3,600 targets this year, so she is on pace to do great things if “the good Lord is willing and the creek doesn’t rise!” That phrase is some of the Southern colloquialism I learned from my mom, more of my useless trivia. I digress; let’s get back to Madi.

In 2023 she ended the target year by shooting the 1,000-bird doubles marathon held at the Spanish Fork GC. That is quite a commitment for a new shooter!

As a native of Kaysville, UT, she is a senior at Davis High. Her father Paul and older brother Mitchell got her started in shooting clay pigeons using hand-throwers. She followed her brother’s footsteps and shot trap on a high school team.

One of the main reasons Madi joined the high school team was so she could spend as much time with her father as she could. Paul, who was coaching the team, suffered a severe heart attack (thankfully, he survived). Madi didn’t want to miss out on any father-daughter time. After joining the team, Madi loved shooting and tried to do it as much as possible. That is when she joined the ATA.

Madi shoots a Browning 725 Sporting but would like to upgrade to something else. She shoots Federal Top Gun shells, no reloads. Her best score is 98 in singles at Spanish Fork, which also hosted her favorite shoot, the Rocky Mountain Open. At Golden Spike GC in September, she posted the high score in handicap and earned her first yardage punch.

Her goals are to shoot her first 50 straight, get an athletic shooting scholarship, and make the State Team. Like many people, she says the best part of shooting is the friends she has made and all the incredible people she has met.

With her ambition and drive, I am sure Madi will do well in the sport.

           Ed Wehking

           ATA Past President