Below is an article copied from the Field & Game Federation of Australia’s June Newsletter. It details some important points and considerations for field designers and target setters. It was written by Ray McFarlane, arguably one of the most experienced and hard working field designers we have in the Oceania, possibly the world.
Target Setting.
What I have learned from many years of setting traps and targets for major events is the following important points re setting of traps and targets.
1. Planning the position of traps and the types of various trajectories that you wish to present 2. The type of trap necessary to throw the planned target
3. What type of target ie. Normal, battue, rabbit midi, super mini. 4. What colour target you wish to use 5. Should a particular target be thrown to show the head or belly of the target
6. Safety
1. The first thing is to plan the various trajectories ie. Going away, incoming, crossing, quartering, elevation whether up or down.
Try to get a even spread of each type of trajectory. Take into account where the sun will be throughout the whole of the days shooting.
2. What type of trap can I use to throw the best target, do I need a left or right hand trap, do I need a trap that can be turned to throw either the top or the bottom of a target to the shooter.
3. Select the best positions to throw your exotic targets, there should be a minimum of 30% of exotic targets used
4. The colour of target chosen is crucial, why would you throw a coloured target that is thrown all the way above the horizon. This is one of the areas that is of most concern to me, for those with colour blindness the orange target in the sky is the most difficult to see, yet many target setters continue to throw them in this way.
5. When a target is thrown against a background of a hill, trees or scrub, yes it should be a coloured target, preferably with the top of the target turned to the shooter.
If the target is thrown through the sky it should be thrown to show the belly of the target to the shooter. When the belly of the target is presented to the shooter it is usually very easy to see, as the sun cannot shine and cause glare on the belly of the target.
Black targets are the best in the sky. The longer the target the more belly that should be shown. Edge targets should not be thrown over 35 metres
6. Care should be taken when throwing targets with elevation, that show the top of the target to the shooter. When they curl inwards at the end of their flight, they can with a change of wind float back and cause a dangerous situation at the next stand. Targets that are thrown to show the belly always curl away from the shooter and do not cause the same safety problems.
The main aim must be to throw targets that while being challenging, are visible to all shooters.
Refereeing
When the World Championships were in New Zealand they used a Voice Release System to operate the release of the target from the trap.
Because it released immediately the shot was fired, the report target was on its way well before the fastest shooter could turn to it.
Subsequently I made the manufacturers of the system put a delay in between the shot and the release of the report target that equated to the human delay.
It is now creeping into our sport that some shooters on the release buttons are anticipating the shot and getting the report target into the air virtually at the same time as the sound of the shot at the first target. The release of the report target should not depend on the fast reflex of one button pusher to another.
Do not anticipate the shot, wait until you actually hear it and you will then see the human delay that ensures all shooters get a fair release of the report target.
We are not shooting trap, it is Sporting Clays.
Ray McFarlane NCTD