2025 PA State TrapShoot Attendance- why so low?

Why was the attendance so low? Was it because of the weather?

 

$$$$ like all other big shoots NC state shot attendance was abysmal

 

☔️

 

Lots of rain other big shoots the same week

 

As in many changing trends, there never seems to be a single answer. Basically, trapshooting is becomming a dieing sport, simply because the participants are dieing off and the cost of operations has skyrocketed. Now, add to that, the shooting population in the northeast is fleeing south and west because of taxes, liberal government and crazy gun laws. For instance you can no longer take a semiautomatic shotgun into Massachusetts. Targets have hit $50 a hundred and a single round of ATA trap is gonna cost ~$100 depending upon ammo cost, never mind transportation, lodging and food. Then, after winning an event, you get a painted block of wood with a gun company logo stamprd on it. ( RE: the HOA trophy at this past Southern Grand) PSSA's attempt at drawing crowds by rotating banks seems to have had a positive effect upon shooters, but didn't help with attendance, which was the lowest in history...by a lot. Maybe if the ATA tried luring us geezers back with a Super Sr Vet class and eliminated at least one kids class, Jr Gold & maybe Sub Jr, got rid of AAA, it would free up some resources. Our clubs in Southern PA and MD, with our 50 target leagues and nice payouts, not to mention zero labor costs are burying ATA shoots, attendance wise and otherwise. On any given Sunday, I can shoot three different leagues in Northern MD with straight 50 pots in the thousands of dollars... with no 1099's. So, unless there's some mighty big changes, you can stick a fork in the ATA

 

Proof you never shot at Vandalia! It's not a changing trend. I would save my money for a month to shoot at my State Shoot or Vandalia. The only three things that changed were easier targets, faster loads, and the WSRC.

When the gas lines were a block long shooters flocked to Vandalia and Elysburg.

The year the steel mills closed in PA and OH we saved what we could and shot for big money.

I rememer the high inflation of the 80s. Yep. Vandalia and Elysburg was packed.

Then there was dotcom crash. Sheesh that sucked too. Those were all terrible times.

That was the Golden Age of Trapshooting?

Then we moved to the gun hate state. The end!

 

What is your delegate doing to make targets more challenging? Is the Grand still at the WSRC?

Why is the ATA paying over 200k to its manager?

I earned a degree with winnings from trap shooting. I don't have a dog in the fight. The youth have their own successful programs. The ATA is exactly what its members deserve. It is the result of your delegate selection.

The interesting events are the non-registered calcuttas and the youth events.

See you at the SCTP Nationals at the Cardinal Center. 4000 in a single event?

 

More classes? That isn't the answer. Mandatory reductions and a handicap system that works would require wider targets. That could help. No money. No shooters.

 

I agree, Jersey. I'm thinking, drop Sub Jr, Sub Vet, and Jr Gold categories and AAA class. Then add Super Sr Vet to entice the seniors back into the game. PA (quietly) instituted the Jack Deisher rule, allowing Sr Vet to shoot 1/2 of the 200 target events on a targets only basis so they don't have to sit out those events.

 

Take a look at the weather conditions for the entire shoot…..weather conditions pretty much sucked…..pretty hard. to blame that on anybody else ‍♂️

 

Dumb ass leadership in the ATA for 30 years. You get what you deserve.

 

Weather was not good rained a lot. a big sporting clays shoot in Ohio.
I shot 5 events shot bad. had fun talking to friends and relaxing at the camper. The youth events were not as full as last year but still a good turn out.

 

Nailed it! Why would I want to spend $100 to win some small trinket that has no value? When I can shoot a hundred targets at our club for half that amount , the investment doesn't substantiate the return. It's like why would I gamble losing $20 on a Lewis purse to try and win $30, where $20 of it is my own money! So many times I've heard that because entry's are down trophy expenditures have to be adjusted accordingly, and so it snowballs. The ATA doesn't seem to have a clue or a care, just ride the dieing horse till it's completely dead! I commend everyone involved in the Backfence Shoot-Out Held last Friday at the Ohio State shoot. I hope other states take notice of how it has grown and probably will continue to grow. I still think a new organization needs to be formed , one where promotion is a greater concern then how expensive the newest presidents trap gun given to him will cost!

 

MOE, starting a new organization is not the answer. taking back the one we now have is. get an honorable person in each state on the BOD, and then remove the e.c. of the riff-raff, and you have your new organization. Then set rules in place so that the ATA can never again be taken over by misfits. Roger C.
COMPLETELY DRAIN THE SWAMP, IS THE ONLY WAY

 

Either way, a change is needed!

 

I think target and shell costs are the biggest reason attendance is low. I attended the PA state shoot for the first time this summer. I shot a couple prelim events, and it was great. Hot, humid for sure, hard on a guy from the dry desert of Central WA. Targets were great, great environment, great shoot. So glad I got to go. Hope to go back. Hope to bring some of the heavy hitters from the PNW with me!

 

The only way to reduce target costs is revamp the trophy criteria. It’s a very small percentage of shooters today that know about the Money days. The non-registered shooting and options are what is thriving. Our group of shooting buddies has changed our ways and we only shoot the last 4 days now rather than a full week. No, we aren’t trophy shooters but we enjoy shooting.

 

Entry fee's are becoming ridiculous and many new shooters have little interest

 

Entry fees for a 5 stand/sporting shoot in my area are $70 for a 100 targets, no trophies, no options, Trap's a lot cheaper.

 

Not only are they ridiculous, they offer very little reward for the expenditure. Gone are the days of winning silver tea sets and trophys to be proud of. Now it's high target prices and trinkets.

 

I’ve paid a lot more than $70/100 for sporting clays- but it’s usually more fun shooting, too.

 

THE target manufacturer needs some competition in the clay target business. The shooters are paying dearly for that monopoly. Flame away…

 

If the ATA wants to see attendance bounce back, they either need to make events more rewarding or more affordable—or both. Otherwise, shooters will just stick to the leagues and non-registered events that actually make sense financially

 

70 is cheap for 100 targets. I pd 84.00 for a 50 target shoot 2 months ago. 100 target shoots are 125.00 and up.

 

Did they move the shoot to Sparta? I thought that was the only reason shoot attendance was down.

 

The reason attendance has been low since the day that place opened in ILLnews is because it
SUCKS