the cost of specialty targets - Clay Shooting USA

TARGETCOSTSstations so they need more traps,and/or are shooters themselvesbuying traps at a respectable clipfor their own practice? The answermay be all of the above and more.At Promatic I first talked withAndy Perkins. He confirms thatsome of their traps are up in price,some as much as $150 comparedto two years ago. Their leastexpensive trap is the Elite at $800,while their Super Sporter 8 is seenmost often at clay courses. This isa tilt and turn model with highcapacity at $3095.I had a particularly interestingreport from Promatic’s headhoncho, Julian Coy. He told methat over the last couple of yearsthere has been a significantincrease in cost of the rawmaterials used in their traps(probably other trapmanufacturers are experiencingthe same problem). Such risingcosts are mainly associated withmetals used in trap manufacture –like steel, alloy, copper andNEW FROM PROMATIC, THEIRDOWNHILL THROWER. THISCOMPLIMENTS THEIR CURRENTRANGE OF SPECIALTY TRAPS.stainless steel. World metal priceshave gone up – and seem to beconsistently rising. Coy went on,“We’ve done our best to shelter ourcustomers from these increases,but to give one example, we fithigh grade stainless steel throwingplates to all our commercial trapsto avoid rust and pitting. The costof that stainless has more thandoubled in the last 12 months.“Some of our trap prices haveremained static, while others haverisen. However, remember that theaverage commercial customer willmake our traps last 10 years, andsome stretch this to 20 years. If atrap can throw 35,000 targets ayear, the added cost is one 400th ofa cent, hardly significant or evenmeasurable“The increased costs of targetslike rabbits, battues and others areof more concern than trap priceincreases. We don’t want to seespecialty targets disappearing fromthe competition scene – or eventhe league or practice sector.”Here’s what Promatic hasdone to help range ownersoffset rising target costs.● The company has anew counting systemthat offers so muchmore control overtarget costs. Cluboperators can charge adifferent rate for rabbits or minis,for example. Clubs can charge, asan example, 30 cents for a standardand 35 cents for a battue or rabbit.Further, different rates can becharged to members, guests andnon-members – and not only forsporting but the other claytarget games as well. Coy saysthat customers who haveimplemented their PromaticClaymate system report reducedwaste and revenue increases of 30– 40 percent. He thinks this systemis the best way for any shootingground to fundamentally changeits financial position for the better.It is for the good of everyone in thesport to have profitable clubs.● Rather than pay for moreexpensive specialty targets,Promatic is trying to get more outof standard clays with theinnovative technology they buildinto their machines. Recently thiscompany introduced a SportingDoubles Thrower, a DownhillThrower and a Ranger ChandelleRabbit – which can flip a standardclay mid-air to present a totallydifferent bird. These traps allowtarget setters to produce a muchwider range of presentations whilestill using cheaper standardtargets.● Much of Promatic’s research anddevelopment goes into what Coycalls “Zero no birds.” It has simplybecome too expensive for cluboperators to have target breakage.This is particularly true of rabbits,minis and battues.● When it comes to the mini target,the company has traps with theirown specific mini carousels, knifeedges and let-down ramps todramatically reduce breakage.How about sales? Coy says,“Large projects have slowed, butthat sales slack has been picked upby smaller clubs increasingtheir spending. Several of ourtraps have seen dramatic growthwhile demand for others hasdeclined. Customers want value,and in the current marketwants financial help. That’swhy we have launchedPromatic Commercial Lending toprovide flexible financing for clubsthat are finding traditional banksunresponsive. The market isdifficult to read, but I think we willend the year with around 10percent growth, which is lowerthan the 15 percent growth we sawin 2007 – but still points to ahealthy industry.”DIFFERENT PRESENTATIONSAn important factor with trapselection, as far as specialty targetsgo, is to choose traps that arecapable of throwing multiple targettypes. Purchasing a trap that canonly throw so-called standardtargets severely limits the interestthat a club can create for itscustomers.At Atlas Traps I talked withJohn Cere and Scott Manspeaker.This company markets four trapmodels. They have not increasedprices since January 1, 2007. Allfour of their target throwers, theAT400, AT250, AT50 and thePatriot will throw standard, midiTHE ATLAS AT250 HOLDS 250 BIRDS,HAS A COMMERCIAL GEAR MOTOR, A75-FOOT RELEASE CORD AND COMESWITH A FIVE-YEAR WARRANTY.48 C L AYS H O O T I N G U S A

and battue targets. By the end ofthis year they hope to able to throwmini 60s from the same models.Also later this year, Atlas will havea rabbit/teal/chandelle model toadd to their offerings.CLUB COMMENTSam and Frieda Lancaster werethe first club owners I talked toabout rising shooting costs. Theyrun Claythorne Lodge inColumbus, Kansas, home of manyBig Blasts over the years. Samsays shooting is always off atClaythorne in July and August, butthe summer of 2008 saw fewershooters than ever. Practiceshooting up until July and Augustof this year has remained fairlyconstant, but I was told that thisparticipation needs to increase.The target thrown most often atClaythorne is the White FlyerPheasant (standard). Not only is aharder standard target better forthrowing faster and longer birdswithout breakage (more springpressure), they also hold up betterin outside storage or when beingtrucked to individual sportingstations. The Lancasters arehoping they will not have to cutback on the throwing of specialtytargets, but it is more expensive tothrow most of them, so it might beconsidered in time.Chuck Frazier is at Hunter’sPointe Sporting Clays nearWashington, North Carolina. He’sboth a range owner and a targetsetter. Frazier says there has beenno increase passed along toshooters so far at Hunter’s Pointe.“One reason for that is becausespecialty targets comprise onlyabout 10 percent of the targets wethrow – and I think this is true atmany ranges.”He has a truck that he takes toshoots where he is going to set thetargets – in which he can carry asmany as 50 traps. For specialtytargets he carries more traps thatthrow midi 90mm targets than anyother. His target costs are about 50cents more per box of midis –compared to standard targets – but144 midis are in the box(compared with 135 standardtargets per box). Consequently,midis can be thrown for about thesame price as standards.However, at his Hunter’s Pointehe says maintenance costs arereally skyrocketing. He uses dieselin his grass mowing machines, has alot of grass to cut, and during someperiods of the year has to cut twice aWHILE SHOOTERS BEMOAN THE RISING COSTOF TRAVEL, HOTELS, ENTRY FEES ANDAMMUNITION, GROUNDS AND CLUBS AREALSO FACING INFLATORY COST PRESSURESTHAT INCLUDE FUEL COSTS, MAINTENANCE,TARGETS AND TRAP INVESTMENT.50 C L AYS H O O T I N G U S A

week. He thinks the cost of shootingwill go up a dollar or two per roundof 50 – but this will be more tooffset increasing maintenancecosts than specialty target costs.Mike McAlpine, formerly theNSCA Chief Shooting Instructor, isin constant demand as a targetsetter. He reckons that throwingspecialty midi 90mm targets is nodifferent from a cost standpointthan throwing standard birds sincethe costs are so similar – just asChuck Frazier advised. Mikedoesn’t like throwing mini 60mmtargets, he says most folks cannotsee them, plus these little targetsare very influenced by wind –which can vary during a multipleday championship. “Bob Bristerwas one of my best friends – andhe had his share of eye problemslater in life. When I set targets I’dask for Bob’s input. If he could seethem – most any shooter could! Ienjoy throwing battues far more.They’re easy to see and can bethrown in so many different ways,”Mike explained.McAlpine was setting targets atthe recent Boomer Esiason AllAmerican Sporting ClaysChampionship & World FITASCChallenge at Elk Creek HuntClub when we talked. In 2007they threw numerous battues atthat tournament – but far fewerbattues were thrown this year.Because of cost? Probably.So – the picture is not all bleakfor the future of our sport. ClayTOUGH TIMEStarget shooting will survive. Wemay see some participants dropout. We may see others shoot less.We may see some travel less. Butclubs all over America are going tocontinue to throw fun andchallenging targets.WHAT COST?So there you have it. While shootersbemoan the rising cost of travel,hotels, entry fees and ammunition,grounds and clubs are also facinginflatory cost pressures thatinclude fuel costs, maintenance,targets and trap investment. Just aswe shooters look to ‘reduce’ ourcosts of shooting in this difficulteconomic period, club owners,target setters and Big Blastorganizers are sure to want toreduce their costs (if only to holdcurrent prices). Lets hope its not atthe expense of specialty targets.Nick Sisley can be contacted atnicksisley@hotmail.comI wanted to get a selection of all the target types to photograph to accompany this article. I contacted the sportingcourse that was closest to where I live – McCrae’s Sporting Clays near Worthington, (PA). Not only did I find they had notargets, they had just shut down their sporting course – so another course has fallen to these hard economic times.Then I contacted Chestnut Ridge Sporting Clays and Dave Yurko (724-694-9831). Dave says shooting hasconsiderable fallen off. He and his brother acquired the club in 1999, when clay target prices were close to half whatthey are now. Shooting is down at Chestnut Ridge, but the club continues to hang on. (Dave did have all the differentsporting target types needed – so thanks to him).C L AYS H O O T I N G U S A 51