Aug. 2, iQoi.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
99 
Dusted and Bfoken Targets. 
In respect to the rules which govern corhpetition, the shooting 
world is notably conservative. 
Whether sound or fallacious, the ideas of the first makers of the 
rules, as embodied in the rules of the present time, are still in use. 
That fallacy should be permitted to exist in the rules is easily 
understood, if we consider that, in the trapshooting world, there is 
no central governing body, and therefore no one in authority con- 
cerning matters of general interest. 
Of the mistaken rulings, tio one is more illogical as a matter of 
horse sense, and more unjust as a matter of equity to a contestant, 
than the one which governs dusted targets in Interstate rules, 
namely, ''A dusted target shall not be scored to the shooter," and 
in A. S. A. rules, namely, "A dusted target is not a broken target." 
Why shall not a dusted target be scored to the shooter? 
Why is not a dusted target a broken target? 
In the first instance the contestant is arbitrarily deprived of 
what he scored, and in the second instance we have a statement 
made directly contrary to the fact, for a dusted target is a broken 
target. 
If a contestant hits the target, and it is thereby made apparent 
to the referee and to the onlookers by more or less dust why 
should it not be scored? What is the reason for refusing to 
give the shooter the benefit of the hit? 
"Ah! but," says the learned conservative, "there must be a 
perceptible piece from it." Is not dust made up of perceptible 
pieces, meaning thereby visible pieces? 
Because dust is not in its parts large enough to be distinctly 
distinguished as independent pieces, it does not in the least detract 
fio;n the merit of the break, for, as between dusting a target or 
knocking a piece out of it, much depends on the part of it which 
is liit. Much also depends on the state of the temperature, for on 
an exceedingly warm day the targets become softer and tougher, 
and then what is a dusted target would on ft cooler day be a 
broken one. 
Frequently targets "when picked tip ate entirely perforated, and 
have quite sufficient material knocked out of them to constitute 
birds and animals. Reports of young quail and rabbits found dead 
in regions where water is scarce are being fi-eely. circulated. 
A revival of interest in the old and far-famed gun clubs of Mt. 
Carmel and Mt. Vernon, 111., is likely to manifest itself ere the 
summer passes, in a series of intercity matches. 
Ammunition trade representatives state that the Mississippi 
Valley drouth is seriously curtailing the volume of business as 
compared with recent years. 
Tom V. Brenan and Dave Elliott — the Beardstown Elliott — gave 
a pleasurable target shoot at Beardstown, July 25. The present 
grounds here are the best we know of in the State for a mid- 
summer tourney, being located on the north side of a fine grove 
of natural oak timber, which affords excellent shade throughout 
the day for the shooters at the score. Had this fact been generally 
known, the attendance would have been much larger, as it will 
certainly be at the next shoot, which these gentlemen announce 
for Aug. 8. Targets were thrown from expert traps, mostly 10- 
bird races, division of purses being partly the class system, but for 
the most part under the so-called Jack Rabbit plan, which gave 
very good satisfaction. Mr. Ed Scott, of Jacksonville, shot in 
wonderful form, and averaged nearly 97 per cent., with one run 
of 69 straight, but was not able to stay all day on account of train 
connections. Of those who shot through, Riehl won first, Jones 
second, and Caldwell third average. Scores follow: 
Scott— 
10 15 9 10 10 10 10 10 9 9 8 10 10 10 10 10 10 9 
Riehl— . _ 
9 14 10 10 10 10 9 9 7 « 10 9 9 10 8! 8 lO 10 0 10 8 JO 
Jones^ 
7 10,,9 9 10 79B987 10 9888 10 9908 
Caldwell- 
9 . , . r 9 7 9 10 S 8 10 7 6 0 . , 8 9 . . 8 (1 8 10 
Drove-^ 
. , 14 . , 7 It 9 , 
Hnliihawser'- 
9 1 5., fl 7.. 8 7 8,. 8 S.. 7., fl,, 6 
Hagen— 
,, ,, .. a -1 5 6 7 7 3 2 
9 9 9 9 T 10 7 10 8 
we try to break bluerocKs according to the rules which govern 
trapshooting since it has been "more and more perfected." 
Our experience has led us to the belief that "change, which is 
the essence of progress," has, in the matter of trapshooting, led to 
a very undesirable situation. As a rule, in our club our best field 
shots are our poorest trap shots, and vice versa. Our best, or 
rather, our most successful trap shots are those who happen to 
possess the closest and hardest shooting guns, and who are willing 
and able to stand the punishment of excessive charges. We have 
found that the different makes of targets we have used vary greatly 
in breakability. When using the old Paine feather-filled ball and 
rotating trap our club averaged about SO per cent. When using 
the most easily broken of the modern saucer-shaped targets we 
average about 60 per cent. When using those which break the 
hardest we average about 30 per cent,, which shows what modern 
trapshooting amounts to as a test of skill in marksmanship. In 
gathering the unbroken saucer targets which have been thrown wt 
find a large percentage of them have been struck fairly with shot, 
some with as many as eight or nine pellets. In such cases it would 
seem that conditions have been made so difficult that it would be 
eminently proper to discard the gun entirely and allow the use 
of an anvil and sledge hammer. 
In my judgment a target for trapshooting should break regularly 
when struck fairly with shot. It should always present the same 
aiea of surface to the shooter, and not vary from an almost in- 
visible streak to a great, round cart wheel standing almost station- 
ary. It should be thrown at all angles, which should be unknown 
to the shooter. When the trap is sprung, the gun should be held 
in the position in which it is held by a shooter when walking 
afield. This would make of trapshooting something more than 
pulling the trigger of a cannon which was half aimed before the 
target began its flight, 
I have a great admiration for my neighbor, A. N, Cheney, for 
many reasons, one of which is the trite and forceful way in which 
he can state a fact. Witness his allusion to "brickbats" in 
Forest and Stream of July 27. As stated above, my object in 
writing this is to provoke discussion of a sxibject which seems to 
need it badly. 
SHOOTERS AT TRENTON SHOOTING ASSOCIATION'S SHOOT. 
a break. Sometimes a dozen or more shot will be found to have 
pierced a target without meeting the arbitrary and unreasoning 
exactions of the rules. 
Unfortunately this rule militates against the interests of those 
who can least afford to carry a penalty — that is to say, the shooters 
who shoot in slow time, for the further the target is awajr from 
the shooter at the moment of firing at it, the more likely is it to 
be dusted. 
It would indeed be a gratification if some of the rule makers 
would publish a common-sense reason why a dusted target is not 
a broken target, and why, a fact being a fact, there is any good 
reason for asserting that it is not a fact. 
Let us for a moment consider some analogous eases. In rifle 
shooting, if the bullet touches the edge of the bullseye, it is called 
a bullseye. So with the rings without the bullseye; or within it, if 
there be any. A dusted target may be infinitely better hit than 
a grazed bullseye, yet in the one case, it is ruled as being not hit 
and shall not score; in the other it is a good hit and scores. In 
live-bird shooting, it is not necessary to kill the bird to score. 
The test is whether it can be gathered within a certain boundary. 
Probably no ruling has caused more disputes and heartburnings 
than that governing a dusted target and a perceptible piece. 
Often a piece is knocked out of tlie target which the referee, 
owing to unfavorable background, cannot see, or which some one 
with keener vision can see. Often a chunk is knocked out of a 
target, but so thoroughly pulverized that it is dust. The target 
is well hit and well_ broken, but because, forsooth, there is no 
perceptible piece, it is not broken, say some of the rule makers. 
As a matter of fact, it is broken; as a matter of far-fetched fancy, 
it is not broken. Why not? 
Another ancient fallacy concerning a feature of Hve-bird shoot- 
ing is requiring a shooter to fire a blank cartridge in his first 
barrel after a misfire with it. In the second inning the contestant 
should have the use of both barrels the same as in the first. 
Mississippi Valley Notes. 
Dave Elliott has done wonders for tlie shooting game in and 
around St. Louis, but he now frankly admits that as a moulder of 
fashion in shooting apparel he is not a success. At least he avers 
that since the Missouri State amateur meet he does not think that 
knickerbockers and shirt waists go well together. 
The Saline County Gun Club, of Harrisburg, 111., advertises a 
two-day target shoot for Aug. S and 9. This club has twenty-si.x 
active members, all of whom will participate, and it is sure to prove 
an important event. Bluerocks will be used under magautrap 
rules, division of moneys being arranged on the old-time class 
system. 
Elmer E. Hinshaw, Arnold's Park, la., has programmes ready 
for the Budd-Whitney amateur tournament at Lake Okoboji, la., 
Aug. 27, 28, 29 and 30. Liberal added money is a feature of the 
tourney. 
Col. "J. R. I'. Van Cleave, president of the Illinois State Sports- 
miri's Association, writes from his summer home at "Helm's 
Roast," Lake Milona. Minn., that fish are biting splendidly ther^i. 
but he is preparing to leave ere long, accompanied by a number of 
Illinois sportsmen, for a bear hunt in Wyoming. 
There is much apprehension lest the long-continued drouth in 
this part of the middle West, embracing principally Illinois, In- 
diana and Missouri, will cans? loss oi life among the smaller game 
Brines — 
Elliott-^' 
Emen — 
Gilbert— 
Libbie — 
Blackby — 
Duchart — 
Brenan — 
Curry — 
Oat— 
Rupped— 
Link — 
Knight-^" 
Coleman — 
.. 7 
8 5 
7 5 
.. 9697S 10 77 10 9 10 8 
.. 7 9 10 9 9 9 7 
.... 9 8 10 9 9 9 10 
....7 8 
7 .. 4 7 
9 8 8 8 
10 9 6 6 .. .. 9 .. .. 
10 6 7 
6 4 .. 8 
7 7 
8 10 
KiLLMORE. 
Shooting: at the Ttap and in the Field. 
Gansevoort, N. Y., July 29.~Editor Forest and Stream : I read 
with much interest your article under the above heading in 
Forest and Stream of July 27. The article interested me be- 
cause, like many other old-timers, I believe that in the matter of 
trapshooting we have "progressed" backward. 
Briefly summarized, your arguments in favor of the present 
system may be stated as follows: Trapshooting has always been an 
art necessarily different from field shooting. It has all the in- 
herent qualities of a sport within itself, and in developing this 
sport experience has made conditions so hard that it has been 
found necessary to allow the gun to be "glued" to the shoulder of 
the shooter when the trap is sprung. Finallj', trapshooting as now 
practiced is a great aid as a preparatory schooling for the field. 
Now, I would like to ask: Would it detract anything from trap- 
shooting as a sport in itself if conditions which govern it were 
made as nearly as possible like those which are met in field shoot- 
ing? It is conceded that it is impossible to make the conditions 
which govern trapshooting exactly like those which are met in field 
shooting, but is this any excuse for making them as dissimilar as 
possible? Viewed from any standpoint, is it not desirable that trap- 
shooting be made the best possible school in which to fit the 
shooter for field shooting? And is it not true that this would be 
accomplished just to the extent that the conditions of trapshooting 
are made to conform to those which are met in field shooting? 
I ask these questions in the hope that they will lead to a friendly 
and general discussion of the subject in the columns of Forest 
and Stream. 
We have huA a little gun club at this place ever since the days 
of Bogardus' traps and Pain? f?3ther-filled balls, and occasionally 
It 1 am successful in this, I shall be entirelv satisfied, even if 
I have to stand as the sole target for the "bn'ckbats" which are 
sure to be thrown. jos. W. Shurtek. 
Trap Ato«nd Reading-. 
Reading, Pa., July 27.— The regular weekly target shoot of the 
South End Gun Club, of this city, was held this afternoon. Yost 
Melchor and Ihomas did the best shooting. The scores follow: ' 
Events: 1 2 ,^ 4 5 6 7 
Targets: IQ 25 10 25 10 25 10 
Ihoraas 22 17 
Matthias .. 20 13 '.I 
.- 18 5 19 5 12 8 
8 18 6 21 9 18 S 
Schultze 5 17 13 7 gl 6 
^ost 6 20 9 18 8 18 .. 
Eshelman 19 5 5 12 5 
Essick 10 18 7 15 
Gicker , ig jj, in " 
Ye^ger § 14 *6 20 "7 18 'e 
Melchor 20 7 18 6 18 . 
Harrisburg, Pa., July 25.— The East Harrisburg Shooting Asso- 
ciation, of this city, announce their annual target tournament for 
Iriday, Aug. 16, on the club's beautiful shooting grounds in 
East Harrisburg Arthur A. Fink, of Reading, has been enifaKed 
as manager and will, have full charge of the shoot. The nro- 
gramme calls for 105 targets for the morning and 105 targets for 
the afternoon. Shooting commences at 9 A. M.; $3 and $2 will 
be awarded as average money. The principal event of the dav 
is a oO-target race, handicap rise, 14 to 16yds. The club's grounds 
are easily reached by trolley from any of the railroad depots, beins? 
T "V."'i*es ride tor any information or programme address 
J. M. Rudy secretary. East Harrisburg Shooting Association 
Harrisburg, Pa- _ _ ^ Duster * 
Voonsocfect Gtin Cltib. 
WooN^socKET, R. I.-At the regular shoot of the Woonsocket 
uun i_iuD, saturaay alternoon, July 27, E. C. Griffith, winner of 
the Grand American Handicap, and Frank Fnman both of Pas 
coag, were present. There were eight events, with a total of 125 
targets. Seagrave shot at only 100 targets. Following are the 
scores: ^ ^ 
Events: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 S 
Targets: 1.0 13 20 15 10 20 10 25 Broke 
T"?Lan 10 13 15 13 7 17 9 20 104 
^"ffi'l^,, 9 14 18 11 8 19 10 23 112 
Getchell . 9 13 19 13 10 19 7 21 111 
W O Darling. S 11 10 11 8 14 9 19 90 
Emmerson 6 7 16 7 5 11 7 18 77 
Seagrave 6 14 14 11 9 17 8.. 79 
Events 1 and 6, known angles; 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, unknown angles- 
4, reversed angles. Joseph Brown. 
The Forest and Stream is put to press each week on Tuesday. 
Correspondence intended for publication should reach us at t}i? 
latest by Moij^^y an4 as mtjcb earlier a.s ^T^^\if^\,l^ 
