270 
FOREST AND STREAM 
[Feb. 12, 1910. 
Inanimate Target and Live Bird Rules 
of the Interstate, Association for 
the Encouragement of Trap 
Shooting. 
Committee on Rules: Bernard Waters, of Forest 
and Stream; Elmer E. Shaner, Secretary- 
Manager of the Interstate Association. 
Revised 1909. 
Copyright 1910 by the Interstate Association for the 
Encouragement of Trapshooting. 
Targets and Live Birds. 
Definitions of Terms. 
These definitions are also interpretations of the terms 
to which they refer. 
MINIMUM NUMBER OF CONTESTANTS. 
A tournament to be recognized by the Interstate As¬ 
sociation, shall have not less than eleven contestants in 
each event. (See Rule 15, Section 2, of the Target Rules.) 
BROKEN TARGET. 
A broken target is one which has at least a visible 
piece or pieces broken from it, or which is completely 
reduced to dust, or which has a visible section broken 
from it even though such section is broken into dust 
by the contestant’s shot. 
DUSTED TARGET. 
A dusted target is one from which more or less dust 
is detached by the contestant’s shot, but which shows 
no visible diminution in size therefrom. A dusted tar¬ 
get is not a broken target. 
DOUBLE TARGETS. 
A contestant, in double target shooting, shall shoot 
only once at a target. To shoot twice at the same 
target is simply single target shooting with the use of 
two shots. 
DULY NOTIFIED. 
A contestant is duly notified to compete when his 
name is called out by a Referee, Scorer or other person 
authorized to do so by the Management. If a “squad 
hustler” is furnished, it is a matter of courtesy only, 
and does not in the least relieve the contestant from 
responsibility. It is the duty of each and every con¬ 
testant to be promptly on hand to compete when 
called to do so. Failing therein, he is responsible for 
his acts of negligence. 
BALK. 
Any extraneous occurrence which materially interferes 
with the equity of the contestant after he calls “Pull,” 
constitutes a balk, if it deters ’ him from shooting, or 
if it coincidentally interferes with him when he actually 
shoots. If he shoots after the balk occurs, he must 
abide by the result. Misfires .(under certain limitations 
as set forth in the rules), a partly opened trap, etc., are 
balks. Only the contestant directly interested can claim 
a balk, which, when allowed restores him to a new 
inning. 
DISQUALIFICATION. 
Disqualification carries with it a forfeiture of all en¬ 
trance money and rights in the competition to which it 
relates. 
JARRING BACK. 
Jarring back denotes that from the concussion of the 
first shot the safety has been slipped back to “safe.” 
Whatever may be the cause of slipping the safety back 
to “safe,” the contestant must abide by the result. 
NO TARGET OR NO BIRD. 
After a Referee declares a “no target” or a “no bird,” 
it is thereafter no part of thei competition and is 
irrelevant to it. 
WIDELY DIFFERENT ANGLE. 
When a target varies more than twenty degrees either 
way outside the prescribed limit of the angles in single 
target shooting, the contestant may refuse it. 
SIMULTANEOUS DISCHARGE. 
A simultaneous discharge is one wherein from any 
cause both barrels are discharged together or nearly 
together. 
DEAD BIRD. 
A bird is scored as “dead” if it is gathered accord¬ 
ing to the requirements of these rules. 
LOST BIRD. 
A bird is lost when it escapes through or falls beyond 
the boundary. (Except as provided ih Rule 9, Section 
1 (d), and Rule 12, Section 8 , of the Live Bird Rules.) 
INNING. 
The term “inning” denotes a contestant’s time at the 
firing point, commencing with the call of “pull” and 
ending as specified in these rules. 
MAGAZINE GUN. 
The term “magazine gun” applies alike to automatic 
guns, pump guns (so-called), and all other guns not 
directly dependent on hand loading. 
CLASS SHOOTING. 
Class shooting denotes that the contestants who tie 
for first are in the highest class, and are winners of 
first. Those who tie lor second are in second class 
and are winners of second, and so on with the other 
classes. (See Rule 18 of the Target Rules, and Rule 19 
of the Live Bird Rules.) 
HIGH GUNS AND HIGH SCORES. 
High guns and high scores signify that the contestants 
who make the highest scores take, in the order of 
superiority, all the cash or prizes in such ratios as are 
set forth in the conditions governing the competition. 
In case of ties, the high guns are determined by shoot¬ 
ing off, miss and out, in which event the gun which 
stays the longest is first; the one which stays the next 
longest is second, and so on. 
Interstate Association Trap Shooting Rules 
Targets. 
RULE I.—THE MANAGEMENT. 
Section 1 . The Management of The Interstate As¬ 
sociation reserves the authority to reject any entry re¬ 
lating to any of its tournament competitions without 
giving any reason therefor, and to disqualify, in whole 
or in part, any contestant who acts ungentlemanly or 
disorderly, or who handles his gun dangerously. 
Sec. 2. The Management of The Interstate Associa¬ 
tion or its authorized representative shall for each tourn¬ 
ament appoint a Referee or Referees, or a Referee and 
judges, and a Scorer or Scorers, and a Trap Fuller or 
Trap Pullers, and such other assistants as it may deem 
to be necessary. 
Sec. 3. The Management of The Interstate Associa¬ 
tion reserves the right to make any alterations and 
amendments to these rules whenever it deems it for the 
best interests of all concerned to do so. 
RULE 2 .-THE REFEREE. 
Section 1. Besides attending to the special duties 
as set forth hereinafter, the Referee shall adjudicate the 
competition. He shall distinctly announce the result 
of each shot by calling out “dead” or “broke” when 
the target is broken, and “lost” when the target is 
unbroken. He shall decide all other issues which arise 
in relation to the direct competition. His decision in 
all cases shall be final. 
Sec. 2. If the Referee is negligent or inefficient, im¬ 
pairing thereby the equity of the competition, the Man¬ 
agement may forthwith remove him. 
RULE 3.—THE REFEREE AND JUDGES. 
Section. 1. When a Referee and Judges are appointed, 
the latter shall adjudicate the competition. The Referee’s 
duty then is to decide any disagreement between the 
Judges, pending which the competition shall be sus¬ 
pended. Any Judges’ disagreement shall be submitted to 
the Referee forthwith. 
Sec. 2. If the Judges are negligent or inefficient, im¬ 
pairing thereby the equity of the competition, the Man¬ 
agement may forthwith remove them. 
RULE 4.—THE SCORER. 
Section 1. The Scorer shall keep an accurate record 
of each shot of each contestant. Accordingly as the 
Referee calls “dead,” “broke,” or “lost,” the Scorer 
shall promptly respond with the call “dead,” “broke,” 
or “lost.” He shall mark the figure 1 for “dead” or 
"broke,” and a 0 for “lost.” When possible to do so, 
he shall keep the scores on a score sheet or blackboard, 
plainly in view of the contestants. His record of the 
competition so kept shall be official, and shall govern 
all awards and records of the competition to which it 
relates. ' 
Sec. 2. If the Scorer is negligent or inefficient, im¬ 
pairing thereby the equity of the competition, the Man¬ 
agement may forthwith remove him. 
RULE 5.—THE PULLER. 
Section 1. The Puller shall have charge of springing 
the traps. He shall spring the trap or traps instantly 
in response to the contestant’s call of “Pull.” 
Sec. 2. The Puller shall have an unobstructed view 
of the contestants at the firing points. 
Sec. 3. If the Puller is negligent or inefficient, im¬ 
pairing thereby the equity of the competition, the Man¬ 
agement may forthwith remove him. 
RULE 6.—CONTESTANT. 
Section 1. A contestant may hold his gun in any 
position. 
Sec. 2. A contestant may load his gun only when 
at the firing point facing the traps. In single target 
shooting, he shall place only one cartridge in his gun, 
removing it or the empty shell before turning from the 
firing point. The Referee or the Management may fine 
a contestant from $1.00 fo $5.00, or may disqualify him, 
for violating this rule. 
Sec. 3. When at the firing point ready for compe¬ 
tition, the contestant shall distinctly give the command 
“Pull” to the Puller, and thereafter such contestant is 
unqualifiedly in the competition. 
Sec. 4. A contestant must be at the firing point with'n 
three minutes after having been duly notified (see 
definition) to contest. Failing therein, unless he can 
show important cause for the delay, he may be fined 
$1.00 by the Referee or the Management, or he may be 
disqualified. 
Sec. 5. Shooting on the grounds at any place other 
than the firing points is prohibited. 
Sec. 6 . A contestant fined for a violation of these 
rules is ineligible further to compete until the fine is 
paid, and if the fine is not paid before the end of the 
tournament, such default carries disqualification with it. 
RULE 7.— -CHALLENGE AND PROTEST. 
Section 1. A contestant may challenge the load of any 
other contestant, under Kuie 12 (bj. On receipt of a 
written challenge, with $5.00 forfeit, the Management 
shall obtain a cartridge from the challengee and it, after 
public examination of it, the Management finds the 
challengee violated Rule 12 (b), he may be disqualified 
or not, accordingly as the ohense was wilfully com¬ 
mitted or otherwise. In case the chanengee is wholly 
innocent, the forfeit shall be paid to him; otherwise it 
shall be returned to the challenger. 
Sec. 2. A protest concerning a score or scores must 
be made before or immediately after the close of the 
competition to which it or they reiate. A protest can 
be made only by a contestant or contestants. All pro¬ 
tests must be in writing. 
RULE 8.—BROKEN TARGET. 
The Referee or Judge shall declare the target “broke” 
or "dead” when it is broken in the air under the con¬ 
ditions prescribed by these rules. Shot marks in a 
"pick up” shall not be considered as evidence of a 
biuxen target. (bee Definition.) 
RULE 9.-LOST TARGET. 
Except in the cases otherwise provided in these rules, 
the Reteree shall declare the target “lost,” respectively, 
(a) VV hen the contestant fails to break the target. 
lb) \Y hen the contestant fails to shoot because his 
gun was unloaded or uncocked, or because the safety 
was faultily adjusted or jarred back, whether from his 
own oversight or not; or because of any other cause 
chargeable to his own oversight or neglect. (See Rule 
13 [cj). 
RULE IO.—NO TARGET. 
It is a “no target,” and the Referee shall allow an¬ 
other target, respectively, 
(a) When a contestant shoots out of turn. 
(5) W hen two contestants, or when a contestant and 
a non-contestant, shoot at the same target. 
(c) When there is a misfire caused by the contestant’s 
gun, or a misfire of the cartridge (except ao provided 
in Rule 9 ['&], and Rule 12 [c]). 
(d) When (whether shot at or not) a broken target 
is thrown. 
(e) When a contestant is balked. (See Definition.) 
(/) When there is any other reason not provided for 
in these rules, if, in the opinion of the Reteree, it ma¬ 
terially affects the equity of ’the competition. 
RULE II.—NO TARGET, IF REFUSED. 
If a contestant does not shoot, in any of the instances 
herewith specified, thei Referee shall declare a “no 
target”; but if the contestant shoots the result shall 
be scored, respectively, 
(a) W hen the trap is sprung at a material interval 
of time before or after the call of “Pull.” 
(b) W hen the trap is sprung without any call of 
“Full.” 
(c) When in single target shooting, two targets are 
thrown at the same time. 
(d) When the target is thrown at a widely different 
angie. (See Definition.) 
RULE 12.— GUNS AND LOADS. 
A contestant shall not use, respectively, 
(a) A gun whose bore is larger than a twelve gauge. 
lb) A load of shot greater titan one and one-quarter 
ounce, any standard measure, struck. 
(c) A reloaded cartridge, or a gun or cartridge after 
it has once misfired in the competition. The con¬ 
testant must thereafter abide by the result if he uses 
such. (See Rule 9 [f>J). 
RULE 13. —TRAPS, FLIGHTS AND ANGLES, PITS AND 
SCREENS, FIRING POINTS. 
Section 1. An automatic trap, or three traps Sergeant 
System, shall be u=ed. 
THE AUTOMATIC TRAP. 
Sec. 2. The automatic trap (See Diagram I.) throws 
targets at unknown angles. 
SERGEANT SYSTEM. 
Sec. 3. Three traps, four feet apart, constitute the 
Sergeant System (See Diagram II.). The targets are 
thrown from unknown traps, at unknown angles. 
FLIGHTS AND ANGLES. 
Sec. 4. Targets, whether singles or doubles, shall be 
thrown not less than forty-five yards nor more than 
htty-hve yards, with a flight between six and twelve 
feet high at a point ten yards from the trap. Except 
in double target shooting, the flight of targets shall be 
at unknown angles, thrown within an area of forty-five 
degrees right and left of an imaginary straight line 
drawn through the center of number three firing point 
and prolonged through the center of the central trap, 
or through the center of the single trap when only 
one trap is used. In single target shooting, to aid in 
distinguishing between targets within and without 
bounds, four stakes, not less than three feet in height, 
shall be placed in the arc of a circle whose radii are 
fifty yards, and whose center is the center of the cen¬ 
tral trap, or the center of the single trap when only 
one trap is used. Respectively right and left of the 
aforementioned imaginary straight line, two of the stakes 
shall be placed upright, one at forty-five degrees and 
one at sixty-five degrees in said arc. (See Definition of 
“Widely Different Angle,” and Diagram III.) 
PITS AND SCREENS. 
Sec. 5. Pits and screens shall be used to protect 
properly the trappers. The screens shall not be higher 
than is necessary for such protection. 
FIRING' POINTS. 
Sec. 6 . The firing points shall be three to five yards 
apart in the circumference of a circle whose radii are 
sixteen yards. (See Diagram I.) 
