The Skeet Field

Today’s skeet field varies little from its 1920 beginnings. It has eight shooting stations and two trap houses. Seven of the stations are arranged in a half moon between the two trap houses, and one station is directly between them. The high house, on the left side of the field, throws its targets from a trap 10 feet above the ground. The target rises to a height of 15 feet by the time it travels to the center of the field. The low house target, on the right side, leaves the trap house just 3-1/2 feet from the ground. It also rises to a height of 15 feet by the time it reaches the center of the field.

A Round of Skeet

A round of skeet consists of 25 targets, with 17 shots as singles and 8 as doubles. The first miss is repeated immediately and is called an option. If no targets are missed during the round, the last or 25th target is shot at the last station, low house 8. The shooting sequence is as follows:

• Stations 1 and 2: High house single; Low house single; High house/Low house pair
• Stations 3, 4, and 5: High house single; Low house single
• Stations 6 and 7: High house single; Low house single; Low house/High house pair
• Station 8: High house single; Low house single

Skeet is shot in squads of up to five shooters. They move from station to station around the half moon, ending up in the center, at the end of the round.

Any gauge shotgun may be used, of any type, as long as it can fire at least two shells. The preferred shot size is #9, but nothing larger than #7-1/2 (lower number) should ever be used. Skeet is a hand-eye coordination game where women are able to compete equally with men. Left handed shooters do just as well as right.

Shooting a Practice Round of Skeet at Carlisle Fish & Game

Upon arrival, go directly to the picnic table behind Skeet Field 1 or desk inside the Sporting Clays/Skeet house to sign-up and be assigned to one of the skeet fields. After payment for the round(s), you’ll need to take the following equipment to the field with you:

• Shotgun – any gauge – any type, as long as it fires at least two (2) shells
• Ammunition – One box of 25 shells, same gauge as your gun, no shot larger than #7-1/2
• A shell holder you wear to carry your ammo as you move around the field
• Ear Plugs – MANDATORY
• Eye Protection – MANDATORY

Safety Rules

• Safety First!
• Eye and ear protection are mandatory for all shooters, referees and trap personnel
• Only five people to a squad
• No shot size larger than #7-1/2
• Keep your action open at all times when not on a shooting station
• Do not load your gun until you are standing on the shooting station
• Watch your muzzle…Keep it pointed downrange at all times
• You may load two shells at all station except station eight, where only one is allowed
• Do not leave the shooting station until the gun is emptied
• Spectators must remain behind station four at all times