We have posted the most common questions and answers below. If you have reviewed these and your question still isn’t answered, please use the contact page to reach out.
General Questions
How old do I need to be to join the trap club?
Before our first season practice (usually Mid-March), you MUST be 12 years old AND possess a completed safety certification (This means you have completed your field day and the certificate is fully valid.
What is the cost to join the Shakopee Trap Club?
There are three separate fees that need to be paid by each participant.
1. Shakopee Trap Club fee: $300 (usually in January)
This includes Horse and Hunt Club fees, clays, jersey, STC expenses, banquet, awards, website, etc.
*Ammo is not included in the fee and is required, see the Ammo FAQ
2. Minnesota Clay Target League fee: $40 (usually in February)
You need to be a member of the MN Clay Target League to be on our team. This fee is paid directly to the league for administration costs associated with operations, awards, and insurance. Also included is an annual four–issue subscription to the League’s PullUSA Magazine.
3. (Optional, but strongly recommended) Minnesota Clay Target League fee for the Championship: $45 (usually in March/April)
The Championship is in Alexandria, MN and is the the "playoff" like other sports. The League and team invites ALL student athletes to participate in the Championship.
1. Shakopee Trap Club fee: $300 (usually in January)
This includes Horse and Hunt Club fees, clays, jersey, STC expenses, banquet, awards, website, etc.
*Ammo is not included in the fee and is required, see the Ammo FAQ
2. Minnesota Clay Target League fee: $40 (usually in February)
You need to be a member of the MN Clay Target League to be on our team. This fee is paid directly to the league for administration costs associated with operations, awards, and insurance. Also included is an annual four–issue subscription to the League’s PullUSA Magazine.
3. (Optional, but strongly recommended) Minnesota Clay Target League fee for the Championship: $45 (usually in March/April)
The Championship is in Alexandria, MN and is the the "playoff" like other sports. The League and team invites ALL student athletes to participate in the Championship.
I do not know much about trap shooting. Can I still register?
Absolutely! If you are an expert shooter or just trying the sport for the first time, we invite you to join. Our coaching staff starts from the very beginning and they will teach you the rules of the sport and how to have fun!
What safety certification do I need?
The Shakopee Trap Club strongly prefers all athletes to posses a MN DNR Hunter Safety/Hunter Education certificate as it promotes a more well rounded experience. We do recognize that the DNR field day component is hard to find during the winter months so we will accept a fully completed Clay League SAFE certification which also includes a field day component. You will be responsible to find a field day to complete your SAFE certificate prior to our first shooting night. Note only 1 of these are required, not both.
How do I obtain a MN DNR firearms safety certificate?
Check out MN DNR: Firearms Safety Certification for Youth for more information.
How do I obtain a league SAFE safety certificate?
Check out: USA Clay League SAFE Information for more information.
Note that you will need to find a field day. MN Horse and Hunt club plans to run field days every Saturday and Sunday in March starting March 15 through the end of the month. The information we have at the moment is that the field day will be 3-4 hours in length and cost $99 to include gun, ammo, clay targets and instructor time.
Note that you will need to find a field day. MN Horse and Hunt club plans to run field days every Saturday and Sunday in March starting March 15 through the end of the month. The information we have at the moment is that the field day will be 3-4 hours in length and cost $99 to include gun, ammo, clay targets and instructor time.
How do I letter in trap?
Shakopee Trap Club Lettering Criteria as recognized by the Shakopee High School.
All of the following must be met:
1. No incident with drugs, alcohol or tobacco
2. Full-time student with no failing grades
3. Maintain a 2.0 GPA or higher
4. Make progress towards graduation
Additionally, one of the following needs to be met:
A. Any athlete who shoots 25 straight in the same round and/or 50 straight in two rounds of the same day in conference weeks 1 - 5 (not including Practice Weeks, Reserve Week, or Fun Week).
B. Any athlete who has a season average of 19 or higher as determined by True Team Scoring System. This is aligned to the league varsity classification.
C. Any athlete who places first, second or third in any class at the Trap Shooting Championship in Alexandria, MN.
D. Any Senior who has participated in all grades 9-12 (4 consecutive years) despite classification status.
All of the following must be met:
1. No incident with drugs, alcohol or tobacco
2. Full-time student with no failing grades
3. Maintain a 2.0 GPA or higher
4. Make progress towards graduation
Additionally, one of the following needs to be met:
A. Any athlete who shoots 25 straight in the same round and/or 50 straight in two rounds of the same day in conference weeks 1 - 5 (not including Practice Weeks, Reserve Week, or Fun Week).
B. Any athlete who has a season average of 19 or higher as determined by True Team Scoring System. This is aligned to the league varsity classification.
C. Any athlete who places first, second or third in any class at the Trap Shooting Championship in Alexandria, MN.
D. Any Senior who has participated in all grades 9-12 (4 consecutive years) despite classification status.
How do I register for the trap club?
All returning students from the previous season will register first. Watch for an email at the end of December to register in early January.
New member registration will open in mid-January. Watch our website for registration to open. We will close register when all 50 spots are filled or the deadline, whichever happens first. New student registration is on a first-come basis.
Once all students (50 max limit) are registered with the Shakopee Trap Club, the next step is to register with the Minnesota State High School Clay Target League. We will send an email to inform you when it is time to register with the league.
**Please make sure to check your trash, junk and spam folders often once registration starts. A-lot of times emails have been found in those folders.
New member registration will open in mid-January. Watch our website for registration to open. We will close register when all 50 spots are filled or the deadline, whichever happens first. New student registration is on a first-come basis.
Once all students (50 max limit) are registered with the Shakopee Trap Club, the next step is to register with the Minnesota State High School Clay Target League. We will send an email to inform you when it is time to register with the league.
**Please make sure to check your trash, junk and spam folders often once registration starts. A-lot of times emails have been found in those folders.
I still have questions
If you can not find your answer under the FAQ, please send an email to shakopeetrapclub@gmail.com with further questions.
Firearms, Ammo and Safety
Eye and Ear Protection
Protection equipment is the responsibility of the participant. All shooters will provide eye and ear protection that meet minimum safety requirements (safety glasses and in-ear or disposable foam hearing protection). Many shooters prefer to invest in improved safety equipment and that is OK! Over the ear muffs are allowed but not ideal as they interfere with the proper mounting of the shotgun or the gun pushes the muff off the ear which can reduce the hearing protection.
Do I need my own 12 gauge or 20 gauge?
Yes. Shooters must know and understand all of the operating and safety features of their firearm they are using prior to shooting on the range. You MUST have your own firearm...no one else's. You may not borrow a friend's firearm to shoot a round.
Can I switch between my 12 gauge firearm or my 20 gauge firearm during the season?
It is not recommended. When you register with the STC, you must choose at that time what gauge you will be shooting. If for some very RARE reason, a student needs to switch gauges, the student and parent must talk to our RSO and Head Coach to make us aware of the intended change.
Is Ammo Included/What Ammo do I need?
Due to the challenges of sourcing bulk ammo, the club will no longer provide ammo and the registration fee has been adjusted to reflect that. Ammo requirements are as follows:
Must be factory loaded in the original factory packaging - reloads are not allowed.
Athlete will need 20 boxes of 25 rounds for the regular season plus 4 boxes for the state tournament if they are going and any practice rounds needed.
Shot Length: 2 3/4"
Shot Weight: 12 gauge: 1 oz or 1 1/8 oz / 20 gauge: 7/8 oz or 1 oz
Shot Size: #7.5 or #8
Must be factory loaded in the original factory packaging - reloads are not allowed.
Athlete will need 20 boxes of 25 rounds for the regular season plus 4 boxes for the state tournament if they are going and any practice rounds needed.
Shot Length: 2 3/4"
Shot Weight: 12 gauge: 1 oz or 1 1/8 oz / 20 gauge: 7/8 oz or 1 oz
Shot Size: #7.5 or #8
Where can I find Ammo?
This is not a complete list of stores and the Shakopee Trap Club does not endorse nor have any affiliation with the below, these are simply options we were aware of for you to think about in regards to acquiring ammunition.
> Arnzen Arms (Eden Prairie)
> Ahlman's (Morristown)
> Cabela's (Owatonna or Rogers)
> Fleet Farm (Carver, Lakeville, Brooklyn Park)
> Scheels (Eden Prairie or Mankato)
> Shakopee Fishing and Firearms (Shakopee)
> Sportsman's Warehouse (Coon Rapids)
> Sportsman's Guide (South St. Paul)
> Twin City Ammunition (Plymouth)
> rogerssportinggoods.com (online)
There are many other quality online sources but also just as many poor vendors - a word of caution...shipping is often very expensive and does not make online purchases cost effective so pay attention to these factors. Local stores sometimes have purchase limits so our hope is that by you knowing where to look this early will afford you the opportunity to find enough ammo at a reasonable price.
Approved Firearms
Only pump, semi-automatic or break-action shotguns in proper working order are allowed. The gun must fit the athlete properly and they must know and understand all of the operating and safety features of the firearm they are using prior to shooting on the range. Bottom loading/ejecting guns are not allowed as they pose a safety issue for the coaches and range safety officers who are unable to visually see that the firearm is unloaded. (Examples include the Browning BPS and Ithaca 37)
Magazine fed, bolt-action or AR-style shotguns are also prohibited as these are more for home defense and are not sporting shotguns.
Guns without a physical safety switch are also not allowed as athletes with these types of guns cannot comply with our range rules.
Should an issue arise with the proper functioning and safety of a participant’s gun, the coaches or range safety officers will determine if the athlete may continue to participate on the range that day. The team may require that a different gun be used until the issue has been addressed by a competent gunsmith and documentation provided on the issue(s) found and corrective measures taken.
Magazine fed, bolt-action or AR-style shotguns are also prohibited as these are more for home defense and are not sporting shotguns.
Guns without a physical safety switch are also not allowed as athletes with these types of guns cannot comply with our range rules.
Should an issue arise with the proper functioning and safety of a participant’s gun, the coaches or range safety officers will determine if the athlete may continue to participate on the range that day. The team may require that a different gun be used until the issue has been addressed by a competent gunsmith and documentation provided on the issue(s) found and corrective measures taken.
Season
What kind of footwear is appropriate for shooting nights?
Only closed footwear. NO SANDALS, CLOGS, CROCS, etc ARE ALLOWED!!
Where do we meet each week on shooting nights?
Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club
2920 220th St E.
Prior Lake, MN 55372
Every Tuesday starting at 4pm on Trap Fields 1-3
2920 220th St E.
Prior Lake, MN 55372
Every Tuesday starting at 4pm on Trap Fields 1-3
What do I need to bring each week for shooting night?
Proper hearing and eye protection; ammo pouch / bag; proper warm or cool clothing attire, and firearm in its case; marked in a way that you can recognize it.
How many weeks is the trap season?
Fall: 6 Weeks
Spring: 9 weeks
Each Tuesday at the Horse and Hunt Club in Prior Lake.
We start shooting at 4:00 PM and all are expected to stay for the duration (typically we will end around 6 PM)
**There will be a mandatory safety meeting before our first practice (student and at least 1 parent). Our range rules will be reviewed, along with any questions. It MUST be signed by BOTH student and parent (s) and brought back on the first night the student shoots or the student does not get to shoot.
Spring: 9 weeks
Each Tuesday at the Horse and Hunt Club in Prior Lake.
We start shooting at 4:00 PM and all are expected to stay for the duration (typically we will end around 6 PM)
**There will be a mandatory safety meeting before our first practice (student and at least 1 parent). Our range rules will be reviewed, along with any questions. It MUST be signed by BOTH student and parent (s) and brought back on the first night the student shoots or the student does not get to shoot.
What is the weather policy?
We will shoot in all conditions except for thunderstorms where lightning is present. The head coach monitors this closely leading up to and during shooting if there is potential for weather and will communicate accordingly.
What is the difference between the Trap Shooting Championship, the Minnesota State High School State Tournament and the National Championship?
The Trap Shooting Championship is the "playoff" for the MSHSL State Tournament.
All STC students are encouraged to register for this event - no matter your skill level. Registration is $45 (includes a t-shirt and targets). You will receive an email mid-season from our Head Coach when the time comes to register.
This is held at Alexandria Shooting Park in mid-June and is a single day event. We will find out our date a few weeks into the season.
MSHSL State Tournament
The State Tournament invites a select number of top performing teams and individuals to compete from the Trap Shooting Championship.
This event is held at the Minneapolis Gun Club in late June.
National Championship
The National Championship invites a select number of top performing teams and individuals to compete from the MSHSL State Tournament.
The National Championship is held in Michigan at the MTA Homegrounds in early July.
All STC students are encouraged to register for this event - no matter your skill level. Registration is $45 (includes a t-shirt and targets). You will receive an email mid-season from our Head Coach when the time comes to register.
This is held at Alexandria Shooting Park in mid-June and is a single day event. We will find out our date a few weeks into the season.
MSHSL State Tournament
The State Tournament invites a select number of top performing teams and individuals to compete from the Trap Shooting Championship.
This event is held at the Minneapolis Gun Club in late June.
National Championship
The National Championship invites a select number of top performing teams and individuals to compete from the MSHSL State Tournament.
The National Championship is held in Michigan at the MTA Homegrounds in early July.
