Mike Mc Alpine has set targets all across the US for events of all sizes. We ask his thoughts on target setting and what makes a good course.

2) When you set targets for an event what consideration do you give the scores for lower classes? 

 I always think about the lower class shooters. These are the people who not only make it possible to hold a shoot; they are also the future of our sport. Nearly all of our top shooters started out in a lower class. They stayed with the sport because they broke targets. If we as target setters forget about the lower classes, we will hurt the future of our sport. When you look at the numbers you will see that less than 10% of our shooters are in AA and Master Classes. That means that 90% of our shooters are in A Class through E Class.

3) Favorite type of target to set? 

 I have a reputation for being a deceptive target setter. I like to throw a few deceptive presentations in any course; those presentations that make you wonder why you missed. With that said, I also like to throw a presentation that looks very hard but in fact is fairly easy. To do this I simply give the target a good steady line, and I make the break point for the first shot so that the muzzle will be in the right place for the second shot.

4) Biggest mistake target setters make?

 Most new targets setters try too hard. They want to show the shooters how good they are by setting targets that are too difficult. I have been caught in this trap a few times myself. Also, many new setters do not understand the importance of target color in relation to background.

5) Suggestions or advice for would be target setters? 

 I have a set of rules that I live by when setting a course. First is always being concerned with safety. An unsafe course, no matter how good the targets are, is bad. Simply make sure that the muzzle cannot be pointed anywhere but down range. Second, use the right color of targets. By this I mean a color that will create contrast with the background. A good rule of thumb is if a target stays below the horizon its entire flight, it should be is a solid color such as all orange, all green or all white. If it stays above the horizon, a black target will be the best to use. If the target starts below the horizon and then travels above the horizon, an orange dome target will work the best.

 Keep your targets out of the sun. It is not fair to our shooters to make some of them shoot a presentation while looking into the sun. Stop and think where the sun will be at all times of the day. Be sure to keep your presentations reasonable. By this I mean no short windows. This is not fair to our older shooters. No 70 yard targets. Test the shooters ability and not their luck. Give the shooter a fair chance to see and shoot at the target. If they miss, then they can't blame the target setter. Also don't forget to be creative. Use your imagination and throw some fun targets. And always consider the left handed shooter. Make sure your course is balanced. 

6) Which deceives shooters most line or speed?

 Absolutely and without a doubt, line. A target with a line that is hard to read will create confusion.  

7) Not trying to corner you but do you have a favorite location to set targets? 

 I have had the privilege to set targets all over the country and I find that all venues have pluses and minuses when it comes to setting targets. If I had to choose a place that had the most variety of terrain, I would have to go with Elk Creek in Kentucky. The terrain at Elk Creek lets a setter create all types of presentations. After setting the All American with my buddy Mick Howells last summer, I was asked to comment on the terrain and the targets. My comment was that a monkey could set great targets at Elk Creek. Sorry Mick, I wasn't comparing you to a monkey.

8) Any idea how many courses you have set for Major or World Events?

 I have set in the neighborhood of 900 courses in my career. Of those, I have set the National Championships in San Antonio 11 times, The Kcup the first ten years. I have also set the World 4 times. I was chief setter for the 2004 US Open. I have set the Pan-American FITASC and several state and zone championships and I did set the Browning Briley a couple of times. Also, a favorite was the Hardy classic at the Shooting Academy.

9) Which one stands out the most in your memory?

 It would have to be my first World Championship only because of the big name shooters that were there. This was the shoot that George Digweed ran the only 100 straight in international competition. Thank goodness it wasn't on my course.  He shot a 94 on my course.

10) In your opinion what is a fair target in the way of distance?

 That is a hard question to answer. For some shooters distance is easy and for other shooters, distance is hard. I think that for the most part 50 yards is plenty, as long as the setter sets the target so the shooter can see some belly. Targets that are edge on are hard to see. So they should be in a little closer.

11) On your longer targets do you have a particular way you like to set the presentations as far as edge, bottom or dome showing?

  I like to set my long targets with a little belly. Long targets are hard to see when they are on edge. A little belly will give the shooter more to look at and the black belly will create more contrast so that the target is easier to see.

12) Have you ever had a presentation at a major event that when it was over you thought...man what was I thinking when I set that?

 When I first started setting targets, I had a lot of these moments. I find that to understand the presentation I must shoot it. Most target setters don't shoot the targets before the tournament. I think this is a mistake. I want to experience the presentation before the tournament. Many times I will find a mistake before the shoot and I can correct it.

13) Start to finish the event were you feel you set your best set of targets?

 The best targets that I think I have ever set were the targets at Elk creek at the All American. My courses had every type of presentation that I could think of. After all variety is the spice of sporting.

14) Is there one target presentation whether close or far that you feel gives shooters the most trouble?

This is the $64.00 question; again, what is hard and what is easy? It just depends on the individual. One presentation that I personally find difficult to read is a quartering incomer that has a slice to it. The line is in continuous transition especially the closer it gets.

15) Any thoughts on where Sporting Clays is headed?

 I think about this question all of the time. For the most part, the sport has evolved into hard targets. As I said before, this is a mistake. I think NSCA should put more emphasis on the everyday shooter. Those shooters who do not shoot registered targets. The price is getting higher everyday to shoot a round of sporting. The costs of targets are up 25% in the last two years mainly due to the price of oil. Ammunition is up at least 25% in that same time. I understand that China is the main reason for this. Traveling to tournaments cost more these days. I doubt if this will affect some of the die hard shooters but it will affect many new shooters. I expect to see shooter numbers fall for the next year or so. We need to keep the course difficulty to where all shooters can enjoy it and maybe keep some of the shooters at the range.

 I do think that the time has come to promote a professional association of target shooters. I wouldn't have made this comment a year ago but after last years All Round Shotgun Championships, I believe there is a lot of support out there to do this.  

16) If you had an opportunity is there anything you would change about the sport?

The only thing that I would do different is to develop both ends of the spectrum. Work on getting new shooters into the sport. Not as registered shooters but just people who like to break targets. There will always be a part of that group who will want to shoot tournaments.

17) Would you like to give us some information on the TRAPS seminars you put on?

 T.R.A.P.S. (Target Reading and Presentation Seminar) is a three day school. Day one consists of understanding target setters and learning the things they do to make targets hard to read. In conjunction to this, we learn to read target lines. We set dozens of different presentations that are very hard to read and for the most part, hard to hit.

 Day two includes learning the basic fundamentals of shooting and the different methods of achieving lead. I believe that we all have a natural method for achieving lead. This is the foundation of our style. While this is the method that we will use for a great deal of the presentations my students will learn why and when to use the other methods. I think that a shooter will find that their natural method will not work on all presentations. There will be a time when because of distance, height, speed, etc. that another method will work better. Using the different methods at the right time will help us become more consistent and will result in higher scores.

 Day Three the students will learn how the different clay target disciplines can help in shooting sporting. We not only will shoot sporting on day three but we will also shoot trap, trap doubles, skeet, skeet doubles, five-stand and FITASC. An understanding of these games will make us a better shooter. We also will talk about the mental game, how to practice, shooting strategies, nutrition in relation to shooting, eye problems, gun fit, chokes and loads when where and why we change and do we really need to change them anyway.

 This is a fun filled three days of learning and shooting. It will give you an insight about the clay target games that most people will never realize. This school will make you a true student of the game. 

18) Contact information if someone would like to secure your services?

Clay Target Academy
11577 S. Hwy 277
San Angelo, TX 76904
Cell 325-656-6319

Email  mmc9024@aol.com

Web Page www.claytarget.us