Storm King Ranch - Shooting Academy

Storm King Ranch - Private Client - Colorado
Storm King Ranch
Sporting Clays
6
Stations 1 through 11
7
8
5
4
3
1
2
9
10
11
The photos on the following pages show the aerial view of the Sporting Clay
stations, overlaid with the target trajectories as seen by the sh0oter.
The course was designed over three trips to the ranch, with participation owner.
Several locations for the course were found and presented, with the owner having the
final say as to which stations were to be included and those to omit.
As the ranch is so pristine, the main factor overruling all decisions was to the visibility
of target debris .Although there were some excellent locations offering tremendous
target presentations, I had to determine where the target debris would fall, both looking
out for where the target landed, if missed, and where the bits would fall if hit.
We decided to rule out the valley floor and move the shooting to the upper level of the
surrounding hills. This would enable all target debris to be hidden by the thick growth
of foliage covering the hillsides. This course would also be shot in winter when the
foliage is minimum and leaves fall off the trees.
All locations satisfy the “no see target” requirement.
The first section shows the finished course. The next section (pages 10 – 47), show
the development of the course over several months.
Station 1
Two Right to Left - Overhead
Can also be shot from “X” and “Y”
X
Y
Station 2
Two Crossing –
Two shot directions
Shoot from either side of tree
Station 3
Two Outgoing Crossing
Station 4
Two Incoming Low Climb
From valley floor below
Station 5
Two High Teals
Straight up
Station 6
Opposing Rabbits
Station 7
Multi Direction “Wobble”
Random Movement
Station 8
High Overhead from Behind
Looping Cross from Right
Station 9
Dropping loop from LEFT
Incoming low climb from below
Station 10
Two Slow Crossing High Loop
Area chosen for the Compact Sporting Deck – Across into the valley below. (Looking Left).
Then looking Right.
Station 11 COMPACT
High out from Right Shoulder
High climb from below deck
Multi “Wobble” from below deck
Fast level crossing from Left Side
This next section shows how I see the stations then develop them.
Area chosen for Station 1 – Two overhead shots from hill on Right.
The main deck would be built on the side of the road and the targets would “quarter” overhead from
the right. These could also be shot from various locations around the road loop to add variety.
Station 1
Station 2 – Great views into the valley below and yonder……….
View over the handrail of Station 2 LEFT
Station 2
Station 3 – View to beautiful to miss….
Station 3
Station 4 – Incoming uphill from the valley below..
Two trap houses ------------ Left uphill and right uphill
Station 4 (Finished)
Station 5 – Two high Teals from immediately below.
Two Teals throwing up the hill.
Station 5 (Finished)
Station 6 (Pair of Rabbits – Uphill and down)
Station 6 (Finished)
Station 7 (A Wobble trap beneath a deck into the clearing).
Station 7 (Finished)
Station 8 (One crossing R to L and overhead from behind)
Station 9
(Target going uphill to station)
Station 9
(Target crossing L – R downhill)
Station 9 (Finished)
Station 9
Station 10
Two crossing slow targets
Station 10
(Finished)
Station 11 ALSO - COMPACT Sporting - Beautiful view over the valley.
Compact Sporting Three traps below the deck.
Station 11 ---- COMPACT Sporting
Various construction photos.
Doors open for business……
Locked up tight – Brown Bear proof.
Building the Wobble Trap house and table below the shooting deck..
Mike Davey
www.shooting-academy.com
August 13th, 2013