NSSA - National Skeet Shooting Association

The National Skeet Shooting Association is the world's largest organization dedicated to the sport of Skeet Shooting.

10 Ways to Enjoy National Shooting Sports Month in August

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August is National Shooting Sports Month, and America’s firearm owners will find it a great time to spend a day at the range enjoying their favorite target-shooting sports with friends and family members. It’s also a time for millions of first-time gun owners to check out all the shooting sports have to offer.

Developed by NSSF, the firearms industry trade association, National Shooting Sports Month is marking its seventh year of celebrating the great American pastime of target shooting. Whether you enjoy shattering clay targets with a shotgun, hearing the clang of hitting steel plates with a handgun, or hitting a target 100 yards away with a rifle, the shooting sports have something for you. Target shooting is fun, safe, and welcoming to those who have never fired their first shots. More than 63 million adults and youth participate in target shooting sports.

Here are 10 ways to enjoy National Shooting Sports Month:

1. Mentoring/+ONE Movement
It helps to have a mentor show you the ropes when learning a new activity. NSSF’s +ONE Movement asks experienced shooters to guide newcomers and novices on how to safely handle firearms and develop their marksmanship skills. Experienced shooters can help secure the future of shooting sports by taking the +ONE pledge to introduce someone new to target shooting this August!

2. Win a Great Prize!
The #RangeChallenge offers an ongoing series of target-shooting challenges and incentives that promotes firearm safety, mentorship, training, and shooting sports awareness. Shooters can request an official #RangeChallenge target from a partnering range or download one from the website. Read the contest rules, shoot your target and enter to win one of 10 gift cards valued at $500.00 each. Learn more.

3. A Date at the Range
Make it a date! Ask your spouse, partner, boyfriend, or girlfriend to go target shooting with you. You’ll have a great time together. Women are the fastest growing group in target shooting, and more gear than ever has been designed for their fit and comfort. Don’t have someone to go with? Call the range and ask about their leagues and training classes.

4. Rediscover Shooting
Haven’t shot in a while? Dust off your shooting gear — always check to see if firearms are loaded when removing them from storage — and call an old shooting buddy or ask a family member to join you. Clay target sports such as skeet and sporting clays are perfect for socializing.

5. What to Expect at the Range
Safety orientation, range rules, range officers … there are things you need to know about if you haven’t spent much time at a target shooting range, or perhaps you need to refresh your memory. You can brush up on the rules, safety, and etiquette in the NSSA Rule Book and NSCA Rule Book.

6. #LetsGoShooting
#LetsGoShooting is the theme of National Shooting Sports Month. Share the hashtag and your experiences on your favorite social media networks and remind others to head out to the range for a day of fun and socializing. Discover the skill-building and fun other target shooters are having at the range by following the #LetsGoShooting feeds.

7. Cash in on Deals
Retailers and ranges will be offering specials during National Shooting Sports Month at thousands of events nationwide. Find a participating business near you to take advantage of these offers at ShootingSportsmonth.org.

8. Tune Up for Hunting Season
Many people are taking up hunting because they’re interested in harvesting their own healthful food. A trip to a firearm retailer or range can provide answers on how to get started hunting, such as enrolling in a hunter education course and practicing your shooting to be ready in time for the fall seasons. NSSF’s LetsGoHunting.org website has loads of information.

9. Practice Safe Firearm Handling and Storage
National Shooting Sports Month is a good time to enroll in a firearm training course. Need an instructor? You can find an NSSA Certified Instructor or an NSCA Certified Instructor for training. The shooting sports are safe. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Responsible gun owners safely handle their firearms and securely store them when not in use — at home, in vehicles, and at the range. Thanks to responsible gun owners and programs like NSSF’s Project ChildSafe, fatal firearms accidents are at historic low levels.

10. Celebrate Freedom and Tradition
In addition to passing on the great tradition of target shooting, you can educate others about the unique American freedoms that make firearm ownership and the shooting sports possible. See NSSF’s Proud to be a Firearms Owner pocket card and video and also learn about NSSF’s Gun Owners Care.

Remember, help make others aware of the great pastime of target shooting by sharing your experiences on social media and using the hashtag #LetsGoShooting and #RangeChallenge.

 

Beware: The Heat Is Upon Us

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The heat all across the lower half of the U.S. is outrageously high, and shooters are at an increased risk for heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. This is all a continuous spectrum of heat-related illness. Dr. Dan Fisher of Chattanooga, an NSCA Level 2 instructor, warns us of some risk factors that you might need to consider.

First, your age. Shooters older than 60-65 are at an increased risk. Many shooters this age are not in good physical shape. Second, your overall condition. If you have cardiovascular disease and/or diabetes, you are at big risk. Third, your weight. If your BMI is over 35, watch out. Temperature regulation for you might be a problem. Fourth, your degree of acclimatization. If you are not used to excessive heat, danger could be on your horizon. If you have several of these risk factors, your risk goes up dramatically.

Dr. Fisher has several basic recommendations to keep you out of trouble. First, know yourself. Don’t ask yourself to try to do something that is beyond your physical capabilities. If you get overheated, stop immediately and cool off. Second, if possible, try to shoot in the morning between 8 a.m.-noon. The sun is not your friend. Third, consider eating something for breakfast. Milk is actually a good fluid for rehydration. Fourth, pre-load with fluids. Dr. Fisher feels strongly that the literature on the subject recommends fluids with some sort of sodium supplement — not just plain water. There are many sports drinks on the market, all with different levels of sodium in them. Fifth, drink plenty of fluids while shooting. This might be as much as 12-16 ounces of fluid per hour if it is terribly hot. This also may depend on how much you sweat and the humidity of the environment in which you are shooting. Remember that sweating is the body’s elaborate way to cool down under most physiologic circumstances. Sixth, consider shooting shells with less recoil to conserve energy on a hot day.

Competitive shooters are always looking for a top-notch performance. If your fluid and electrolyte balance is off-kilter, there is no doubt that your mental and physical performance will be affected. Plan ahead for the heat, and with these suggestions, you just may manage to avoid something as bad as heat exhaustion and stroke. If nothing else, you might just see and shoot better. Remember, only you can prevent these potentially life-threatening symptoms.

Shooter beware! An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Thanks to Dr. Dan Fisher, a physician and shooting instructor, for these valuable tips to keep you safe while shooting this summer.

NSCA Legend Lois Neely Passes

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It is with heavy hearts and profound sadness that we announce the passing of Lois Neely, a true legend and cherished member of the sporting clays community. Lois departed this world on July 10, 2023, leaving behind a legacy that will forever be etched in the minds and hearts of our industry. Lois dedicated her life to sporting clays tournaments with an unwavering commitment to excellence, skill and service to our sportsmen. Her career began with the NSSA in member services in 1985. She moved to the NSCA in 1989, the first staff member to solely focus on the NSCA at headquarters, with member services until December of 1996 when she became the lead of the NSCA as Assistant Director.

In 2000, Lois struck out on her own as WyShotgun and offered tournament administration services to gun clubs throughout the country. Lois stayed on the NSCA Rules Committee and Hall of Fame Committee for another 10 years as an at-large member due to her knowledge of the game. Lois ran registration for every NSCA National Championship held in San Antonio from 1990 to 2022. Her tireless efforts earned her a spot in the NSCA Hall of Fame as a recipient of the Hal DuPont Service Award in 2021.

Our friend’s memory will forever live through the countless experiences, profound knowledge, and exuberant personality she generously shared with us. Funeral arrangement details will be provided when information is available. Let us be patient, understanding, and supportive during this difficult period, granting her family the necessary time and space to heal.

Andy Ulsher Inducted Into AFSA Hall of Fame

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During this year’s Armed Services Skeet Championships (ASSC), it was the honor and privilege of the Armed Forces Skeet Association to formally induct LTC Andrew Ulsher, US Army (Retired) into the AFSA Hall of Fame for the Pletcher Award for long-term service to the association. He joins his father, John Ulsher (2017), as the first father-son duo to be inducted.

Ulsher served over 26 years in the Army as a Joint Specialty Officer and retired in 2009. He has been a stalwart member of the AFSA organization and served as the Treasurer for over 10 years, giving voluntarily and selflessly to promote skeet shooting as well as support our military membership. The ASSC expressed its pride in inducting Ulsher into the Hall of Fame and its gratitude for all his efforts for the organization and the skeet shooting community.

Photo: Andy Ulsher, left, and his father John Ulsher become the first father-son duo to be inducted into the AFSA Hall of Fame.

Amber Schwarz Marks 25 Years With NSSA-NSCA-NSC

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Amber Schwarz, NSSA-NSCA Director of Member and Club Services, celebrated her 25th anniversary with NSSA-NSCA on April 26. Amber started helping with shoots at the National Shooting Complex in 1996 and became a full-time employee in 1998.

Amber is known as a go-to person at the office who can figure out the answer to any problem, as there are few jobs there she hasn’t done, or practices and policies she hasn’t helped implement. “I’ve worked from one end of the office to the other,” said Amber, “doing anything and everything I could learn to get the job done.” She spent many years as Assistant Director of the National Shooting Complex, assisting with corporate, charity, and registered shoots, event personnel, marketing of the complex, and many other functions associated with NSC management.

In 2020, Amber was promoted to Director of Member and Club Services, managing the staff and practices involved with Headquarters’ most important function — taking care of its members and member clubs.

“Amber’s work ethic and desire to do a great job in everything she does is what makes her special and an incredible team leader here at Headquarters,” said Michael Hampton, Jr., NSSA-NSCA Executive Director. “No matter if its 6 a.m. or 10 p.m., she has a smile on her face and is doing whatever it takes to get the job done and is ready to do it all over again the next day.”

On behalf of the staff, membership, and governing bodies of NSSA-NSCA, we congratulate Amber on her 25th anniversary and offer our appreciation for her many contributions to our success.

 

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