Opening and Closing the Skeet Fields

Millvale Sportsman’s Club offers two Skeet fields for member use. These Skeet fields are open to members during designated shooting hours. It is incumbent on any member using a Skeet field to correctly open the field and correctly close the field. These instructions are designed to provide direction for those tasks.
IMPORTANT

If you have ANY questions regarding operation of the equipment housed within the Skeet Houses, please do not attempt to operate that equipment. Seek out assistance from other members with knowledge of the equipment.
The equipment housed within the Skeet Houses contains powerful motors and springs, DO NOT REACH into the mechanism at any time. Severe injury can result.
Follow the sequence of opening and closing. The window of the skeet house must be open prior to powering up or powering down the trap.
Anyone capable of operating a shotgun can load a skeet machine. No excuses.

Opening a Skeet Field

Millvale Sportsman’s Club has two Skeet Fields, each with the standard High House and Low House. All four houses have the exact same equipment laid out in a similar manner. Powering up a Skeet House follows an identical sequence for all houses.

1. Enter the Skeet Clubhouse.

To your right is a counter, behind that counter are the keys to the Skeet Houses. Padlocks of all houses use the same key (a small brass key).

2. Take the keys and proceed to a Skeet House.

Find the padlock, unlock the padlock, and place the keys and padlock in a safe location.

If you need lights, you will find a switch on one of the side walls or the back wall.

3. Open the Window

NOTE: Ensure the window is open before proceeding.

There is a pull cord near the top of door frame (some are on the right side, some on the left).

Pull the handle and the window will rise. Hook the loop of the cord on the hook you will find on the wall.

4. Power up the trap

(the machine that throws the clay pigeons). You will find a power switch on the right side of the trap. Push the top portion of the switch (ON) and the trap should power up: you will hear the throwing arm move into place and a clay will drop. The trap is ready to go.

5. Close the Skeet House door

Place the open padlock on the hasp

This helps in two ways:

The lock is easy to find and the door stays shut if there are breezes.
Flapping doors upset the delicate nature of Skeet shooters.
Take the keys and continue opening the remainder of the Skeet Houses.

When all houses are open, return the keys to the hook on the counter before doing anything else.

Skeet shooters hate looking for lost Skeet House keys.

Closing a Skeet Field

1. Power down the trap and release the arm.

Go to the Skeet house, remove the padlock, open the door and hang the open padlock on the hasp (so it doesn’t get misplaced).

Locate the switch on the right side of the trap. Press the bottom of the switch, this will move the switch to OFF and power down the trap. You must press Release, this is a “momentary switch” so you will press until the throwing arm releases (note: a clay will be thrown as the arm releases, this is expected). As you remove your finger from the switch, the arm should remain released and the switch will move to the OFF position. If for any reason the throwing arm recycles, go through the power down sequence again. If you need help, seek assistance.

2. Load the carousel

Opening the box of clays, the red arrow makes it easier to pick up the stacks of clays.

There are step stools in the High Houses to allow easier access to the far end stacks on the carousel. Load all stacks such that the top bird in each stack is still within the carousel stack guides.

Use care when loading the carousel, clays are fragile.

Toss out any empty boxes and extraneous cardboard. If there are no other shooters on the field at the time, carry the cardboard to the burn pit between the Skeet and Trap fields.

3. Lower the window.

Unhook the cord and lower the window

4. Turn out the lights.

5. Close the door

Place the padlock on the hasp and lock it.

6. Go to the next house and continue until done.

Thank you for loading the traps.