MUSCODA - Club (MSC) has a long history and reputation for providing efficiently run trap shooting competitions and quality clay target presentations. During the recent Spring and early Summer seasons, these club attributes had not changed, and local trap shooters achieved numerous accomplishments at the club.

MSC’s first two ATA (Amateur Trapshooting Association) registered trap shoots were held this Spring on April 16th and April 30th. The weather was cold, rainy, and windy both days. The low participation numbers at both trap shoots reflected the harsh weather but there were good scores shot.

River Laack shot his first ever perfect 100x100 in the 16-yard Singles Event at MSC on April 30th. River is a member of the Southwest Wisconsin Technical College (SWTC) Trapshooting Team.

On May 21st, the weather was much nicer, and the participation levels reflected the improved shooting conditions. There were three perfect 100s shot in the 16-yard Singles Event. One of the perfect 100s was shot by Jordan Bomkamp.

This was his first ever perfect 100x100 score in ATA registered competition and as a result, was the 16-yard Event Champion this day. Jordan is a member of the Riverdale Trapshooting Team. On this same day, Hunter Knotwell shot a 96x100, from the 26.5- yard line, in the Handicap Event making him the Champion of this event.More importantly, Hunter’s score of 96x100 guaranteed him a ½ yard punch moving him back to the 27-yard line. This is the farthest an ATA shooter can move back for the Handicap Event, and something every ATA trap shooter aspires to accomplish in their ATA lifetime shooting career.

Hunter is also a member of the Southwest Wisconsin Technical College (SWTC) Trapshooting Team. MSC’s last ATA registered trap shoot of the Summer was held at MSC on Sunday, June 25th.

As in the first two trap shoots of the Spring, there was a threat of rain, but the temperature was good, and wind was low. Even with the threat of rain, there were good participation numbers with shooters from four different states (WI, MN, IA, and IL).

Unfortunately, the rain did not hold off and competitors got wet during the 16-yard singles event. Six perfect 100s were shot, in the intermittent rain, during the event.

MSC members, Dwight Fitzsimmons & Hugh McWane, each shot one of those six perfect 100x100 scores. The next event for the day was Handicap which participants had to again shoot in the intermittent rain.

After the Handicap Event had completed, one shooter had accomplished something never done before at Muscoda Sportsman’s Club, Dwight Fitzsimmons shot a perfect 100x100 from the 27-yard line!

In the Handicap Event, all competitors have assigned shooting distances ranging from 19 yards to 27 yards to even the shooting abilities by moving the more experienced & better average shooters further back.

A perfect score of 100x100 in the Handicap Event is rare and has only been accomplished at MSC once or twice in club history but no shooter had ever shot a perfect score from the 27-yard line at MSC, Dwight was the first ever.

In addition to this accomplishment now being a part of shooting history for the Muscoda Sportsman’s Club, this score also completed a lifelong goal of Dwight’s, completing his ATA Grand Slam. The ATA Grand Slam achievement requires a score of 200x200 in the 16-yard Singles event, 100x100 in the Handicap Event from the 27-yard line and 100x100 in the Doubles Event in their ATA shooting career.

In the Wisconsin Trapshooting Association, only twelve shooters had achieved the ATA Trap Shooting Gram Slam in its 124-year history, Dwight is now the 13th ever, in the state, to achieve this coveted accomplishment.

The Muscoda Sportsman’s Club is immensely proud of Dwight for this once in a lifetime shooting achievement and enormously proud that he was able to do it at MSC.

Over the span of his ATA trap shooting career, Dwight has shot a perfect score in all three trap shooting disciplines at the Muscoda Sportsman’s Club and he is a life member of the club.

There were two other trap shooting level accomplishments celebrated at MSC on Sunday, 6-25-23. Tim Curtin (Reedsburg, WI) celebrated his 75,000th Handicap target level and Chris Meuer (Dodgeville, WI) celebrated shooting his 50,000th Handicap target level.

The 2023 trapshooting season is now in full swing and will continue strong thru August 2023. Local trap shooting competitions will start to lighten up as the Fall & cooler temperatures begin.

The Muscoda Sportsman’s Club is open to the public every Wednesday evening for practice and welcomes nonmembers as well as members.

Individual or Family annual & lifetime memberships are available for purchase at any of the practice nights or shooting events. MSC also supports local youth shotgun sports by being the home club of the Riverdale High School and Southwest Wisconsin Technical College Trapshooting Teams as well as club members being coaches/volunteers for these two teams.

MSC will be again hosting its 54th annual Team Trap Shoot on Sunday, September 3rd. This is the largest team trap shoot held in the State of Wisconsin and is extremely popular. The Team Trap event is so popular that MSC has had to limit the number of teams to 90 (450 shooters) to complete the event in one day.

All levels of shooting skills/age are welcome to participate. Early team registration is encouraged and can be found on-line at www.muscodasc.com.

The MSC will also be hosting a Riverdale Trapshooting Team (RTT) benefit shoot (non-ATA registered) Saturday, October 7th. More details about the RTT benefit shoot will be posted on RTT’s Facebook page and flyers around Dwight Fitzsimmons (MSC Member), left, and Jay Adams (MSC President), Dwight’s ATA Grand Slam achievement being congratulated by Jay Adams, MSC President. Hunter Knotwell (SWTC Team Member), left, and Jordan Bomkamp (RTT Team Member), Hunter’s first ever ATA 27-yard line punch and Jordan’s first ever

ATA 100 straight on 5-21-23. River Laack (SWTC Team Member), left, and Dan Imhoff (MSC Secretary & SWTC Coach), River’s first ever ATA 100 straight on 4-30-23.

Trapshooters achieve numerous accomplishments the area in the future. This trap shoot will be open to both student athletes and adults.

Finally, the Muscoda Sportsman’s Club facility is available to the public for rental. Typical past rentals include; graduations, class reunions, first communions, celebrations of life, funeral lunches, birthday parties, and wedding receptions. The facility is fully heated/air conditioned, has ample parking, indoor/outdoor seating, and full kitchen/cooler amenities.