This past weekend’s State Traphooting Tournament at the Aberdeen Gun Club was a homecoming for one standout shooter.

Aberdeen native Scott McIntire literally grew up at the facility where he spent hours competing and coaching.

“It feels like home,” said McIntire who has resided in Lyons, Colo., for the past decade. “I enjoy the background here. I enjoy the people. You miss the people, because it’s down to earth. You don’t have all the political issues and stuff we have out West.”

McIntire has experienced his share of success in the sport. However, when asked about his most special memories at the local range, he did not refer to a time when he nailed 200 straight targets.

“That’s happened, but really my fondest memories are actually seeing the kids. I’ve coached them forever,” McIntire said. “When they succeed and come off the line with a big smile, it’s way better than anything I can do.”

And make no mistake, McIntire can do plenty. He once hit more than 620 targets in a row without a miss at a tournament.

While that is an amazing accomplishment, McIntire said, “There’s guys that have done a lot more. That year I took fourth place with that 600 and some in a row.”

So what goes through a shooter’s mind during a run like that?

It’s all about being in the right mindset, according to McIntire.

“It’s focus,” he said. “It’s fighting through, because you get tired.”

McIntire said he actually keeps a running total in his head while he is shooting, but added that doing so is not necessarily an ideal thing to do.

“It’s way better if you can just forget about it,” McIntire said. “I always tell the people you can’t shoot 25 straight, you have to shoot the first target.”

MODIFIED STROLLER SERVES MULTIPLE PURPOSES

A person can see a little bit of everything at a state trapshoot.

Some of the competitors have gun carts that can carry up to four guns and loads of ammunition.

Patty Gabel of Rapid City also has a cart, but hers is a bit unique compared to others.

“You can buy them,” Gabel said. “They’re a lot more expensive than what I spent on this.”

Gabel recently put the finishing touches on a customized baby stroller that is equipped to carry four guns, a flat of ammunition and this past weekend, the family Cockapoo dog Charlotte.

“It is very handy today,” Gabel said on Saturday during the tournament. “The poor dog actually has an injury. That’s why she’s riding. Usually, she’s walking beside us.”

Gabel used a little ingenuity to build the cart, purchasing gun mounts and attaching them, and saved a lot of money in the process, noting that a new gun cart runs in the neighborhood of $500.

“This is one is a baby stroller converted into a gun cart,” she said. “It cost me less than a $100.”

Not only that, but it is an attention grabber as well.

When asked what people think when they see her strolling around, Gabel said, “They usually want a picture and then they want to know where I got the mounts.”

YOUNG SHOOTER ENJOYING FIRST YEAR OF SHOOTING

While technically this past weekend’s state shoot was the adult state tournament, youth are allowed to participate.

Olund Swenson, 12 of Aberdeen, was on the line shooting targets on Saturday morning. He is currently in his first year in the sport.

“I didn’t even know about trap until my friend told me about it,” Swenson said. “He asked if we wanted to do it together and I said yeah.”

Now, Swenson has another fun activity that he can do in the summertime.

“I love it and it’s my second favorite sport,” Swenson said, noting that his favorite is baseball.

He said that trapshooting and baseball have something in common in that he attempts to hit targets in both. Swenson said it is tougher to connect with a clay target than it is a baseball.

“I think it’s just harder, because it’s moving away from you and the farther it is, the harder it is to hit,” Swenson said. “And with a baseball, it’s coming towards you, and you get a closer shot.”

PUTZIER CONQUERING AGE AND OPPONENTS

Ron Putzier is more than holding his own in the sport of trapshooting.

The 86-year-old Sioux Falls man has been taking aim at targets for the better part of six decades and shows no signs of slowing down.

This past week, Putzier defeated All-American Matt Bartholow in a shootoff during the state tournament.

Putzier said he had struggled with a new gun recently before returning to his old reliable firearm.

“I’ve been shooting pretty doggone good since,” Putzier said.

Putzier, who hasn’t been able to see out of his left eye for about 40 years, has had a decorated career. He has nailed 200 straight before and has 16 100 straight accomplishments to his credit.

“But I’ve shot just about 300,000 targets total, too” he said.

Naturally, there have been many changes in trapshooting during his time in the sport. Putzier recalls when the scorer had to “push the button, throw the target and keep score at the same time.”

He noted that there have also been upgrades to the ammunition and guns.

“I’ve seen a lot of changes,” Putzier said, “but it’s up to you, the individual, you have to have a good mind.”

While Putzier is still highly competetive, he also understands that he is one of the oldest active shooters in the country. He isn’t sure how many state tournaments he has left.

“I take every one with a grain of salt, so to speak,” Putzier said, “because you might not be here tomorrow.”

Through the years, there have been many highs and lows for Putzier in trapshooting, and he has learned to take things in stride.

“You have good days and bad days,” Putzier said. “The good days you remember, but the bad days you want to forget real quick.”