The Lost Target

In this sport one really has two outcomes: A hit or a miss and the later we know as a “lost” target.  I know some don’t like to be reminded of lost targets while on the line, but it is a good piece of focus, concentration and control that one understands what a lost target is, and how it is scored.  I encourage this even when practicing.  In fact, I encourage a few miss-calls to make sure the shooter and everyone else is paying attention.  Here are the rules:

The referee/scorer shall rule, “LOST”:

1. When the contestant fires and fails to break the target whether missed

completely or when only dust falls from it. A “Dusted Target,” is a target

from which there is a puff of dust, but no perceptible piece is seen; it

is not a dead target and does not declare a failure to fire; or

2. When a whole target appears promptly after a contestant’s

recognizable command and is within the legal limits of flight and the

contestant voluntarily does not fire; or

3. When an illegal target, a freak target, or a target of a markedly different

color is fired at and missed. A contestant may refuse illegal, freak or

off-colored targets, but if he/she fires at the target the result must be

scored; I add here how important it is to be aware of the moment and control the urge to pull the trigger.

or

4. When a contestant voluntarily withdraws from, or is otherwise

disqualified, and takes no further part in a sub-event after having fired

at 1 or more targets of a sub-event and does not fire at all the targets

in the sub-event, the referee/scorer shall rule all targets not fired upon

“LOST” targets and they shall be scored and reported accordingly.

When the shooter is prevented by reasons beyond his/her control

from completing a sub-event, the scores for that partial sub-event shall

not be recorded or reported. Example: shooters have shot 61 targets

of a 100-target event when a storm permanently stops shooting. The

management should report the scores for the first 50 targets only; While this happens sometimes I bet most did not know what happens next. 

or

5. When a score sheet is delivered to the office with one or more targets

that are not properly scored either “DEAD” or “LOST,” they shall be

scored as “LOST” targets by shoot management; In so many ways this is the point at which it all becomes too late.  All shooters and coaches must compare their mental picture of lost targets and the score sheet before it gets delivered.  It is again your last chance to perhaps correct something wrong, but remember a lost target once scored is lost.  This all must be done immediately after the shot. 

or

6. When a contestant deliberately fires at the same target twice in Doubles

Events. This rule is not applicable to a gun “doubling” or “machine-

gunning”, see Rule VII, D., 3.; or

7. When a commonly called “soft load” occurs, and the shot is fired but

no part of the over powder wad or shot remains in the barrel and the

target is missed. A soft load where the over powder wad or shot remain

in the barrel shall be deemed a “Failure to Fire” and the “Failure to Fire”

Rules apply.

It is so important to pay attention to your won shooting but also the shooting of those on the squad.  Use the time you watch other targets to better understand target flights and to become better prepared for the targets as you move through the stations.