Skeet shooting teams at local schools in the area are gearing up for another year of aiming down sights at flying clays in the sky, and they're hoping this season is a bit more traditional than last year.
Clint Edmonds coaches the Redwater High School skeet shooting team, which is going into its third season as a squad. His active roster of about 12 students practices at the Maud Gun Club.
Edmonds said his team is excited to get back at it after what was a strange year to compete last season, due to COVID-19 complications.
"We are thrilled to be going into a normal competition season," he said. "Last year, there were only two tournaments in total. And this year, we've already got three scheduled."
The Redwater team competes in tournaments organized through the Future Farmers of America organization. Although, some schools compete through 4-H programs.
"It's not like there's a varsity or junior varsity," Edmonds said. "Our kids sign up at the beginning of the year. They come out and practice with us, and we see them shoot. And we often divide teams by skill level. They shoot at 100 clays, and however many they hit as a team score goes against the other teams."
Three of Redwater's top performers going into 2021 include Parker Rushing, Hunter Morse, Logan Griffin, who placed highly in tournaments last year.
Edmonds said he believes that trap shooting is a growing phenomenon in the region, and that his team is an example.
"I do think it's growing a little bit," he said. "Our school was one of the last ones in the basic area to get a team that was expected to. I'm assuming Maud will have one in the next few years. So, it is growing and becoming a little more normal. If 10 years ago, you would've said that schools would have shooting teams, someone would've thought you were crazy. But it's a lot more common."
Kassie Loe, a skeet shooting and fishing coach over at Hooks Independent School District, would agree.
"You would not believe how big it is in the state of Texas," Loe said.
Hooks Junior High has had a trap shooting program for about 10 years, with eight students currently participating, and they also have a fall middle school agriculture program - according to Loe.
HJH's skeet team practices at Rocky Creek, and also competes through FFA.
Other schools in the area with teams include DeKalb, Fouke, Paul Pewitt, Hughes Springs and Simms.
The shooting season begins this month for many teams.