Hey Jason,

Being that I shot in 4-H Competitions for 8 years before graduating the program as a multi-state champion, I feel like I can shed some light on this subject for you.  In the shooting sports we shoot three different shot sizes, varying from a 7 1/2s, 8s, and 9s.  Depending on the game that you are shooting will depend on the choke that you will use. 

For skeet shooting, which consists of shooting 25 targets from two different throwing stations.  One station is in a two story building, which they named the high house.  The second station is in a single story building or the lower floor of the two story building which was coined low house.  Their are 8 shooting stations on the skeet field which move around in a semi circle for 7 of the 8 stations.  The final station is located directly in the middle of the skeet field.  The number of targets you shoot at each station is pre-determined and the birds will fly to the same spot 99% of the time with wind varying the other 1%.  The ideal shot for this game is number 9s with a skeet or cylinder choke. 

We also shoot trap in the 4-H shooting sports.  Trap is a game where you have five stations set up starting at 16 yards behind the trap house.  For this game their is only one location from which the targets will come from, however in order to add difficulty to the game, the targets will come out at different angles and sometimes different heights.  You will shoot five targets at each station to complete a round of 25 targets.  The ideal shot size for this game is 7 1/2s or 8s and a modified choke tube.  Depending on the lenght of your shotgun barrel, you may have to go tighter or looser on the choke.

A third game that we shoot is called 5-Stand Sporting Clays.  Five stand is a difficult game for beginners and for newcomer's to grasp.  Depending on the shooting range that you are at they will have up to 6 different style of targets that will be shot from 5 different locations.  Each target may be of a different style to reflect the game that you are shooting.  This game was developed to help hunters tune up their hunting skills during the offseason. 

This is where the targets you took pictures of come in to play.  Prior to shooting in 5-Stand you will get into a shooting cage.  Each cage will have a marker in front of the cage to inform the shooter of what five targets they will be shooting at the station.  You will know ahead of time what the targets look like and what chokes you should be using.  Unless you are the first group to shoot the event during the day you should have time to watch the group in front of you complete the course and then you can make an informed decision on what chokes should be shot.  Each station has a different sequence of targets and thus making the game that much more difficult and fun.  The ideal chokes that I used during 5 stand shoots are either improved cylinder and modified  or skeet and improved cylinder; all depending on how close the targets were.  The closer the birds the looser the choke.  One can shoot 8s or 7 1/2s for this game; also dependent on relation to the target.  The further the target, the heavier the shot you would want to use and vice versa. 

Now back to the targets themselves...Each one has a different flight path or is of a different type.  On a typical five stand range you will have an overhead going away target.  This is to simulate a mourning dove.  This is the middle target you have pictured above.  This target is also used in the games of skeet and trap.  You will also have a left to right and right to left crosser's which are to portray quail that have been spooked up and are trying to leave away from you at an angle.  Usually one is angled further away than the other adding more difficulty to the game.  The next target type is called a teal or springing teal.  This target portrays a teal jumping up off the water and flying straight up.  It is the target that you have on the left.  It is small and fast, just like a teal.  The fifth target is the ol' rascally rabbit.  This, like you pointed out above, is the third target from the left pictured.  It is fast, it bounces and as you have shown will take a beating from number 9s and not break.  That is why we typically shoot 8s or 7 1/2s in this game.  The final target that is thrown in the game is a "normal target" that emulates a mallard duck lighting above a pond or field.  It is thrown from quite a ways out and literally bellys up before it lands.

 Hopefully this wasn't too much information for you or anyone else out there but if you have any more questions, please feel free to ask.  I am on the website on a daily basis and I always enjoy introducing the public to the world of competitive shotgun sports.

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Thank you very much for the comprehensive response. What a great example of the value of our community!

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