Shooting for the stars: Gilpin takes first at state

Barry Gilpin took first at the State Trap Shoot in Great Falls

PLAINS – Barry Gilpin of Plains has been trap shooting for a long time and he has gotten pretty good at the challenging outdoor sport over the years.

The most recent sign of his adeptness with an over under shotgun was on display over the course of last week in Great Falls.

The 120th annual State Trap Shoot was held in Great Falls this year and Gilpin experienced a good deal of success during the event, walking away with first place.

Gilpin attributes much of his success to the time he spends practicing on the shooting range at the Plains Trap Club.

“I like to go out and shoot as much as possible,” Gilpin said.

The state shoot is nearly a week-long event, featuring approximately 250 competitive shooters from all over the state and the nation.

Shooters and their shotguns began their work of destroying clay pigeons on Wednesday, July 9 with the final rounds of the tournament held throughout the day on Sunday, July 13.

Gilpin noted his long experience with the sport of trap shooting helped to prepare him to compete in the five-day state tournament.

“I have been shooting for 40 plus years,” Gilpin said.

The recent winner was adamant about trap shooting being much like other sports, listing the importance of practice.

Gilpin said the more time you spend trap shooting the better you are going to be.

“Shooting is like anything else, you need a lot of practice,” Gilpin said.

The Plains shooter recognizes trap shooting is not your typical sport and like those who compete in golf tournaments, competitors compete against themselves as much as they do against the competition.

No matter how well or how poorly the rest of the field shoots, it is still up the shooter to make the shot when it really counts.

“It really is a challenge against yourself,” Gilpin said.

The state shoot in Great Falls was not Gilpin’s first taste of competitive shooting as he has partook in multiple state and national competitions over the years.

What makes Gilpin’s recent success at the sport even more impressive is the fact the left handed shooter had to switch dominant shooting eyes several years ago.

Gilpin noted it took time to make the adjustment but with enough practice he felt very comfortable.

“It took some time, about four to five years,” Gilpin said.

Staying true to his belief in the importance of ongoing practice in order to perfect the sport, Gilpin can often be found at the local trap club in Plains.

He goes out and shoots with other members of the trap club in singles and doubles events on Sunday afternoon and on Tuesday evening.

Gilpin also participates in the local club’s two Amateur Trapshooting Association shoots, the Tom Kunzer Memorial Shoot in late June and the Bruce Frye Memorial Shoot in early August.

During the state competition Gilpin shot from a distance of 25.5 yards, and will shoot from 26.5 yards for future events.

“The targets start to look a lot smaller from back there,” Gilpin said.