← Trap Talk From The Back Fence
Trap Talk From The Back Fence
2025 Grand American Clay Target Champion Jason Krause | Trap Talk Ep. 150
01:08:13
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- [00:00]
A
Welcome back Trap Talk listeners. I'm your host Zach Nanini and I'm here with my co host Richard Marshall Jr. And our good friend from Lincoln, from Nebraska, Jason Crouse. Not Lincoln or Aurora, Aurora, Nebraska. But welcome to the show everyone.
- [00:16]
B
Thank you.
- [00:17]
A
Rick, would you mind doing the honors of introducing Jason since you've known each other so long and he's from your red state that the red army. Of all the good shooters that come from Nebraska. Give it. Give him a resounding announcement for the folks that don't know Jason even though they should.
- [00:33]
C
Absolutely. So crouse. Aurora, Nebraska. He's been shooting since 1998, so 27 years now, going on 28 years and won multiple state championships. He's won the singles, I know a loner two years ago with a lone 200 straight in the singles. He's won the handicap twice in the all around, multiple two hundreds around 20ish, two hundreds in the handicap and then 13 one hundreds and doubles so far. But the biggest of all is he is the 2025 clay target champion with a 200 and we'll get into that a little bit but it was his first 200 in the clay target.
- [01:39]
A
Welcome to season three of Trap Talk.
- [01:41]
C
Brought to you by Craig off. The choice of champions.
- [01:44]
A
All right folks, we got to take a quick second and give a huge shout out to our title sponsor, Craig Off. Me and Ricky him, we both love them.
- [01:52]
C
Yep, best gun in the industry. I shoot them, I sell them. Nothing better folks. Get yourself a Craig up, your scores will increase.
- [02:00]
A
Yeah, I mean Ricky's got hundreds and hundreds of hundreds with his. I mean I've got a few hundreds but. But I'm always working to get a little bit better and they definitely help me, that's for sure. So on top of that, we also got to thank winning. I'm wearing the shirt today. Love this shirt. If you're down at the grand, pick one up.
- [02:14]
C
Yeah, winning. Like I said, Zach, hundreds and hundreds and hundreds with my winning stock. You know, get a hold of Bobby, Luke, Bill, get an appointment set up. They will make you a better shooter with that winning stock.
- [02:27]
A
Of course. Yeah, the grand's the great place to do it. Give them a call, get on their book. It's worth your time.
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C
Just remember, winners shoot winnings.
- [02:33]
A
With that being said, let's get back to the show.
- [02:35]
C
So. And then he ends up winning it. But Jason's also a three time all american team member. Open team, one second team and then two first teams. Right, Jason?
- [02:44]
B
Yep. Correct.
- [02:46]
C
Okay, so Jason shoots a Lot has shot a lot over the years. He took a few hiatuses there. You know, he owns his own truck, so he's a. Another truck driver from Nebraska, just like Justin Debris, except for Jason drives a little bit more than Justin. I know Justin's gonna get mad. We said that. And he'll try to get in his truck and drive, but it's okay. So welcome to the show, Jason.
- [03:07]
B
Thank you. Glad to be here.
- [03:09]
A
So, Jason, you know, I know we're going to get a lot into the technical today because you've shot a lot and you have a lot to give the listeners. But before we go technical, we want to know a little bit about you. So, you know, why did you start trap shooting and kind of walk us through your life? Because I've looked at your years. Like Ricky said, 1998 is when you started, and it hasn't been consistent between now and then. It's been kind of little hits here where you go on a little run for three or four years and then it goes away, and then you. And then you go on a little run for three or four years and then it goes away. So walk us through kind of life and how you keep coming back to the sport, because I know sometimes right now we have people that leave and then they don't come back. So what's your experience been with that?
- [03:54]
B
Well, it started when I was 15. They started the Central Nebraska Conference, the high school shooting here in Aurora at Crooked Creek. And so got started into that shot a couple years through there. Got into registered that second year. Started in 97 and then registered in 98. Got hooked right away. Started in hot and heavy all the way through high school. Wherever my mom would take me or I could afford to go. I went and shot mostly weekend shoots right around here. Get the state shoot every once in a while. Then, you know, you get into college and new things happen. So you kind of walk away from it for a little bit. Kept shooting on the weekends and some leagues and whatnot, but nothing real competitive, I would say. Did that for a while and then starting in the workforce. So you're kind of choosing where you can go and what you can do. So that slows things down a little bit there in it was about 13, 14, 15 right in there. Decided to branch out a little bit. Ended up going to the Spring grand in Tucson in. I believe it was 14.
- [05:13]
A
Yeah, I see 13, 14, 15 and 16. You had over 2500 singles each year. So it just kind of jumped up where you started going because before that it was like 400 to a thousand.
- [05:25]
B
Yeah, yeah. Most of that was just the home club here. A registered shoot on a Sunday or, you know, maybe go to Lincoln or something like that. Otherwise, basically all I shot was leagues and 50 rock trophy shoots. So. And then, like I said, 13, 14, 15, got into a little. Little more. Branched out a little bit. Wanted to kind of go some places, see what the big shoot stuff was all about. We never really done anything like that. You know, you. You hear about the All Americans and the satellite grands and the grand and everything, but wasn't something that we really got into very well. Go to the grand every once in a while. I can't remember the first year I went. I was 16 or 17. There was a couple of us, went out with one of his parents and shot just a couple days there at Vandalia. I was at Vandalia two or three different times. One time was actually to take wads out for downrange. Drove semi out there. Yeah. Was supposed to rent a car and drive back home and wasn't old enough to rent a car yet, so I ended up staying. And I shot almost the whole grand that year. Actually shot the whole prelim week with Dusty that year. I kind of got to know him and traveling around, whatnot. So did that for a while, and then life happened again and took a little hiatus for a couple years. Didn't really shoot much at all. That was for three or four years there. And then got back into it again and really decided it was time to either make something of it or just be a league shooter. So bought a little better gun, started practicing a lot more, especially in the wintertime, as long as it wasn't too cold to stand out there without a big heavy coat on. I tried to go out and shoot and practice a little bit and actually got met up with Justin and Wyatt there at the conference shooting. Wyatt started shooting and got to know them real well, and they invited me to the spring grand one year, so went down and shot that and ended up doing really well. So on the ride home, Justin and Wyatt kind of said, well, you probably ought to just, you know, try going to a few more. And so hit another one and another one. And they all just kind of piggybacked off the last and kept doing better and better. So just kept right on and going.
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C
Now that. That spring grand, Jason, was that Covid spring grand area?
- [07:57]
B
It was after Covid, I want to say 22, 20.
- [08:01]
C
Okay.
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B
I think it was 22, 22 or 23.
- [08:06]
C
It was 23 because, Zach, that's when you and I were in Dubai and we missed the spring grand. Yeah. Because you stayed with Justin. Yes, usually I would stay with him and he's like, hey, if you're not coming. And then I was sick and everybody's like, we ought to come down. And I'm like, I'm not coming to Tucson. No.
- [08:23]
A
Yeah, it was. I'm looking at the scores right now. It was in 20, 23, and that was the year we were in Dubai. So we were off, you know, having fun and not eating bacon and, you know, and then.
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C
And then you were over. You're just.
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A
You're just pounding targets in Tucson, baby. So it's all good.
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B
Yeah.
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C
Only Zach. Well, Jason, now your. Your home club. Do you consider it Crooked Creek your home club then?
- [08:48]
B
Yep. Yep.
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C
None of the camps.
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B
Yep.
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C
Yeah, that I tell you, you know, it's a great club.
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A
Tell me about Crooked Creek because I've never been there ever. And. And I've heard a lot of things. I've heard it's actually pretty difficult to shoot. You know, what's it like? And is it an open to the public club or is it a private club or.
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B
Yep, nope, it's. It's open to the public. They've got five traps. They have, I think, five registered shoots a year. Their big one is In July, their two day handicap, they throw 500 all together, 200 on Sunday, and there's a Calcutta in between and. And they give away leather bags and buckles and whatnot. So it's. It can be difficult to shoot there. I mean, where you've shot it all your whole life, you get used to it. Some people say the background's a little different, a little challenging. Depends on the type of the type of year, whether you got corn in the back or if it's, you know, brown dirt or whatnot. It I. In the early spring, I resembled a lot to Tucson kind of that desert background type. So it, you know, can be difficult to pick the targets up in different lighting conditions.
- [10:00]
A
So do you think that shooting at a tough club like that at the beginning, that has tough background, tough lighting conditions helped evolve you as a shooter for going all around the country? I mean, do you think that there was something to be said about that or.
- [10:12]
B
A little bit, yeah. So we shot a lot of league and a lot of trophy shoots. So you're shooting in a lot of. It's early spring, late fall, we do some winter shoots. So the weather isn't great all the time. Can be really hot or really cold. The wind plays a big factor. So you're shooting targets that are all over the place. They're not completely consistent and that nothing against, you know, anybody setting them or the club or anything like that. It's just you get to see a lot of different things and we would even purposely set them differently when we were practicing so you could kind of get used to higher, lower and, and whatnot. So I, I think it helped a bunch.
- [10:56]
C
Yeah, it's a great club, Zach. It's the, the July shoot. I. I've been out there and shot it a few times and such, but I'm always usually gone. But yeah, the, the nun camp family, because it's a family owned club.
- [11:10]
B
It. It's actually a public owned club or there's a board now.
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C
Right. Okay. Because originally. I know I've said that before, sorry folks, don't stepping on anybody's toes. But I always knew it as, you know, Randy's club back in the day in the. When he started it.
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B
Yep. So it was his father's ground and, and he donated to the club, so.
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C
Okay.
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B
Is that how it originated? Yes. Yep.
- [11:34]
C
Okay. So they just kind of. They. They manage it then, so to speak. I guess it's.
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B
It's actually club owned. Yep.
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C
Okay. So.
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B
Yep.
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C
Yeah. Great place though. I know, you know, we've been out there.
- [11:46]
B
So.
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C
Zach, it's only. What is it? Krausey. 20 miles from Donovan. 25 miles.
- [11:51]
B
Yeah, 20, 25, something like that. It's not very far.
- [11:54]
C
Yeah. So we've actually, during the high school shoot, like taking Tyler and Wyatt and everybody went over there and shot practice during that so the kids could shoot and.
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A
Yeah, because the high school shoot's so busy that you don't have time. You got all day to wait.
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C
Right.
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A
Shoot and come back.
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C
All the traps at the high school shoot or full. So you can't shoot practice.
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B
Yep.
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C
Yeah. That's how many kids they got. So. Yeah, you could go over there, you.
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B
Know, and they usually allow several of the clubs to come over on Thursday and Friday and shoot practice. Let the kids shoot practice in the evenings when they figure out what their yardage is going to be.
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C
Yeah, exactly.
- [12:28]
B
Yep.
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C
Yeah. No, it's. It is. It's a. It's a cool club. So. You know, Zach, if you'd ever travel a little bit more and come out to the.
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A
I know I'm real such a hermit crab. I just stay in the cave all the time and never go anywhere.
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C
But he does, folks. He does.
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A
But, but Jason, are you. Are you part of the illustrious crowd of people that have won the Cornhusker cup then, or you did you never get that, that great Ricky Marshall honor?
- [12:51]
B
Nope, I never got to. Got to that point. We won, I believe, second or third as a team when I was a senior, but I. No individual stuff.
- [13:02]
A
So based on the amount of smack talk around this, this treasure trophy, would you trade your grand ring for one of those back in the day, Are you going to stick with the club?
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B
I, I think I'll stick with what I got nothing against the Cornusker Cup. I've got several friends that have won it, but I, I would take the clay target over that almost any day.
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C
They would all say the same thing. And if they don't, then they don't know.
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A
Yeah, it is. It is what it is.
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C
Now there is. Hey, Zach, if you could come to Crooked Creek, there is a. What, what's Justin's parking spot called? You know, the shade tree or what's that called?
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B
Yeah, I can't remember what we called it. Yeah, he's always under the shade tree.
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C
He's under the shade tree. That's shade tree vendor. There you go, shady. That's what they said.
- [13:47]
A
You got to have a nice spot to lay your head at night, and you want a little cool breeze for that ac. But, Jason, circling back to shooting, I mean, thank you for sharing your story with us and coming up. And it sounds like you spent a lot of time around the small club environment before you jumped on the big circuit, which is what a lot of people do. And I think we need to take a second and recognize and appreciate and remember the small clubs, because the small clubs are the feeders for these big shoots. And I know nowadays, from what I've heard across the country, a lot of These small weekend ATAs are starting to dwindle. And if you have that small dwindling on these small ATA shoots, you don't have the people to show up at the big shoots later, because that's where you learn to have your first competition, is those little, little fifty bird, hundred bird deals. So in your mind, and I don't know if you've thought about this a lot and I don't want to put you on the spot. Is there anything that you think we could do as an association or as a group of people to help those weekend shoots or any good ideas that you would have since you have a lot of experience shooting those shoots, what makes you go to those shoots and what do you look for?
- [14:54]
B
Well, you're really going to really gain confidence. You know, it's. The big shoots can be intimidating, especially to new shooters, because you might go there thinking, well, you know, certain all Americans are here or the big dogs are here, so I don't have a chance. So why travel that far or go to something like that? Well, if you can go to these smaller clubs and get a few wins or shoot some good scores, it gives you confidence to be able to go to one of them bigger shoots and feel like you can compete. So I encourage everybody to shoot as many of the small clubs as they can. Just to put yourself up against those people and get better and better, and then go to the big shoots and see what you can do.
- [15:45]
A
I was waiting for you to respond, Rick, but we can always edit out moments.
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C
Usually Zach jumps in there, so I was like, I'm gonna let him have his.
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A
I'm gonna let Ricky jump in on that. But whenever we have moments of. On little moments of silence, we just edit that out in editing.
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C
Jason, he just makes Slinker's job harder.
- [16:05]
A
Sorry, John. Take a. Take an extra percent. You got it on recording. You know, it is what it is. But, you know, following up with that, Jason, I love the idea of focusing on the little shoots, and I think those little clubs is where you get the confidence, and I think that can't go away. And it helps when you win your first trophy. And it's hard to win your first trophy at a satellite or at a grand sometimes. And just going to that local weekend shoot and getting over those fears and getting over those emotions and getting something out of it, I think is a valuable thing. I just don't know. What I think is there's just probably going to be less of them over time. Not as many as there was. Because I remember in California, there was one like every single weekend, and they were very, very big. But now the problem becomes, well, if this one throws and then this one throws within two or three hours, you're drawing some people to this one and some people to that one. And there's just not enough people to spread around. So everybody's really particular about, okay, on this weekend, this is the club that throws the chute. And. Yeah, and vice versa. Just because there's not as many. Any folks as there was when I started, you know, 27 years ago. And you've probably seen that too.
- [17:16]
B
Well, and a lot of it is the. Is the price. You know, shooting used to be a lot cheaper shells. A lot of guys reloaded a lot shells back then, and targets were a little Cheaper, what not. So I think nowadays people look at more what they can get for what they're going to spend. And that might be. Well, instead of going to four or five little shoots, I'm going to go to two big shoots. And you're shooting the same amount of targets, just doing it in a smaller amount of time, maybe taking less time off of work or traveling less to get the same amount into the. Into a smaller window. And. And it does. It hurts the smaller clubs because you're not going to go to six or eight shoots. You're going to go to two or three or four of the bigger ones. So I. As far as how to remedy that, I'm really not certain.
- [18:06]
A
Hey, trap talk listeners, we got to take a real quick break and we got to thank Ron Prescott for mid state precious metals for everything they do for the trap shooting community coast to coast for all your gold and silver buying needs. And on top of that new announcement, they're a sponsor of the 126 grand American.
- [18:21]
C
Finally he said it right, folks. Grand american. Yeah. Ron is a great guy. He's a sponsor of the back fence shootout at Nevada state shoot and Ohio state shoot. And also we got our gold for our trap talk event at Nevada state shoot and the 77th annual Nevada State shoot. They bought all theirs from it. 680 ounces of silver to be exact. Folks, you're missing out if you're not there.
- [18:45]
A
That's a lot of silver. And honestly, if you're not buying from Ron, you're probably overpaying. So whether you're buying it for your gun clubs or your shoots or for your personal use, you got to give them a try because they're big supporters of the trap shooting nation. So it's awesome. With that being said, let's get back to the show.
- [19:00]
C
All right, folks, we need to take a quick second and get to a new show sponsor, Big red motorsports. Big red. They're personal friends of mine, Jason and George lee, and they're also a personal sponsor of mine.
- [19:11]
A
Now, I'll say this, Ricky looked great driving around in that side by side. I got some free rides down at Tucson, the autumn grand. I think it's awesome that they deliver all across the country. And obviously they love trap shooters. They love trap shooting and they're doing a great job.
- [19:25]
C
Listen, they got can am, Kawasaki CF moto, triton trailers. Hit them up. We'll take care of you guys. With that being said, let's get to the show.
- [19:40]
A
All right, trap talk listeners, let's take A couple seconds and thank a couple more sponsors. First of all, Remington's been with us since day one. I've been shooting these shells since 2007. I shoot the Nitro 27 from 27 yard line ounce and eight, seven and a half and STS, ounce and eighth eights for singles and doubles. They've worked great for me as they do a lot of top shooters all around the country. Give them a try. Don't forget the gun club line when you're practicing and you're wanting to save a little bit of money.
- [20:07]
C
We'd also like to thank another sponsor, Outlaw engineering. Randy Freston, R2. I've known Randy since 1988. They do engineering, survey and drafting, GIS, civil structural land development, wetland permitting. They do.
- [20:24]
A
And they're friends of trap shooters. I mean they're trap shooting family. They've been in the ATA forever. His dad's been involved. They're involved. They're beautiful family. They're great people. And we just love that they listen to the show and we love that they support trap talk.
- [20:36]
C
Yeah. His dad was past president 1989. So I really want to thank those guys for the support and really appreciate it here at trap.
- [20:44]
A
With that being said, let's get back to the show.
- [20:47]
C
Yeah, I don't. I mean, honestly, I'm like you, Jason. You know, I grew up shooting at the smaller shoots. You know, Lincoln, which you come down and shoot at Lincoln. You know, we used to shoot Valley, you know. You know, I know I seen on your stuff, you know, you shot Holdridge, Cozad, you know, a lot of them shoots.
- [21:05]
B
Yep.
- [21:06]
C
You know, and it's something that I think the clubs want to do stuff. Zach. I just don't think that they have the. The man's two and the resources where you know a guy. I mean, look at what we're doing, you know, here. Coming up, the Las Vegas State shoot. Which folks, this will be Vegas will be on and over when you hear this. But you know this shoots going to be one of the top five shoots in the country probably for 20, 26 target year. And with all the giveaways and that sort of stuff. And I think if some of the smaller clubs could do a little bit more of that, some enticement to get some people to come, you'll get some more or even some new shooter days or you know, come enjoy shooting at half price or you know, there's ways to. To get some. We need to get some more shooters involved. But I like the idea of shooting the smaller clubs because that's where it all starts, you know, supporting them, shooting the leaks. I mean, you know, I. I just got back from, you know, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, teaching up there for a couple days, and I was told, you know, they have, like, 800 people in a league. And I was like, what? And they're like, oh, that's awesome. We have a couple hundred kids in a league, just a kid's youth league, you know, and stuff, so it could be done. And they were saying, oh, it takes, you know, the resources and. Absolutely, you know, so it's cool to see that. I just wish, you know, we could get every club to do that.
- [22:37]
A
Well, and I think it becomes a volunteering effort, right? Like, at the end of the day, if you look at the board at Nevada, you look at John, you look at Greg, you look at the All Stars that are there helping make that shoot grow, and then you've got the people that are surrounding it that are the donation people that say, yeah, we want to support this. I think people are willing to help, but they're either willing to help two ways. They're willing to give you their time or their pocketbook. They're not probably going to give you both. So, you know, you've got your people that are willing to give the time and donate all of that resource of, you know, trying to do the ask. And then there's people that say, hey, I see what you're trying to do, and if you're making it better, I'm okay putting my money there. And I think. I think that there are people okay with writing checks. It just becomes a matter of, is this going to something that's actually going to benefit the sport, or is it just going to. I'm paying for another, you know, janky trophy package or some kind of, you know, crap that isn't necessarily trickling down to the shooter.
- [23:31]
B
Right.
- [23:31]
A
At the end of the day, you know, there's a lot of money flowing, but it needs to be like, what? I love those sos Silver shootouts. You know, Greg told me about him. He's like, hey, you know, I'm donating, you know, the silver to the clubs.
- [23:42]
B
The clubs.
- [23:42]
A
You do the shootout and the shoot, the silver goes right to the shooter. So, you know, I think that's a really great example of how to boost things up. When people donate the bags, the silver, the. The gun raffle, the. Whatever it might be, shells, then it's. Yeah, there's no. There's no skim on that, right? It's just, boom, right to the right to the participant user, which, you know, and it requires a lot of bodies, a lot of. A lot of help.
- [24:07]
C
Well, the funding, you know, you need sponsors. I mean, we could have, you know, Crowsy Trucking singles. I mean.
- [24:14]
A
Yeah, yeah, it would definitely be the singles for sure. That based on the way you've been banging them things this year, I mean, you probably run them too. I'll give you that. You win your own trophy in your own event, as you should.
- [24:28]
C
Yeah, folks, I'm taking my Adam money back with me.
- [24:31]
B
Yeah.
- [24:32]
A
You know, you were a pain in the butt, too. I mean, at the Heartland grand, you were dinging them singles every day. I mean, I ran them the first day and I ran them the second day. And by the time the third day, I see this Krausey. Run them again, run them again, run them again. And then by the end of the week, I was just tired. He's just wear everybody out. Just hit all the damn singles, won all the trophies. So, I mean, you were. You were on quite a little run there from. From the clay target. So I want to circle back before we get into the clay target, and I want to talk a little bit about your major transitions, because I'm looking at your averages here, and it looks like you've kind of always hovered around, you know, 96, 95, 97, you know, even some years a little less, but, you know, you know, kind of that average range, AA shooter, if you will. Then these last three years, you went 98, 78. Then you went 99.14 and 99.29. What were the major things that you did differently in the last three seasons that you haven't done your whole life? And why did it all of a sudden just click?
- [25:32]
B
Well, the first major change was in 19 or 20 is when I bought my Krieg off, bought a K80 trap special. That helped a bunch of. After that, a lot of practice. A lot of practice in the wintertime. I used to be a really, really quick single shooter and almost trapped targets. And when you got a really nice target, it worked pretty well. And when you didn't, it didn't work. So I knew I had to fix that. So I slowed down tremendously compared to what I used to be and became a lot more deliberate. That helped tremendously. And then it was three years ago at the grand now I went and got fitted for a winnick and that. That was a complete game changer. I hadn't until then, I'd Never broke a 99 in the handicaps and I got my stock fitted and went out with the. With the pattern, and within three or four days, I broke a 99 in the. In the caps.
- [26:33]
C
So that was.
- [26:33]
B
That was. What's that?
- [26:36]
C
That was in 20. 22.
- [26:38]
B
22. Yep.
- [26:38]
C
Okay.
- [26:39]
B
Yep, yep, yep. So that.
- [26:41]
A
Yeah. Because your handicap average shot from 87.15 that year.
- [26:46]
C
Yep.
- [26:47]
A
All the way to 91. And then the next year went into 93. So, like, you picked up four birds in one year and handicap average and then picked up another two the following year. So, I mean, there was some significant. Like, you don't always see significant jumps. And when we did the Keith Ditto episode, you know, there was one year his singles average went from 93 to 99. I mean, there was this just significant jump. And I always want to pick into knowing, like, what are those little tweaks? Because I think there's people that listen to the show and, you know, they're afraid to change things or adjust things. And I mean, you were a great shooter in the average scheme of things, and then you became, like, really, really, really, really, really real good within the time of one year.
- [27:31]
B
Yeah, well, you. And I think you said it there. A lot of people are afraid to change things. They get complacent and their mindset becomes, well, it's not horrible, and I don't want to change anything and make it worse. So they just leave it as is and they don't know what could happen. And I here in the past couple years, like I said, we've done a lot of practice and. And a lot of not so much adjusting, but you adjust a little and then you shoot a while at it, and then you adjust a little more and shoot a while at it. And I learned, once you think you got it right, keep going a little more and adjust a little more till it starts to go the other way. And then you know where you found where the limit is, because if it continually rises and it doesn't decline, you don't know if you're at the limit yet where you really need to be. So I always recommend, you know, adjust and adjust and adjust until it goes the wrong way and then go back to where it was the best at and then leave it there and leave it there for a while. A lot of people get into, well, I've got an adjustable comb or adjustable rib or I've got. So that's all they want to do is adjust on everything all the time. And I think they're chasing their tail a lot. They don't give it A good enough chance, you know, you can, I mean, you guys know as well as I do you can have the perfect setup and be completely confident you can walk out there and break a bad score. Whether it's the weather, whether it's the targets, whether you just had a bad day and weren't focused enough. That doesn't mean that your setup is wrong or that your delivery was wrong. It just, it just had a bad day. And instead of walking off the line right away and going, well, I gotta change something because this isn't working. Go back, take a deep breath, try it again, and if it still goes wrong, and it continues to go wrong, then you may have to go do something. But until then, I don't like to change things until, until I know that that's what it is. And it's not just me not focusing or having a bad day or, you know, like I said, maybe it was the wind was blowing a little bit and I wasn't reading the targets right or they, you know, little faster, a little slower, what not. And I just didn't pick up on it. And that's nothing you're going to adjust yourself in or out of, I don't believe.
- [29:51]
A
No. And I think that, man, that was huge because you talked about your training and you said at the beginning of the training you were adjusting to find the sweet spot and then going past that. And we've talked a lot about adjusting to the smoke ball. I don't think I've ever heard it describe the way that you said it, Jason. And I like that because, you know, Binillas and, you know, and for those of you that I've seen all the posts on the, on the online, you know, he's passed away and he was a friend of mine and I know Rick too, and I don't know if you ever get a chance to meet him.
- [30:21]
B
Jason, I never did. I didn't meet him. I knew who he was, obviously. But no, I never got to meet the man.
- [30:26]
C
One of the greatest of all times, for sure.
- [30:28]
A
And what Benia has always used to tell me, I always used to ask him, ask him is, you know, what's so important? And he'd always say, well, I use the whole pattern. And what he meant by that was, you know, a lot of people, if you think about it, if you have a 30 inch pattern and you're putting that into the clay and you're coming from the bottom like most people do, a lot of people are breaking that target with the first 10 or 15 or 20% of the top of the pattern. And that whole 60 or 70% of that pattern is left beneath the clay below. And Banias, I said, you know, what made you so good? He said, well, I use my whole pattern. When I drop a shot on something, I want to break that target, the frontage of that target with the bottom 20% of my pattern so that it runs through it like a meat grinder. Like it's running through that, through that area. And I think a lot of the times people adjust their gun till they get that first smoke ball and they stop, but they could probably keep going up and still getting that smoke ball to a point till they're actually shooting like over the top of it. And. And I think that was a really, you know, articulate way that you just described that. So, you know, I appreciate that. And then going into not making changes once you find that spot, like not just giving up instantly when you have a bad day because so many people go to the wrenches or go to the, you know, whatever it might be when they see a bad, a bad round or a bad, you know, performance, and you stick through that. So a follow up question on that. How do you get back up after a bad day? You know, what are the things that you do to not grab the wrenches and to not throw in the towel when you've had, you know, one of those, you know, oh, crap days where I'm like, you're thinking about it and you're wondering, you know, why was it so bad?
- [32:17]
C
He hits his squad mates, talk him off the ledge.
- [32:19]
B
Pretty much. Yeah.
- [32:20]
C
That's exactly what I was going to say for Crowsley. You'll fix anything.
- [32:25]
B
Exactly. Yep. Go back to the camper, sit in the chair and reflect.
- [32:30]
A
A lot of reflecting. 12 out 12, 8 to 12 ounce reflections.
- [32:34]
B
Exactly. Yep, exactly.
- [32:36]
A
So, you know, and I think that. So the moral of that story is have good friends. Is that the thing? Just, yeah, guys, hey, it's okay, you know, come on. That kind of thing.
- [32:45]
B
Yep. You got to have encouragement, you got to have. You got to have people that'll basically take your mind off of it if you sit there and stew on it and try to think about it all night, about how the day didn't go well, the next day probably isn't going well either. So you got to go do something else, get your mind off of it and just reset.
- [33:05]
C
I will recommend one thing, folks for out there if you shoot with Crouzley, is do not try to stay up with him late at night and partake in that. Because my squad mates one night at the Grand American Krause and Mr. Mike Jackson proceeded to outlast me by hours. And when I saw him in the morning, I said, whoa, boys, your eyes. Your eyes look a little bloodshot. It was late evening, but as you know, we have fun. You know, that. That's one of the things. And that's, you know. Yeah. And, you know, and I was fortunate, you know, we had a great squad this year. You know, Krause, he broke a hundred in the sink or. Excuse me, back it up. Krause, he broke a hundred in the handicap. The first handicap, when I missed my last target right in front of him. Yeah, he had four targets to think about. What the heck, you know, and then. And then you proceeded, you know, in the clay target to hammer him. And, you know, so we. We did, as a squad, had a.
- [34:09]
B
Had a great grand, you know, we did. It was a lot of fun.
- [34:13]
C
Yeah. Unlike Zach squad.
- [34:16]
B
Nah.
- [34:16]
A
Yeah, we do the best we can. We're just holding it together.
- [34:19]
B
Yeah. Yeah.
- [34:20]
A
We're just barely hanging on to it.
- [34:22]
B
But.
- [34:22]
A
But yeah, I. I want to know a little more of your technical stuff about your setup, Jason. You know, you set a Craig off. Obviously, you said the winning stock. That made a big difference. But as far as actual point of impact and, you know, as far as chokes and shells and things that you're using now, what do you use as far as your physical setup on equipment?
- [34:44]
B
Got the K80 trap special. I shoot it's about 100% high, 90, 10 to 100 right in there. Singles and first shot of doubles. Use a Remington Light 8. I was shooting a nitro on the second shot of doubles. I have since switched and went back to a light eight on the second shot as well. But use the nitro on the. On the handicap shoot, a full choke on the 16s and a full choke on the 27. I was shooting a improved and a full on the doubles, and I've since lightened that up to a modified and improved. I know Rick tried talking me into that quite a while ago. I'll be honest. I don't know if I've noticed a huge difference in the brakes. Definitely not any worse. So, yeah, I don't see any reason to switch back, I guess. But I. I hold a high gun probably a foot and a half or so off the house on singles, depending on the height of the target, about half that for handicap. And I usually start somewhere in between there for doubles, depending on the height of the target.
- [35:57]
A
All right, folks, we got to take a real quick break and acknowledge the official target of the ata, White Flyer. They've been sponsoring us since the beginning, and they make a great target. What do you think, Rick?
- [36:07]
C
It's the best target in the ata. Shout out to everybody there, all the reps, you know, Bill Daniels, Josh Taylor, Nick Arnold, Robert Crow, everything they do for the sport and all the shoots. Really appreciate it.
- [36:19]
A
They're always there. They're always trying to make a better target, and they're always supporting the game that we love so much. With that being said, let's get back to the show. Hey, Trop Talk listeners, let's take a quick second to thank a couple more amazing sponsors. Sos, Clay Shoot Management. They're doing a fantastic job. I love the app. I love being able to see everything on my phone instantaneously. It's freaking awesome. Rick, what do you think?
- [36:46]
C
Yeah, Greg Pink and his group over there. I mean, they've got majority of the satellite grands. Majority. The state shoots. I think it's 40 plus state shoots, that what they're doing. But the app, honestly, we were doing a little beta testing with that at the spring grand. It's awesome. You could see your squad if they paid. You know, you can see your options, your payouts, the whole works at your fingertips. Great deal. They're just.
- [37:08]
A
Ricky, how much money he made before he even got off the line, he was like, hey, I'm buying lunch. I'm like, yeah, good job. We're good to go. We also got gun and trophy insurance. I mean, they're the best in the business. I. I know they're. They're great price. Ricky, you're familiar with them, right?
- [37:23]
C
Yeah. Cole, Larry Cushman, been longtime supporters of myself and, and I've been a supporter of them and, you know, especially with my college team, you know, we require insurance. It's so fast and easy to sign up and get your insurance. In literally 10 minutes, you can have your guns insured. And. And they're just great. They're great to deal with. Like I said, you can do your trophies also, you know, your. Your wildlife, animals and that such, and your guns. It's just a great, great.
- [37:52]
A
It's always good when you're traveling around to have that peace of mind and know that you don't have to worry about losing your stuff forever. And these are expensive things, especially when you got those Craig Offs, you got to keep them insured, so.
- [38:01]
C
Oh.
- [38:02]
A
With that being said, let's get back to the show. All right, Trap Talk listeners, we Got to take a quick break and we got to welcome a new sponsor of the show, RGS Bore Stripper. It's a great product.
- [38:11]
C
Ricky.
- [38:11]
A
Tell them how they can find it.
- [38:12]
C
Go to their website, rgsguncleaner.com you can get the 18 ounce box bottle, free shipping, 28 ounce bottle and you get the 2 ounce travel bottle and it's free shipping also. Or just get the little two ounce bottle for travel.
- [38:27]
A
Yeah, they sent me some of this product and I used it on my Kragoff choke tubes the other day. And it got the plastic out like in a minute and it was super cool and super good. So if you like cleaning your gun, you like eliminating plastic, and you like shiny bores, give them a try for sure. Thank you so much for supporting the show.
- [38:41]
C
Yeah, we'd really like to thank John Weber, the owner, for the support. He's doing an awesome job.
- [38:45]
A
Yeah, we really want to thank John. We appreciate the support of the show. Anybody that supports Trap Talk, you guys need to support them and get this stuff because it's awesome.
- [38:53]
C
And with that, let's get back to the show. So.
- [38:56]
A
So, you know, and I, I love to hear that you, you called yourself a high gun hold shooter and there's people like Rich Bullard walking around that are holding 62ft above the trap house. But like.
- [39:06]
C
Yeah, it's nothing like that relevant though, Zach. You got to realize though, Krause's only 4 foot 11 and Rich is 6 11. So. Yeah.
- [39:19]
A
You gotta edit that out.
- [39:20]
C
We can't do that to him. Oh, yeah, we can.
- [39:23]
B
Yeah. No, no, no, no, no. Why stop now?
- [39:26]
C
No, no, no. That's right. Karouse's got thick skin, unlike you, Zach.
- [39:32]
A
We gotta protect that. But, but what, what I do want to say about the hold points is for you, you know, one and a half to two feet above. Are you shifting that in singles, in handicap and doubles? Like, is it shifting depending on the height of the targets that day or do you pretty much say, hey, I'm going to hold right here and whatever the targets are doing, I'm staying constant?
- [39:53]
B
No, no, it depends on the height of the target. I never hold clear down on the house. Even if the targets are low, I've got to be a little bit above. But obviously you never want to let that target stay below your barrel the entire time. You always want it to rise above there. So I like to gauge it. So where I'm starting is about 2/3 of the flight of the target of the height that way. And then I hold still till it clears the barrel, and then it's not really much of an upward movement as more of a push and lateral left and right. I don't have a lot of upwards movement. I have tried holding down on the house and tracking the target, and I see it. I see the streak so fast that when I hold clear down on the house, I panic because it looks like it's getting away from me. And I seem to have a lot better luck if I hold a high gun and basically let that target burn off. I still see the streak right away with my left eye coming under the barrel. But then as long as I do my job and hold still long enough, that target slows down and becomes clear right as I want to track it and shoot. And it seems to slow everything down for me.
- [41:09]
A
So holding up at a point to where you can allow that target to burn off and get into your eye zone before you start to make an approach. And then everything is pushing, not it's a shoulder press. You're just pressing into the target more left and right to finish than you are running the gun up with gun speed. Like more Me and Rick style.
- [41:28]
B
Exactly. Yeah.
- [41:29]
A
So less gun movement in general, right? I mean, you don't have a lot. I mean, would you say you're moving the gun, you know, 1 to 3 inches? I mean, depending on where the target is.
- [41:39]
B
I mean, depending on where the target is. Yeah, it's not much more than that. Like I said, as long as the target is steady and taking a straight flight. You know, obviously when they're jumping around and things like that, it's a lot different. But no, on a normal target, there's very little upwards movement. It's. It's almost all lateral, so, you know, straightaways and quarter angles. There's very little barrel movement on the end.
- [42:03]
C
So are you then, are you looking under your barrel?
- [42:07]
B
Yes.
- [42:07]
C
You just kind of looking around the.
- [42:09]
B
Barrel kind of more under. Actually, my left eye is what picks up the targets. So my. My right eye is soft, focused out kind of where I want to see it, start to see it clear to follow it. And the left eye is what picks up the street coming out of the house so I can get my direction. And then from there it. They both. Once they both pick it up, it becomes clear. And then it's not far after that before I am wanting to shoot.
- [42:37]
A
So. So doubles. Are you trapping that first target? Then are you shooting it just like you shoot singles, where you're allowing it to break the crest your gun and making A move like, what's that situation? Maybe not right or wrong, but what is it?
- [42:52]
B
It's not supposed to be a trap, but it ends up being that quite a bit. I. I've. What I'm trying to do is move just. Just ever so slightly up. I don't want to get the gun going up or to the right. If you're shooting it right, left, or, you know, up into the left very far. I don't want to end up having to get it going, stop it, and get it going the other way. I'd rather just a very slight push forward or up and then get to going either left or right to get to that second bird. Otherwise, I feel like I have way too much gun movement, and I feel like I can't get swung to that second target. So I don't want to move much on the first. Not again. It's not supposed to be a trap, but it. It does tend to be. If the targets are right where they're supposed to be, then it's. It's way.
- [43:43]
C
They'Re right there. He's whacking a hundred if they ain't. Tends to miss the first targets, and.
- [43:50]
B
He'S like, I miss way more first targets than I do second targets. And I'm. They're towards the end, like, towards the end of the grand and. And the heartland. It got way better. I talked to Sean Hawley there at the Iowa State shoot for a little bit, and my call on doubles was changing. It was much shorter and quick, and that he kind of let me know that's what was making me want to shoot so quick at that first one. Trying to draw my call out a little longer, especially on doubles, to try and hold myself off from. From basically calling, Pulling, pulling trigger right away, that first shot.
- [44:28]
C
Yeah. And that happens.
- [44:30]
A
That's really, really insightful that you've thought about this much and you've spent time recognizing the strengths and the weaknesses in your game where you can still even try to improve it. Because, you know, obviously we're having some fun and we're joshing on the show, but, you know, Jason's doubles are not bad. They're very good. He's a very good double shooter. I mean, it's not like we're talking, like, in a way that, you know, you don't break hundreds of doubles.
- [44:53]
B
You do.
- [44:54]
A
But to be able to look at yourself in the mirror and say, this is what I'm doing, but this is what I want to be doing. And I think there's so many people that will not look themselves in the mirror and say, well, this is what I'm doing. This is what I want to do. They'll just say, oh, this is what I do, and I like it and it's fine, even if it's wrong. Ultimately, I think it goes back to that thing that you brought up at the beginning. People are afraid of changing. Like, they're afraid of. They don't want to go down to go up. And a lot of times when you have to make these adjustments, there's going to be some down before it goes up. Not every move and not everything is an immediate success.
- [45:31]
C
You got to really look at it in every shooter out there. No matter who you are, if you're not trying to improve all the time, then you just get kind of lulled into just the everyday routine. I mean, you know, like, I just got back from this clinic, and I always tell everybody, you know, you gotta have a regimen. You know, whether it be your practice regimen, you're shooting, you know, keep a. You know, keep track of all your events, everything, you know, and in a journal, and, you know, you can revert back to stuff. But in all reality, every time I go out and shoot, I'm trying to improve, you know, and not, you know, mess around and we have fun. I mean, Jason, you and I shoot together. Zach and I shoot together stuff. We have a good time, but when it's our shot, we're really trying to.
- [46:27]
A
Absolutely.
- [46:28]
C
And break targets. Absolutely.
- [46:30]
A
And so, Jason, this year, would you say this is the most you've ever shot in a target year as far as weeks consecutively, or has there been more consecutively?
- [46:41]
B
Yes. Total target count. I actually shot more last year than I did this year. I come down a couple of shoots. I didn't go to Tucson and in the fall, in the spring, and I didn't go to the southwest this year that I had went to before. So target count went down. I did try and cram more in consecutively, and like we talked the other day, I went six straight weeks to start the season. And it can. It goes one of two ways. It can either be really good and you can get on a really good roll, or you can get burnt out and you can start doing things you're not supposed to. And around week four or five, that kind of started to happen to me. Just got to where I was. Almost burnout. Yeah. Not that I didn't want to shoot. Just wasn't near as hungry as I was the first two weeks. And this next year, I'm Going to try that a little different. Do two, maybe three weeks tops in a row, and then take a break and get away from it a little bit, and then try and come back when you can step away for four or five days. Then you're eager to go to the next shoot. By the time you hit Week 5 or 6, at least for me, you leave that shoot on Sunday, you drive on Monday, and by the time you get there Monday night to set up, it's like, oh, man, here we go.
- [47:59]
C
Again, all over again. Another seven days, another.
- [48:04]
B
And yeah, and then. And I know I enjoy it a lot, but it. It can be a grind.
- [48:09]
A
And it sounds like a grind, and it sounds like, if I'm hearing correctly, having that hunger and drive is almost even more important than shooting a lot. I mean, because you can almost shoot yourself out if you go too much and you. You don't take that second to want it. Right. I mean, it was your. Your want and your drive that pushed you to winning more than your ability. Correct?
- [48:32]
B
Exactly. Yeah. Yeah. You desire, I think, plays a big role in this sport, goes hand in hand with your mindset. You know, we all know this is a 90% mental game and a 10% physical. And if your mind gets drained or you're not thinking the right way or you're not wanting to do just that that day, you're not going to perform as well as the guy standing next to you or the guy on the next trap. And I've actually heard that from a lot of people over the years. I tried to ask a lot of questions, and Scott Jens, good friend of mine, told me years ago at the Nebraska state shoot, I was struggling with singles and especially 200 bird events, and kind of picked his brain a little bit. And he said, the first thing you got to remember, he said, if you're going to do this and you're going to stand out there when you walk up the line, that has to be the most important thing in the world, right? Then there can't be anything else. And he said if there is, he goes. And it doesn't mean you can't care about anything else. But if you're worried about the job or the kid or something going on at home, then you might as well put your gun back in the case and go home then, and go deal with that, because it has to be 100% or you will get beat.
- [49:43]
C
Yeah, you are absolutely correct about that, Jason. I tell everybody, when you walk out on that, past that sidewalk, in between the sidewalk and the 27, everything has to stay back as you go and shoot. And it, no matter what it is, and if you can do that, your shooting will become more consistent, but you gotta have that ability. And it's like you reverting back to what you're saying about shooting five or six straight weeks. Yeah, it, that's a grind. I mean, I've done it, I think once or twice a long time ago. I like the three weeks at most, you know, or even two weeks, you know, and you're, you know, three weeks. What I always say is, you know, like Vegas and then the Tucson, you know, the pre and the. In the main. But I don't shoot the pre usually. That's when you just hang out, maybe shoot an event or two and you know, and such. But yeah, it is kind of. It can burn you out big time.
- [50:33]
A
Oh yeah, for sure it can. And, and I think that people need to pay attention to that because if they're not there and they're not present and they're not hungry for it, well, then stay at home.
- [50:45]
C
Right?
- [50:45]
A
You got to have that, you got to have that, that drive. And I, and I can tell you, Jason, I respect you and you are competitor. I've never seen you not want to win. I mean, and that's, I think that's about a valuable, you know, important thing to have nowadays when you go out there, you, you, you expect to win. You want to win, you're trying to win. You're not going out there just to have fun with it. You're going out there to see really.
- [51:10]
C
How good you can do.
- [51:11]
B
Exactly. And I've been that way my whole life. I'm probably competitive to a fault.
- [51:16]
A
It's that Nebraska competitive edge, right? You guys just like, like doing stuff, I guess. I don't know.
- [51:22]
B
Yeah.
- [51:22]
C
Yeah. Well. And now let's get into your, your clay target win. So was this your first 200 in the clay target or was your second?
- [51:32]
B
It was my second. Yeah. Yep. I broke one in 16. I broke them and then I ended up missing the first target out in the shoot off that and the shootout.
- [51:42]
C
You're like, well, I made the shooter and that, hey, it's, you know, it's one of the best shoot offs to try to be in, but it's also the hardest one to win. But you know, as you know, I mean, you won it, so you understand that. So take us back. So of course we were shooting together and I think you broke the only 200 on the squad that day, right?
- [52:02]
B
Yep.
- [52:02]
C
And you know, so you broke the Deuce. So we were ready for shoot offs. And you guys only you went 200 the first night?
- [52:10]
B
Yep.
- [52:11]
C
And then how many did it take the second night? 100.
- [52:14]
B
100? Yep.
- [52:15]
C
Okay, and who was it down to the second night?
- [52:19]
B
Pat Lamont, Cody, I, Brandon Deal and Scott Omachane and myself.
- [52:26]
C
So some bangers.
- [52:28]
A
Yeah, I mean that's the right in the center slot of single shooters in this country.
- [52:33]
C
That's some salty.
- [52:35]
A
Salty 16 yard bangers for sure.
- [52:37]
C
Yeah. Cody was on a 500 squad. I know.
- [52:41]
B
Yeah.
- [52:41]
C
This year, you know, in Kansas and such, you know, and Scott overcharged, you know, Mr. Singles, you know, and of course Brandon Deal. I mean, you know, Brandon's been banging two hundreds forever. And then of course, you know, Lamont went in, you know, championship after championship. So who was it down 11 rings or something? 12. Who was it down to in the last round?
- [53:07]
B
Me and Brandon Deal.
- [53:09]
C
Okay, how was that? What were you think, what was your mindset? So let's take it back. What was your mindset after you, you finished the 200? Because I remember seeing you that night. We were, you know, having a good time and you know, like I tell Everybody, shoot the 200. Personally, me, I wish they just continued the thing and just run it out, you know, but get done, okay, Have a few, I know you want to have a few beers, so. And then how was your mindset at the end of that when you broke the 200 that night in the shoot off?
- [53:44]
B
More relieved, I guess, that I made it that far and was still in it. I was ready to take a break. You know, I would have kept going, but it, it didn't hurt my feelings any that we quit after the two. It made it a little harder the next day, having all day to think about it, I guess. Yeah, just, I was fairly relieved that I'd made it that far and thought, well, it, you know, you get that part of it done and yeah, there's way less people to contend with now, but they're also probably, you know, the best ones. Exactly. So.
- [54:19]
C
And who, who missed first on the, on the second day? Do you remember?
- [54:24]
B
I believe Cody missed first and then Pat.
- [54:29]
C
They missed in the same round, first box.
- [54:32]
B
And Cody missed twice. I just can't, I can't remember if Cody missed first and then Pat or if Pat missed first and then Cody missed the two. So they went out on the first round and then we went out on the second round, just me and Brandon and Scott and we all ran that round and then Scott missed on the third round and Brandon missed on the fourth.
- [54:54]
C
So when Brandon missed, where at did he miss at?
- [54:58]
B
It was right in the middle, the 12th or 13th target somewhere in there.
- [55:03]
C
Okay, so in that time. So when it came down to just you and Brandon, what was in your head for our listeners there, what were you thinking about, honestly?
- [55:11]
B
Well, I, I knew what him and Dagan had done two years before that. So yeah, I. That almost may have made it a touch easier because I, I had no intention of it being over that next round or even that evening. You know, I was planning on this is if I'm going to win it. This is probably going to go to the to Saturday yet. And we'll have to decide it then was kind of my thoughts, you know, it wasn't. Okay, well, hey, we're getting close now and this might end soon. I was prepared to, you know, let's go find some more shells.
- [55:45]
C
Yeah.
- [55:46]
B
Type of thing. Because I figured he was. He was going to go for a lot longer than. Than what we ended up doing.
- [55:52]
C
So when he missed, did the pucker factor come in play?
- [55:58]
B
Absolutely.
- [55:59]
C
What I mean, did it run through your mind of, oh God, I could win the clay target?
- [56:05]
B
So funny story, the. The day before when we got done, I had found out that Barrett had broke his first 200. So I was running around trying to find him and ended up catching up to him and Dagan and Mike and and Connor at Justin's camper. So we were all standing around talking and, and got to talking about the shoot off and because Dagan was in it and Barrett and Connor asked Dagan, he says, so when it was just down to you and Brandon and Brandon missed, he goes, was that easier or harder? And Dagan thought a little bit. And he goes, well, I think it made it just a little bit easier because he said then I knew that even if I missed, I could still have a chance to win it. And so, you know, I thought about that for a while and when we went out to that fourth box, it was just me and him. That was in the back of my mind a little bit. And then when he finally missed, I found out Dagan was very wrong. It did not make it any easier for me. It made it way worse. Those were.
- [57:06]
C
I was gonna say easier.
- [57:09]
B
Yeah. Hardest targets that I've ever shot.
- [57:13]
A
All right, folks, we got to take another quick break and thank one of our show sponsors. 73 Pointers Ranch Jonesburg, Missouri Rick and Carla Burke. Best place in the area to go shoot chuckers and pheasants and have a great time. Rick, we got to get you down there.
- [57:25]
C
Yeah, I need to come in. Hopefully I can do some hunting with you guys and come to your. The annual clay shoot in August right after the grand.
- [57:33]
A
It's a lot of fun. It's the Optimist Club charity shoot. They throw a charity shoot. They put it on, and it's wonderful. I think last year they had over 100, 100 entries into it, and it's just a good time. With that being said, let's get back to the show. Well, I would think, like, you know, if. If you would have it in a perfect world in a clay target, you would love for the guy to miss late, but the earlier he misses in that round, the more time you have to think about it realistically, I mean, because, yeah, I would think it would start to compound on itself because you're like, okay, you know, maybe in the first 20, get through them, and then you get to the last post and you're like, okay, these last five. And now the nerves start to shut set in. But were you shaking? Were you. Were you having to remount your gun a few times to get the right spot? I mean, what were the, you know, going into those last few finishing shots, were there any major things that you were, like, feeling?
- [58:28]
B
Just trying to focus on my breathing and stay a little calm because I was starting to get jittery. And that's when you can start, you know, moving the gun too fast, too slow, things like that. I knew I didn't want to start pointing at them and get careful. So honestly, if anything, I might have sped up just a touch as far as my procedure, just so I didn't think about it too much and didn't let it seep into roasting stuff.
- [58:55]
C
It started smoke balling.
- [58:59]
B
So it. Trying to stay calm was the hardest part. And I, like I said, just trying to take some deep breaths, things like that. It actually went fairly quick from what you think it might be. You think it might take forever once that guy missed. Even if you only had five or six shots left to go and it. It actually went fairly quick for me.
- [59:25]
A
Well, I think what you said they're leaning into, it had to help because I think a lot of people, the natural tendency is, oh, he missed. Let's be more careful. Let's point him out, let's slow down, let's. And I think when you slow down and you're amped up, I think when the adrenaline is pumping and then you start making more precise, the jerk of the gun, you start to go and kind of do that versus if you just like, okay, I'm just going to let the adrenaline do the job. Then you start moving that gun into the target. I mean, more times than not, and this is just me, I find myself behind targets, not in front. So if my adrenaline comes in and I just start driving into the bird, it doesn't seem to hurt as bad as if I start soft handing everything and going real precise. Could I shoot right, blow right behind something by three or four feet, you know, I mean, what do you think about that, Rick?
- [60:13]
C
Yeah, no, absolutely. I know you, you know, like Jason talked about what Dagan said and, and I agree with Jason. It doesn't make it any easier. You know, I've been in that clay target shoot off quite a few times. I've been runner up, I think five times, so. But I know one of my runner ups the year Dave Roulette won it in 75, I won runner up, but in 275 I'd have broke another 200 straight. And the gentleman I was shooting off against, McAllister from Kansas, he missed like the second target out. And I was gonna quit shooting after a hundred that day because I still had to shoot off for the doubles championship because they had to carry it over, you know, and I was like, oh. And it did, it took me a little bit to hot, you know, get into it and I'm like, okay, keep your stuff right, keep your stuff right. It does. And that's why. And like when you were shooting that, that second day, Jason, we didn't get a watch because they were having the doubles championship, you know, shoot off. And Tyler was shooting off for the junior world championship. So I was down there, but I was on the phone with Bubbles, you know, and he's like, okay, it's down to, it's down to Krausey and, and Brandon. And I was like, okay. And then he's like, oh crap. He said a few other words, folks. I think Brandon missed. And I'm like, okay, we, Tyler just got done. So then we walked all the way down, you know, and you had won and stuff and I was so happy for you and proud of you, you know, not just as, you know, a fellow Nebraskan, but a friend and a squad mate to, to see it because it is the toughest event in my opinion to win is the clay target.
- [61:59]
A
I, I have to believe that just because the raw ability of everyone that can shoot singles, I mean you think of the amount of people that can shoot good singles, anybody and everybody pretty much that's A gamer can break 200 singles and do it and you know, you get down to the doubles. Well, okay, well not everyone shoots great doubles or you get to the handicap. Anybody could have one good hundred birds that day and just win it with a loner which no shoot off required. You know overalls and all arounds. You know I, I think those would probably be up as 2 and 3. As far as hardest behind.
- [62:36]
C
Oh yeah. I mean as far as the hardest. But a single event that clay target. Just because it's. When it's your day, it's your day. Yeah, and, and, and it was your day. And I mean the, the, the sad part is I'm not to listen to you and Dusty both as my squad mates of the grand of work like target wins.
- [62:56]
B
We might not let you let that.
- [62:58]
A
Down for a while.
- [62:59]
C
That's okay. You know, we use that again. You know what Krausey? Hey Krause, you know what the cool thing is? There's two of us that have rings on this show.
- [63:09]
A
That is, that is just cold blooded and uncalled.
- [63:13]
B
You knew it was coming though.
- [63:16]
C
Did you get your ring yet?
- [63:18]
B
I have not yet, no. No.
- [63:21]
C
All right, what did you get for the stone?
- [63:24]
B
Oh boy. Ruby, I believe whatever July is, I think.
- [63:30]
C
Yeah.
- [63:30]
B
Ruby for Jake. Yeah, I think it's Ruby. Yep.
- [63:33]
C
So folks, for everybody that doesn't know Krausy, a lot of times throughout the summer his, his son Jake travels around with him and stuff in the camper and, and pesters all of us and we have to play catch with him because Krausey won't. But no, oh no, we do folk. Jake, great little kid. Pretty soon he'll be shooting hopefully. But the gun a lot bigger than Jake. You know, we gotta get Jake's muscle tone build up.
- [63:57]
B
Yeah, we get, we get his size up a little bit and then, then he'll be right after it. So.
- [64:01]
C
But I know he was so proud of his father winning that just the smile on his face, you know, lit.
- [64:08]
A
Up like a Christmas tree.
- [64:09]
B
He did, he had, he had a great time. It was his first grand altogether, so he was pretty much in awe the entire time and running in and out of all the buildings and, and I mean you guys seen him several times.
- [64:20]
C
And oh yeah, he'd come in and he, he'd hang out and I'm like Jake, you need something? There's drinks in the back. Just stay out of the adult drinks.
- [64:27]
B
Yep.
- [64:28]
C
Do you want one?
- [64:29]
A
He didn't even try. He was a good boy.
- [64:31]
C
Absolutely. He's not like Zach.
- [64:33]
A
No, not like us.
- [64:34]
C
No, no, no, no, no, no. But.
- [64:36]
A
But, you know, Jason, before we get out of here, I do want to know, is there any good advice that you would give to shooters that, you know, were like yourself, that were, you know, weekend warriors all the way to world champions? You know, what did you. What's the advice that carries you from just that, you know, Saturday, Sunday gamer, to someone that's got a ring?
- [64:59]
B
Make it a priority. You know, it doesn't have to be a job that it turns into that and it's going to go the other way, but. But it has to be a priority. It has to be something that you're going to sacrifice other things for to go do and make the most of it. It's great to have fun and that's what we should all be trying to do. But in that moment when you're standing out there on the line, it has to be the most important thing and you really got to want it. So practice the same way when you're out there, practice as hard as you can and make it real world situation and just do your best. Try to beat yourself every time you're out there. You know, you don't always have to beat the guy next to you, but if you can improve your score, improve your average, improve what you did the day before, the week before, then you're winning and eventually the wins will come.
- [65:56]
A
I love it.
- [65:56]
C
That's good advice.
- [65:57]
A
Yeah, that's great advice. And I guess, is there anyone that you would like to thank as far as people, sponsors, friends, any of that stuff before. Before we wrap up today?
- [66:06]
B
Absolutely. Obviously, Remington, they've been sponsoring me now. Really proud of what they've done and appreciate the support. Like to thank Krieghoff for their help during the grand with the little gun malfunction. They were right there to help me get fixed up so I could continue. All of my friends and family, the family that helps do things around the house while I'm gone that I can't attend to, all my friends at the shoots that help with Jake and help with the camper and cooking food and things like that. It really is a big family and I'm really appreciative of all those people that do what they do so I can stand out there and shoot.
- [66:46]
C
That's absolutely correct.
- [66:48]
A
Well, Jason, you know, we really appreciate you giving your time. We know how much you're working and raising your son is obviously a task also. So you're doing a lot of things and you made time for us today. So we really appreciate that. I know the listeners appreciate learning from a wealth of knowledge like yourself, and I expect to have you on the show again with some more good news in the future. I'm sure you'll continue to win and be in the winner's circle and hopefully have a few more of those rings, maybe with some different stones in the future when we talk to you then. So thank you so much for tuning in, everyone. Remember, like Share, subscribe, comment, send your questions Wear your Trap Talk gear. Ricky's looking good in his hat today, as always.
- [67:28]
C
Get your merch, folks.
- [67:30]
A
Get your merch and you know, we're done with Las Vegas. Otherwise I'd say see you in Vegas, because that's where we're headed right now. We're excited for it. So so tune in next Friday and thanks for listening.
- [67:41]
C
Thanks everyone.
- [67:42]
A
And the Trap Talk podcast is brought to you in part by RM Shooting Clinics. Have Ricky take your game to the next level. If you want to shoot hundreds of hundreds of hundreds, give Ricky a call today. Zack Nini Financial we believe in putting people first.