Trap Talk From The Back Fence

Episode 141: Heartland Grand Shoot Recap! Plus ATA Rule Changes, Weather Battles & All-American Updates
Date: September 12, 2025
Hosts: Zach Nanini & Richard (Ricky) Marshall Jr.

Overview

In this lively recap, Zach and Ricky look back on the 2025 Heartland Grand, discussing major winners, event highlights, intense weather challenges, and memorable off-the-field moments. The episode shifts into a deep dive on updated ATA rules, the newly condensed All-American points standings, key rule changes for the new target year, and the race for trophies and team positions. Listeners also get the inside scoop on legendary shooters’ performances, candid stories, and what’s next for the trapshooting elite.

Episode Highlights

1. The Heartland Grand: A Shooter's Marathon

[02:32–11:46]

• A Staple Event: Both hosts share their affection for the Heartland Grand, praising Dale’s exceptional management and the immense volume: “You get more targets in seven days than anywhere I can think of in the country.” – Zach [02:50]
  • 300 targets/day (Monday–Saturday); 200 on Sunday; night shoots available.
• Winners Recap:
  • High Overall Champion: Richard Marshall Jr.
  • Runner-Up: Ian Derek
  • Category champions include Shelby Skaggs (Lady 1), Sandra Jo Jack (Lady 2), Aiden Potonic (Sub-Junior), Alexis Marie Fernan (Junior), Ian Lawrence (Junior Gold), Perry Weiner (Sub-Vet), Jeff Q (Vet), Dean Newman (Senior Vet).
• Notable Performances & Shoot-offs:
  • Perry Weiner vs. Rich Bullard in Sub-Vet: “Took him out. Mustard slipped off the hot dog on Bullard.” – Ricky [03:59]
  • Jennifer Rutger (multiple wins: Lady, A-class).
  • Special mention to Jason Krause (Clay Target Champion)—a potential future podcast guest.

2. Weather: The Great Equalizer

[07:56–09:19]

• Sunday’s handicap championship marred by “brutal” wind:
  • Brit Dalton posted a 96 to win; scores overall were low.
  • “It was windy, guys…me and Ricky went on the first box and both took 21s.” – Zach [08:15]
  • Only two 50-straights in the middle/final 50.
  • Staying focused and adapting was key; stamina and grit defined the top scores.

3. Shoot-Off Culture & Participation

[10:17–12:22]

• Many shooters leave before final shoot-offs, especially if not chasing points.
  • “A lot of the people don’t stay for the shoot-offs on Sunday…understandable, but a little bit of a shame.” – Zach [10:17]
  • Hunt the Racket event: Few qualifying shooters showed up; Aiden won the mule deer hunt, Ian the pheasant hunt.

4. Championship Singles, Averages, & Friendly Rivalry

[12:22–18:55, 33:35–35:13]

• Zach chases a 99.0 average: Needed and achieved multiple hundreds—“locked in” for the last singles event, braving the wind and squad banter to maintain the mark.
  • “I was dug in and so tired on that last box of singles.” – Zach [18:34]
• Ricky posts the lone 200 in championship singles.
  • “He broke them as clean and as good as you could break them.” – Zach [15:45]
• The pair’s rivalry and camaraderie are on display throughout—trading stories, tips, and jabs.

5. Category & Event Shout-Outs

[17:38–19:36, 19:36–20:41, 21:05–24:20]

• Comprehensive run-down of class and category winners across events.
• Special recognition for competitors like Justin Debris (“one of the better shoots that I’ve seen him shoot in a minute”—Zach [20:41]) and others who stepped up in tough conditions.

6. Off-the-Field: Red Smokehouse Tradition

[27:31–29:48]

• Local dining tradition recapped with comedic detail.
  • “Once I realized that Rich was paying for the tab, I started to really tilt them back…I was in heaven. Damn, these things are great.” – Zach [28:30–28:40]
  • Future plans to host a Trap Talk cocktail hour at the smokehouse in 2026.

7. Special Events: Under the Lights & Club Culture

[30:15–31:20]

• Buddy Buddy Shoot and Fast Eddie Slider: “Shooting white targets again under the lights. That was great.” – Ricky [30:32]
• Nighttime and novelty shoots maintain the "old school" magic of Stockdale Gun Club.

All-American Team Standings: Condensed Drama

[32:09–44:40]

• Condensing Explained: Points now calculated off each shooter's best seven (instead of total), showing new preliminary team positions.
  • “It actually shows the ranking of where you're at before they release the team.” – Zach [32:13]
• Open Team Race:
  • Dagan Voightman, runaway captain.
  • Richard Marshall Jr. edges Ian Derek for 2nd by a single point: “It’s so thin...that might not make a big deal to some people, but it might make a big deal to you or me.” – Zach [34:49]
  • Debate: Should All-American points only go to shooters who win a trophy? Ricky: “That’s how I’ve always felt and I’ll always feel.” [35:53]
  • Open event “point dilution” discussed.
• Category Races:
  • Lady 1: Elizabeth Turns set to captain; Shelby Skaggs 2nd, 69 points difference.
    • Notable anecdote: Elizabeth had to leave the Ohio shoot due to her mother's injury but still held her spot.
  • Lady 2, Sub-Junior, Junior, and Junior Gold: All tight races, each with personal stories—e.g., Wyatt Debris making a pivotal drive to Ohio, clinching the junior captaincy: “He beat everyone in Ohio.” – Zach [41:02]
  • Shoutouts to up-and-comers and sponsors’ shooters like Cooper French and George Lee.
• Veteran, Senior Vet, and Chair Shooter spots:
  • Briefly mentioned, with some data in flux due to live edits during the recording.
  • “There's some live editing going on.” – Zach [55:02]

Rule Changes: The ATA 2026 Target Year

[55:31–59:17]

• Wheelchair Shooter Rules: Clarified to require no use of legs as primary propulsion.
• Gun Weight: Mostly wording changes.
• Biggest Change—Overall Targets:
  • Shift from “1300 targets” to “13 events.”
    • Now, multi-day events with 200-target singles will allow more total targets (+ up to 1400/1500 birds depending on program structure).
    • “It’s going to open it up a little bit wider into the week…all American points might be starting on Monday.” – Zach [56:24]
• Future Program Flexibility:
  • Potential to spread events, change event formats (e.g., favoring daily 100s over 200s).
  • Mild resistance to extra 200-bird singles events—"The last thing I want to do is have 200 birds twice at a state shoot." – Zach [58:00]

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On windy conditions and endurance:

  “To break a 96 on that, I mean, there's not much more you could ask for, in my opinion.” – Zach [08:15]

• On close All-American races:

  “That’s one point between second and third…you have to keep fighting all the time.” – Zach [34:49]

• On the traditions at Stockdale:

  “It's like the field of dreams. I'm waiting for Leo to walk out of the corn…It brings you back to what old school trap shooting is.” – Zach [31:09]

• On ALL American recognition:

  “If you're going and you're traveling all around the country…and the prize…is the hat, the pin, and the certificate…I think on the first team alone, if you had a plaque made…or a jacket or something that they could actually have and be proud of…It's really, really hard to utilize just that certificate.” – Zach [49:34–50:47]

Noteworthy Segments & Timestamps

• Heartland Grand Overview & Winners: [02:32–11:46]
• Sunday’s Wind-Challenged Handicap: [07:56–09:19]
• All-American Team Standings & Debate: [32:09–44:40]
• ATA Rule Changes for 2026: [55:31–59:17]
• Food & Socials at the Heartland: [27:31–29:48]
• Tradition and Nostalgia at Stockdale: [31:09–32:09]
• Category Breakdown & Sponsor Shoutouts: [40:06–45:18]
• Discussion of Grand American Special Awards: [46:45–51:50]

Episode Tone

Rich with camaraderie, humor, and competitive spirit, the episode features plenty of friendly barbs, inside jokes, and a deep appreciation for the tradition and community around trapshooting. Zach and Ricky keep things accessible for both die-hards and newcomers, balancing stats and results with stories, practical insight, and heartfelt recommendations.

Final Word

With the trapshooting season winding down, Zach and Ricky celebrate competitive achievements, highlight changing conditions and evolving rules, and set the stage for another eventful year. As always, listeners are encouraged to follow, subscribe, and join the hosts at upcoming events, both on the trapline and for blueberry mules at the Red Smokehouse.