Five years ago, Howard Archambo, of Auburn, started shooting trap; a year later he brought his son, Dusty and since then the pair have been hooked.

Over the past four years, Dusty has become an excellent trap shooter.

"Dusty has won about everything he can," Howard said."Some of his shooting accomplishments include at least five junior league championships and Class C runner up for the state championship in 2004. In addition, the scholastic trap team Dusty was part of took first place in the senior experience division in 2003 and 2004.

Dusty is a 2005 graduate of Auburn High School and plans on studying criminal justice at Cayuga Community College this fall. He also likes to fish, hunt waterfowl, turkey, pheasant and deer, and of course, trap shooting.

Dusty and Chris Stevens from Elbridge made the scholastic trap team this year which shot in the senior experienced division national championship Aug. 9 in Vandalia, Ohio.

The team is sponsored by the Groton Rod and Gun Club and coached by Brad Heath. Individuals make the team based on trap shooting experience. The team started practicing for the nationals two months in advance; meeting every Monday night and shooting 125 rounds. In the New York shoot, the team placed second. Out of 1,700 teams at the nationals, Groton placed in the top 50.

The Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) was developed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation and offers young men and women in grades 12 and under the opportunity to compete as a team in trap, skeet and sporting clays for state and national championships as well as college scholarship money.

"The program is designed to instill in participants safe firearms handling, commitment, responsibility, leadership and teamwork," said Les Janke, SCTP State Trap Director. "Nearly 40 states and 5,000 youth take part in SCTP."

Eighteen squads from New York qualified for the national championship this year.

"It's something to do and keeps me out of trouble," Dusty said.

By looking at his shooting schedule you can tell that he has developed a love for the sport. His shooting schedule starts with practice Monday nights, practice Tuesday mornings, shooting in a night league Tuesday evening, shooting in a night league Wednesday night and practicing on Thursday evening. All of the practicing pays off; Dusty's shooting average increased to 94.67 in 2004, it was 87.22 in 2003.

"I would like to see more people my age get involved into trap shooting, it is fun," Dusty says. "You meet different people. It is a team sport like football. We coach each other and watch each other shoot so we can help each other improve. It is also fun to shoot and compete with my dad."

Howard agreed with his son, saying, "trap shooting helps Dusty in school; it helps him learn respect, discipline and commitment and teaches him how to concentrate. Trap shooting is a great family sport, whether it is father/son, father/ daughter, mother/daughter, mother/son or grandfather/grandson."

Howard recommends more parents, relatives and friends bring a youth to a club and try shooting sports. You do not have to be a member of most clubs to shoot and there are always individuals that will provide you with information about shooting and help you learn.

In addition, firearm safety will be explained and shooters self-police each other on firearm safety rules. Not owning a gun to shoot trap should not prevent anyone from visiting a club, someone will let you burrow gun to shoot.

"Shooting has a lot to offer for both adult and young shooters," Howard said.

For more information on the Scholastic Clay Target Program call Les Janke at (607) 849-6938. To find out more about trap shooting or other shooting sports locally, contact the Falcon Sportsman's Club at 252-0014 or one of the other clubs in the county.