Trap shooting has been a sport since the late 1700’s when live birds were used. 

Clay targets were introduced in the 1880s. The Peoria Target Company, formed by Peorian trapshooting greats Fred Kimble and Charles Stock, manufactured both clay targets and traps.

The Amateur Trapshooting Association (ATA) is the main governing body of American trapshooting and is one of the largest shooting sports organizations in the world.

The ATA hosts the Grand American World Trap Shooting Championships, which is held every August at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta, Illinois. The Grand attracts as many as 6,000 shooters for the eleven-day event, considered the world's largest shooting event.

American trap consists of three events: singles, doubles, and handicap. In singles, targets are thrown from a trap house 16 yards in front of the shooter. The targets come out of the traphouse anywhere within a 35-degree arc. In singles, each competitor shoots at five targets from each of the five stations. In the handicap event, the shooters are further from the trap house. Depending on ability, the shooter’s station may be 18-27 yards from the traphouse. In doubles, two targets are thrown simultaneously at the same angles every time. The participants shoot at ten targets from each of the five stations on the 16-yard line.

American trap is generally shot with a 12 gauge shotgun using lead ammunition with shot size between 7 ½ and 9.

The official Rule Book of the ATA can be downloaded here.