This is a game that I came across while visiting a friend in Phoenix Az. a few years back. Since that time I've played several times with my friends during the morning hours before we could hunt pheasant in SD. You can't hunt until noon there you know. It may sound a little confusing but once you try it and get the hang of it, it"s a great game that can be played over and over or until everyone is out of shells.

You"ll need a few players for this one, I've played with as little as five and as many as 15. You'll also need a few things before you start.

1)      Everyone needs their own gun, shells and a couple dollars in quarters.

2)      At least one box of Clay Pigeons.

3)      A Clay Pigeon thrower.

4)      A safe place to do some shooting.

The way the game works is as follows.

Designate one person as the "Thrower" this person will not be participating in the game as a "Player" but will be the judge and make the final decision on hit pigeons.

The remaining "Players" all form a line shoulder to shoulder facing the same direction. The first player on the right of the line is in the "Hot Seat" first.  This player calls for the first pigeon to be thrown. The player in the Hot Seat gets one shot only at the pigeon if they hit and "Dust" the pigeon the turn is over and the second in line is in the hot seat. However it's when they just nick the target or miss completely that the game gets fun.

If the person in the Hot Seat breaks but does not "Dust" the pigeon the person next to them in line can knock them out of the game by breaking one of the remaining "Pieces" of the pigeon before it hits the ground. When the person in the Hot Seat breaks the pigeon but leaves Pieces the only person that can shoot is the person to the immediate right. No other shooters can shoot to break a Piece. If a piece is not broken with one shot the turn is over and the next person in line takes up the Hot Seat and begins their turn.

There is one more scenario that can take place when the original person shoots at their pigeon. They can miss completely. If this happens the second in line gets one shot to break the pigeon.  If the second breaks it the first person is out of the game. There are not shots at "Pieces" if the original shooter misses completely.  However if the second in line misses completely, then the third gets one shot, if they miss then the fourth and so on until the pigeon is broken or hits the ground.  Everyone that missed is out if someone in line breaks the pigeon.

So it works out like this. Shooter 1 misses then shooter 2 misses then shooter 3 misses then shooter 4 breaks the pigeon. At this point Shooters 1,2 and 3 are out of the game and shooter 5 is now in the Hot Seat. However if the pigeon hits the ground without being shot shooter 2 is in the hot seat and play begins again with them calling for the pigeon.

Play continues until only one person remains.  At this point everyone that was knocked out pays the winner 25 cents. Then you all line up, pick another thrower/judge if need be and start again.

There are a few other ways to get knocked out of the game.

1)      Shooting out of turn.

2)      Shooting twice at the same target

3)      Trying to shoot a piece after the original shooter missed and someone broke the target.

4)      Loading 2 shells into your gun before any turn.

This is a great game that we"ve played for a few years now and have had a lot of fun doing it. We've played out at the ranch before hunting hours started as well as at a skeet range just for fun. If you want to play at the skeet range you'll have to run it by the management there first. If they let you play you can all pitch in for the clay and let their person do the throwing.

A lot of fun can be had playing this game but remember you are playing this with loaded shotguns. The first thing to do is to be SAFE no ones life is worth a measly 25 cents!