Saturday, June 28, 2008

Dentist drills it

Nat Holland El Defensor Chieftain Reporter

Whether he is hunting birds or cavities, you can be sure that Socorro dentist Dr. C. Bonner Oates has a sure eye and a steady hand.

Oates competed in the New Mexico Amateur Trap Association's annual championship, held Sunday through Tuesday at the Raton Trap Range, and brought back a fifth-place finish in the Handicap Division, one of three divisions of competition.

In handicap trapshooting, shooters are assigned a distance from the thrower of 19 to 27 yards based on their ability.

"It was a real fun shoot," Oates said. "The weather was awful, but it was fun.

There is very little margin for error in trap shooting. Oates shot 97 out of 100 of his targets and the first-place shooter hit 99 out of 100 targets.

Oates started trap shooting seven or eight years ago in Belen, and it took some time to pick up the skill of the sport.

"They teased me first, and they taught me second," Oates said of the Belen Trap Club members.

Oates makes the trip up to Belen because Socorro doesn't have its own trap facilities.

"We have a great gun club in town," Oates said. "But we don't have anything for shotgun. And if we did, we would probably need 2 inches of steel to protect it from the (irresponsible) shooters."

The Belen range offers a bargain for interested trap shooters, according to Oates. The cost for a round of 25 shots is $2.50. Targets, launcher and coaching are included, but shooters need to supply their own ammunition.

Oates invites anyone who is interested in trap shooting for fun or practice to call him at his office, 575-835-1623.

Its not the first time Oates has been recognized for his skill with a firearm. From 1981 to 1983, Oates was the International Practical Shooting Confederation State Champion for New Mexico with a handgun. He also competed in the World Speed Shooting Championships in 1981.

"Pistol shooting these days is so specialized its not practical anymore," Oates said. "What you learn at trap (shooting) does transfer to the game field."

nholland@dchieftain.com

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