My Journey Through France’s Most Thrilling Shooting Competitions

I’ve spent years exploring shooting sports across Europe, but nothing compares to the unique atmosphere of French ball-trap. My first real immersion into the world of Parcours de Chasse competitions completely changed how I see shooting — not as a sport alone, but as a culture, a community, and a deeply sensory experience.

What started as curiosity quickly turned into something much larger: a personal journey through some of the most diverse and creative shooting events in France.

How I Discovered the World of Parcours de Chasse

Before I stepped onto a stand de tir for the first time, I had only a vague idea of what Parcours de Chasse really meant. I expected something formal and strictly regulated, similar to classic Sporting or Compak-Sporting.

But the moment I loaded my first shell and heard the wind cutting through the trees, I realized this discipline was different.

In Parcours de Chasse, the organizers are like artists. They play with angles, heights, shadows, natural terrain, and unpredictable cibles. Every post feels like a new scene in a movie. There is no monotony — only imagination and pure adrenaline.

The feeling of facing a fast battue, or watching a rolling lapin bounce across the grass, is something you simply cannot understand until you stand there yourself.

I was hooked immediately.

Why the Competition Calendar Became My Travel Map

As I got deeper into the sport, I began checking the national event calendar almost daily. The Calendrier des Compétitions Parcours de Chasse became my personal guide through France:

from small countryside clubs to massive commercial concours like Euro Shooting Cash or Clays Shooting Cash Race.

Every event offered something distinct:

• a relaxed concours loisir where beginners laugh, tease each other, and share tips;
• a competitive commercial challenge with 200–300 cibles and a very serious tone;
• a parcours mixte blending Sporting, Compak-Sporting and simulation de chasse;
• a traditional Parcours de Chasse FFBT with precise structure and official scoring.

I wasn’t just traveling to compete. I was traveling to feel.

The Atmosphere: More Than Just a Shooting Match

What struck me most was the convivialité.

French shooters have a way of making every event feel like a gathering of friends, even if half of them are seeing each other for the first time.

I remember standing under a tent during a sudden summer rain, sharing coffee with complete strangers while analyzing a tricky pair of chandelles we had just missed.

Or the excitement of hearing my squad cheer after someone shot a difficult 40-meter crossing bird.

In France, ball-trap is not only about precision — it’s about character, humor, and storytelling.

Highlights From the Competitions I Attended

1. Small Club Concours Loisir

My first competition was a simple concours loisir on a rural stand de tir.

Friendly, warm, zero pressure.

Just pure enjoyment of parcours naturel and creative angles.

It was here that I learned to relax and trust my instinct.

2. Big Commercial Event

Then came the big one — a commercial challenge with hundreds of cibles and some of the strongest shooters I’ve met.

The level was intense, the parcours techniques were unforgiving, and the adrenaline was addictive.

This was the moment I understood why people train all year.

3. Parcours de Chasse FFBT

This one surprised me by its balance: official enough to feel serious, but still carrying the soul of Parcours de Chasse.

Perfect for pushing my limits without losing the artistic side of the sport.

4. Mixed Parcours Hybride

A true masterpiece of design.

One post felt like traditional Sporting, another like Compak-Sporting, and the next was a full simulation de chasse scenario.

Every shot required complete mental reset.

Why These Competitions Left Such a Strong Impression on Me

Parcours de Chasse taught me something I never expected:

shooting is not just about technique — it’s about emotion.

The smell of fresh grass at sunrise.

The echo of shots rolling through the valley.

The sudden appearance of a fast rabbit target racing across the ground.

The friendly rivalry.

The satisfaction of adjusting your strategy and hitting a difficult pair.

Every competition became a memory, not just a result on a scoreboard.

Why I Keep Returning to the Calendar

Today, checking the calendar is part of my routine.

Not to chase medals — but to chase sensations.

The inscriptions ouvertes, the descriptions of each parcours, the number of cibles, the creative layouts — it all gives me something to look forward to.

Every event is a promise:

a new challenge, a new landscape, a new group of people who share the same passion.

Final Thoughts

My journey through France’s shooting competitions has been unforgettable.

If you’ve never experienced a real Parcours de Chasse, you’re missing one of the most authentic and exhilarating shooting disciplines in Europe.

It’s not just sport — it’s art, culture, community, and emotion combined.

And for me, it’s a journey I want to continue as long as I can hold a shotgun.