Clay pigeon shooting is a great sport for enjoyment or hunting practice. Even if someone didn’t want to ever actually hunt bird they can experience the excitement of the challenge. Although no animals are being hunted there are still environmental consequences.
After a clay pigeon has been shot out of the air and is spread across the ground the pieces do break down. Eventually enough weathering will cause them to erode into smaller pieces until they are barely noticeable. Clay pigeons these days are not made out of clay but instead limestone and petroleum pitch. The paint and resin used are what make them toxic. These materials are not biodegradable.
Shooting clay pigeons is great and fun but the clean up is difficult. Instead of avoiding the sport altogether, the best way to deal with the mess and potential harm is to use biodegradable clay pigeons/targets.
Clay Pigeons: Common Misunderstanding
The name clay pigeon seemed to have stuck since the days they actually made out of clay. Now clay pigeons are instead made out of petroleum pitch/resin and talc mixed together. Petroleum pitch is a black tar that is molded into stack able disks. Both the paint used and the petroleum pitch are environmentally toxic substances. Because these substance contain heavy metals also they are very unhealthy for animals.
Companies that make clay pigeons with tar pitch are required to put a warning label on their products stating the toxic danger to swine (pigs).
Even with the clay pigeon being broken up the small pieces retain the toxicity. Eventually the pieces break down so small they are undetectable but they never decompose. This can be misleading because it can seem as if the targets have dissolved. The soil retains the particles and suffers from nutrient depletion. Also the soil pollution can be harmful to wildlife or domesticated animals.
The misconception comes from the break down of clay pigeons. The assumption that they are decomposing and the term “clay” pigeon. Clay pigeons do break-down but do not decompose. The material used to make them is not biodegradable.
Are Clay Pigeons Biodegradable?
Not all clay pigeons are biodegradable. Traditional or standard clay pigeons are non-biodegradable. If they are made with clay or petroleum pitch then they will not decompose. There are manufactures who have designed biodegradable sporting clay’s. Biodegradable clay pigeons can be found online and at outdoor recreation stores.
Instead of polluting and littering a field consider using biodegradable targets. Made from biodegradable materials and non-toxic paint these are a non hazardous alternative. These targets will break down and also decompose back to their original element.
The non-hazard targets come after extensive research and design. The goal was to make a environmentally friendly skeet target without hindering flight performance and shatter ability.
One popular brand is White Flyer’s biodegradable targets. They make trap, skeet and sporting clay’s that are all environmentally friendly.
Biodegradable Clay Targets Can Effect Soil
One drawback of using biodegradable clay pigeons is that overtime they can decrease the PH levels of the soil. In other words the soil becomes more acidic. When this happens pesky weeds die out but so will any grass or trees. Maybe this isn’t a problem for a location where no grass is growing but it something to consider.
Do Biodegradable Clay Pigeons Work As Well?
The ones that are made are designed to not have any depreciation in performance. Critics have said that they do not break as easily when shot and this can effect their scores. Biodegradable clay pigeons have been around for long time and they are very popular among many gun clubs and shooters.
Clay targets can be made with different forms of clay to increase difficulty.
Where to buy biodegradable clay pigeons?
Which name brands are biodegradable?
- White Flyer biodegradable targets
- Champion Target BioBird targets
- Daisy Shatterblast Breakable Refill Target
Cabela’s sells Champion brand targets, look for their BioBird clay’s. Also Dick’s Sporting goods as well. Walmart carries the White Flyer targets in a 90 count. Bass Pro Shop sells the White Flyer targets also. It is not guaranteed that any of these merchants carry bio-targets.
| Champions BioBird Clay | White Flyer Bio Targets | Daisy Shatterblast |
| Amazon | Amazon | |
| Cabela’s | Cabela’s | |
| Dick’s Sporting | Dick’s Sporting | Dicks Sporting |
| Walmart | Walmart | |
| Academy Sports + Outdoors | Academy Sports + Outdoors | Academy Sports + Outdoors |
Another good option is any gun/firearm specialty store. Call ahead and see if they carry any biodegradable clay targets.
Buy Clay Pigeons Online
Online sources such as Amazon sell biodegradable clay pigeons. They are the White Flyer brand but the reviews are low.
Clay pigeons are hard to find online. The other option is to order online and pick up at store. This is available at Dicks Sporting Goods or Cabela’s. Champion Targets and White Flyer both have a store locator on their websites.
Problem With Ordering Clay Targets Online:
- The targets are fragile and break frequently during shipping.
How Long Do Clay Pigeons Take To Dissolve?
The White Flyer targets are said to take about two years for 95% of the target to decompose. This depends on the weather in the location, rainfall will speed up the decomposition.
Tips For Using Clay Targets:
- Walk over spent targets on the ground to break them up into smaller pieces.
- Drive over them with an ATV to help break them up more.
- Do not use standard non-bio targets near animals such as pigs or wildlife.
- Test PH levels and use lime to restore soil after using bio-targets.
Terms:
- Clay Pigeons
- Sporting Clay’s
- Bio-Targets
- Clay Targets
- Standard Clay’s
- Clay Pigeon Shooting
- Clay Target Shooting
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