Preparing for a Clay Target Shooting Trip

Pre-Trip Essentials

1. Complete Your Waiver

When you book any guided experience with us, you will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to complete Aspen Outfitting Company’s Release of Liability Waiver. Please Complete this waiver BEFORE you show up for your trip. Completing this mandatory waiver prior to your trip will save you time while checking in and maximize your time on the river.

Click here to complete your waiver.

2. Review Your Itinerary

Your booking confirmation email will include the date, time, number of participants and departure location for your trip. Please make sure that the information on your reservation is correct. For questions regarding our cancellation policy and booking alterations, please visit our FAQ page.

***PLEASE NOTE - All trips depart from our Woody Creek Shop unless alternate arrangements have been made at the time of booking.

Primary Departure Point

Woody Creek Shop (WC)

2858 Upper River Rd.,

Woody Creek, CO 81656

(Right next to the Woody Creek Tavern)

Aspen Departure (Special Arrangements must be made)

St. Regis Aspen Shop (SRA)

315 E Dean St.

Aspen, CO 81611

Trip Itinerary

1. Check In: On the day of your shooting trip, please arrive 15 minutes prior to your departure location with all of your paperwork completed. After check-in, our shopstaff will introduce you to your shooting instructor(s).

If you’re departing from our Woody Creek Shop, we have an espresso bar, fresh donuts, cold drinks and snacks to help you fuel up before hitting the water.

2. Depart from the Shop: After check in, you’ll head out to the range! We’re lucky to have access to a full trap and skeet range less than half an hour from our shops. Guests who have their own transportation often follow the instructor to the range in their own vehicle, but transportation from our shop to the range is always available to guests without a vehicle.

3. Safety Review: Safety is our number one priority when out on the range, so your NSCA instructor will go over range rules, safety protocols and how with ALL of our guests, regardless of shooting experience.

4. Get Fitted To a Gun: Our instructors will have you shoot at a patterning plate to determine the appropriate firearm for you. We have side by side, over under and auto loaders/semi auto shotguns from 12 gauge to 28 gauge? ….

5. Start Shooting: The best way to learn is through experience, so once you’ve reviewed safety and have a gun that fits, it’s time to break some clays. Throughout the trip your instructor will offer personalized instruction, help build your skills and put them to the test!

Have Fun and break some clays!

6. Shoot Your Final Round: You won’t want to leave, but the fun has to end at some point! Our standard Half Day Shooting Trip is four hours door to door. That means that roughly half an hour prior to your scheduled return time, you’ll take that final group photo, pick up shells and break the guns down. This ensures that you and your instructor make it back to the shop in a timely manner. As with many services in the hospitality industry, a gratuity for your guide is customary and always appreciated. The amount is at your discretion (we generally see a gratuity of 20% or more if the trip was extra special!)

Gear Checklist

Clay Target Shooting is a blast, but having the appropriate gear can turn a good experience on the range into a great one. We offer clay target shooting year round, so adjusting layers and equipment accordingly is essential.

Many products that we recommend can be purchased in our online store prior to your trip. Just select “Pick up in store” at check out, and we’ll have your order ready for you on the day of your outing.

What we provide:

Shotguns
Ammunition
Clay Targets
Hearing Protection
Eye Protection
Water
Friendly, fun and knowledgeable Shooting Instructor!

Although we provide everything that you need to shoot, bringing along the following items will help you focus on shooting instead of staying comfortable.

Highly Recommended Items for Clay Target Shooting

Baseball Cap / Sun Hat

The Colorado sun is intense, a baseball cap or sunhat will keep you protected from harmful UV rays, and shade your eyes to allow for better target acquisition while shooting. Click here to shop all of our hats!

Sunglasses

We do provide clear shooting glasses for eye protection while on the range, but having your own pair of sunglasses will improve your comfort on sunny days and double as mandatory eye protection while at the range. If you don't have sunglasses or want to upgrade your current pair, click here to shop awesome lenses like the Smith Guide's Choice!

Sunscreen

Protect your skin – You can burn in a matter of minutes when you’re up here in the mountains! We always recommend using high SPF sunscreen when getting out on the water. Click here to shop the greatest sunscreen ever- Supergoop!

Sun Shirt / Sun Hoody

Sunscreen is always a must, but wearing a breathable UPF rated layer makes protecting yourself from the sun and staying cool even easier.

Our favorite(s):

- - UPF Clothing

Rain Jacket

All of our trips are rain or shine, so you should always come prepared for rain. A good rain jacket will keep you out on the range if a summer storm rolls through.

Our favorite(s):

- - Simms Waypoints Rain Jacket

Closed Toe Shoes

A pair of sturdy, closed toe shoes will ensure your comfort, stability and safety while out on the range. We highly recommend against wearing flip flops and sandals.

Frequently Asked Questions
For Trips With Aspen Outfitting Company

A: You can find a detailed list of recommended items for each activity on the respective trip page.

What we provide for fishing trips:

Gore Tex Waders
Wading Boots
Fly Rods, Reels, Flies and Terminal tackle
Water
Friendly, fun and knowledgeable fishing guide!

What we provide for shooting and hunting trips:

Eye and ear protection
Shotguns of every gauge & stock dimension
One round of clay targets and cartridges per shooter
Water
Friendly, fun and knowledgeable shooting instructor/guide!

A: Yes, but under a few conditions. First, all guests accompanying an Aspen Outfitting Guide must sign a mandatory release of liability waiver, even if they are not participating in the activity. Secondly, guests tagging along to “watch” must absolutely agree that they will not try to participate in the activity. We find that guests that tag along often want to join in after seeing all of the fun the other members of their party are having. Our guides take pride in providing the highest quality experience possible, and that includes giving detailed individual instruction to our clients. As a result, they are bound by company policy to only guide those that have signed up for the activity.

A: Please visit our “Preparing for a Guided Trip” page to see the equipment we provide for each outing, as well as a gear checklist.

What we provide for fishing trips:

Gore Tex Waders
Wading Boots
Fly Rods, Reels, Flies and Terminal tackle
Water
Friendly, fun and knowledgeable fishing guide!

What we provide for shooting and hunting trips:

Eye and ear protection
Shotguns of every gauge & stock dimension
One round of clay targets and cartridges per shooter
Water
Friendly, fun and knowledgeable shooting instructor/guide

A: Yes we do! Getting kids involved in Fly Fishing is one of our favorite things to do, and we want to make sure that the experience is safe, rewarding and fun! Pond fishing is the best option for children under ten years old as it provides a safe learning environment and increases our chances of catching fish. Children over ten years old are welcome on the river, we just ask that you make sure your child is excited to get out on the river (even if they don’t catch a fish) , are attentive to safety protocol and are willing to take direction from our guides.

We do not take children under the age of ten Clay Target Shooting for safety reasons. For children over the age of ten, we ask that parents decide whether or not their child can and will obey ALL safety protocols while out on the range. Safety is always our number one priority, so participants who are minors must be able to follow instructions closely, exercise good judgment, and understand the high level of responsibility of operating deadly firearms.

A: Fishing Licenses are required by Colorado state law for all guests over the age of 16 on all of our guided fishing trips. Instructions on how to purchase your fishing license are included in your booking confirmation email.

***PLEASE NOTE - We do not sell fishing licenses at either of our locations and will not allow you to begin your trip without one. If you do not purchase a license prior to arriving at the shop, you will need to purchase it from CPW’s website on your mobile device just like you would at home. As a result, you’ll spend more time in the shop and less time fishing.

Please give us a call if you need any assistance navigating the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Website, we’re more than happy to walk you through it!

When purchasing a license make sure that your permit is valid for the day(s) that you will be fishing. One day fishing licenses are only valid for the date selected at purchase and are not transferable.

Click here to purchase your fishing license.

A: All of our activities are rain or shine. The only time that our guides will pull you off of the river or the range is for lightning. If there is bad weather forecasted for the day of your trip, you may reschedule your excursion free of charge as long as the change is made more than 48 hours before your trip. However, rescheduling depends on our availability. Trips canceled due to rain, snow or wind within 48 hours of the trip will not be refunded as our trips are rain or shine.

A: Providing access to the outdoors for all is incredibly important to us, but it is important for clients to know that all of our activities are at your own risk. If you have a medical condition or mobility issue please tell us! Our shop staff and guides can work to create an experience that will be comfortable and enjoyable for you, but we can’t make accommodations unless we are informed of your condition. That being said, Aspen Outfitting Company and its guides do not assume responsibility for injuries or harm that result from the inherent risks associated with the activities that we offer. If you think you may be putting yourself at risk of harm by participating in our activities, please err on the side of caution.

A: All of our fishing excursions are catch and release only. Local regulations in many of the spots that we fish require all fish to be released back into the water immediately. While some locations do permit the harvest of game fish such as trout, we believe that catch and release is the best way to promote sustainable use of the resource, and ensure the health of future generations of trout. More fish in the river means greater angler opportunity. Let them go to let them grow!

A: All fishing and shooting trips depart from our Woody Creek Shop unless alternate arrangements have been made at the time of booking. That means that we expect guests to provide their own transportation to and from our shop(s). Once at the pickup location, guests are welcome to hop in their guide’s vehicle, or follow the guide(s) to the river or range in their own vehicle. Transportation is provided by Aspen Outfitting Company on Upland Bird Hunting Trips. Please visit our “Preparing For a Guided Trip Page” to learn more about each activity.