clay pidgeon shooting???

[gingerflaps]

why is it called clay PIDGEON shooting when the things dont even look like pidgeons, why not call it clay DISC shooting?

[Quizmonster]

Huntsmen used - and even still do - to shoot actual pigeons. Purely for practice purposes and so that they can guarantee targets will be available when they want them, clay targets were introduced. The name 'clay pigeons' simply stuck to them...they might as easily, I suppose, have been called 'clay pheasants' or 'clay partridges'! A 'birdie' in golf has nothing to do with birds either.

[gingerflaps]

it doesnt??? wow i thought it did. so wot about an eagle?  (joke)

[Quizmonster]

Just as additional information, Ginger, I was amazed to find how long clay pigeons had been in existence. They have actually been around - originally in the USA - since the 19th century.

The sort of people who went huntin', shootin' and fishin' in Britain at that time, I would have thought, always had the real thing on the doorsteps of their country mansions. If not, they could easily have sent a farm labourer or two galloping off as targets! (Joke)