The discipline known as FITASC Sporting, or Parcours de Chasse, is an international form of clay target shooting governed by the Fédération Internationale de Tir aux Armes Sportives de Chasse (FITASC). The format is designed to imitate natural hunting situations, using open terrain, varied trajectories, and complex shooting angles. Competitions such as the Concours FITASC de Sporting follow the official international regulations and highlight the full technical demands of the discipline.

1. Nature and Philosophy of FITASC Sporting

FITASC Sporting aims to recreate realistic field scenarios by using natural landscapes, unpredictable angles, and dynamic target presentations. Instead of a compact shooting area, the course stretches across different sections of terrain, where shooters engage targets launched from multiple machines de lancer positioned at significant distances.

Key principles include:

• wide natural spaces instead of confined shooting boxes
• varied trajectoires that simulate birds, rabbits, and high-speed game
• independent design of each shooting location, or poste
• emphasis on reading the target rather than memorizing fixed sequences

This makes the discipline technically demanding and widely respected among shooters.

2. Organisation of a Competition

Events conducted under FITASC rules follow a strict structure. A standard tournament consists of:

• 100, 150, 200, 225, or 250 plateaux (targets)
• typically 25 targets per layout or poste
• multiple shooting areas spread across natural terrain
• varied target types launched from several machines de lancer

Each location has a defined shooting frame called a cadre, within which the shooter must remain during the attempt. The targets may travel through open fields, between trees, across valleys, or over natural obstacles.

3. Types of Targets in FITASC Sporting

FITASC Sporting uses a wide variety of plateaux to imitate natural movements of wild game. Examples include:

• lapin (rabbit target rolling on the ground)
• chandelle (high arcing «candle» target)
• battue (very fast, flat spinning target)
• standard, mini, midi (various target sizes)
• teal (vertical rising trajectory)
• entrants / sortants (incoming / outgoing trajectories)
• croisés (crossing targets)

This variety is one of the defining features of the discipline.

4. Shooting Rules and Procedures

The regulations specify clear requirements:

Low Gun Position

Shooters must keep the shotgun below the shoulder (arme non épaulée) until the target becomes visible.

Target Release

After the command “Pull”, a slight delay is permitted according to the official rules.

Scoring

Each broken target earns one point.

• touché = hit
• zéro = miss
  Invalid targets are declared no bird and repeated.

Double Targets

Doubles (doublés) may be launched simultaneously or on report. Shooters may use both shots on a single target, but the second target will then be scored as lost.

5. Categories of Shooters

FITASC Sporting includes several international categories:

• Seniors
• Ladies (Dames)
• Juniors
• Veterans (Vétérans)
• Super Veterans

Some countries also apply internal skill levels, known as classement par niveaux.

6. How FITASC Sporting Differs from Compak Sporting

While both are recognised by FITASC, they differ significantly:

FITASC Sporting is often considered the more naturalistic and complex of the two disciplines.

7. Levels of Competition

International events include:

• World Championships (Championnats du Monde FITASC)
• European Championships (Championnat d’Europe FITASC)
• Grand Prix events
• National and regional tournaments

All of these follow the same fundamental FITASC Sporting rules and philosophy.

8. Why Shooters Value This Discipline

FITASC Sporting is appreciated for:

• its variety of target presentations
• its natural environment and realistic shooting situations
• its technical depth and high skill demands
• its international consistency
• its strong connection to traditional field shooting styles

Competitions like the Concours FITASC de Sporting showcase the full range of these qualities and attract shooters from around the world.