The non bonus bonus

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

One of the criticisms of a bonus target is that as soon as one shooter hits it, it becomes a defacto penalty for anyone who doesn't.   This is a valid point,   

But what about this; there are a handful of bonus targets over the course of the match.  No penalty for missing, no positive adjustment for hitting.  You just have to take the shot.   After the match is over if anyone hits all of them, that gets you the bonus prize.  Something like a small pin.  Hitting or missing them does not affect your score in the match in any way.  Probably no more than one bonus per stage, and maybe not even on every stage.  

Just a thought.

[Dusty Devil Dale]

I can't really comment on the idea of a Match bonus clean shoot prize.  It's at least a novel idea.  It probably wouldn't be welcome in a match set up purely for speed shooting, but in a traditional cowboy match with harder targets, it might be a lot of fun. 

 

Lots of folks say they don't like bonuses.  I do use bonuses in traditional  stages, where there are more difficult shots, like flying clay birds.  Used with no miss penalties for the shot, the bonus  serves to reduce the cost of missing the harder target, yet reward those who are successful.   For example, a 2-second bonus target when missed is a 2-sec, rather than 5 second loss, and a gain for those hitting it.   Bonus targets can add some fun to a traditional style match, however, they do add complexity to score-keeping.  

 

Edited June 10 by Dusty Devil Dale

[Rye Miles #13621]

How about using a bonus target only if you want to? 

[Creeker, SASS #43022]

Here's a novel idea - set up the match using the scoring system that already exists.

A "hit" takes whatever time it takes to hit it - a "miss" adds 5 seconds.

Simple and everyone is familiar with it.

 

"If" as a Match Director - you wish to interject more difficult challenges; be honest about it and include those aspects as a simple scored component.

Do not attempt to sweeten or disguise these shots under the heading of "it's a bonus target".

 

All bonus targets do is either reverse the miss penalty (5 second "bonus" for hitting - no penalty for missing) which is exactly the same as a 5 second miss penalty when the math is done OR (depending on how it is scored) it makes a singular shot have a disproportionate affect on the score versus every other shot at the match.

 

 

[Captain Bill Burt]

I agree with Creeker, bonus targets mathematically do not differ from regular targets when it comes to scoring.  A poorly thought out bonus target can easily become the determining factor of who wins the match.  For some that's fine, but it's not my preference.  

 

With respect to the OPs suggestion.  As I understand it, there might be flyer's that I don't have to hit, but if I get all of them I get a pin?  I would probably put those rounds into the berm as quickly as possible and forego the pin, but I wouldn't mind that it's an option and I suspect there are a number of shooters who would pursue the pins. 

[Creeker, SASS #43022]

12 minutes ago, Captain Bill Burt said:

With respect to the OPs suggestion.  As I understand it, there might be flyer's that I don't have to hit, but if I get all of them I get a pin?  I would probably put those rounds into the berm as quickly as possible and forego the pin, but I wouldn't mind that it's an option and I suspect there are a number of shooters who would pursue the pins. 

When a shooter decides to prioritize a certain aspect of the match - that is their choice (example: shooters who primarily care about clean matches even if their score might improve by going faster and eating a miss now and then).  And that is fine - it is their match after all.

 

But when the Match Director interjects targets, sequences, distances, etc. that "split" his (or her) shooters priorities - you have begun to dilute your own match.

It becomes a "speed" match for some and an "accuracy" match for others.

 

And, at some level, you annoy both contingents of your shooters; "Speed" guys/ girls don't like to throw rounds away meaninglessly into the berm (as Captain Bill Burt says above - we will, but we don't like it) and your "accuracy" shooters don't like feeling that their focus on hitting a non scored target hurts their chances for a trophy.

 

There are plenty of opportunities to do different activities and awards - non shooting, prior to the beep, etc.

But anything that affects the integrity of the competition or forces a shooter to decide between one outcome or another is usually a bad idea.

 

 

[Diamond Jake]

We've done a few true bonus targets at the beginning of the stage, shot off the clock.  Example: shooter takes position and aims at a playing card (face value hidden).  When ready, he shoots at the card.  The peanut gallery either groans or applauds, then the TO says "Shooter ready" and hits the timer.

 

After the match, bonus prizes are awarded either though a drawing of everyone that hit the bonus, or to the card with highest value, or some other way.

[Chancy Shot, SASS #67163]

I think all "bonus" targets should be optional risk versus reward.  If you want to take a risk and reload to hit an extra target, you get a small reward.  Conversely, if you miss you just added some time to the stage. 

 

It should not be a required target or it becomes as Creeker said, "All bonus targets do is either reverse the miss penalty (5 second "bonus" for hitting - no penalty for missing) which is exactly the same as a 5 second miss penalty when the math is done OR (depending on how it is scored) it makes a singular shot have a disproportionate affect on the score versus every other shot at the match."

 

Chancy

[Rye Miles #13621]

9 hours ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

How about using a bonus target only if you want to? 

 

6 minutes ago, Chancy Shot, SASS #67163 said:

I think all "bonus" targets should be optional risk versus reward.  If you want to take a risk and reload to hit an extra target, you get a small reward.  Conversely, if you miss you just added some time to the stage. 

 

It should not be a required target or it becomes as Creeker said, "All bonus targets do is either reverse the miss penalty (5 second "bonus" for hitting - no penalty for missing) which is exactly the same as a 5 second miss penalty when the math is done OR (depending on how it is scored) it makes a singular shot have a disproportionate affect on the score versus every other shot at the match."

 

Chancy

I agree!☝️ 

[wyliefoxEsquire]

Not intending to hijack the OP.

Clay Poppers? If you miss then you must fire another round.  Is this just another form of a bonus target?  The bonus is NOT adding the additional time to fire another round, versus the time it might take to actually aim and hit the clay.  Do the above comments apply in this case?

[Chancy Shot, SASS #67163]

A clay flyer is just like any other shotgun target (only harder).  If you miss you keep shooting until you hit or you can stop and take a miss.  With a flyer, most clubs have a stationary bird on a post for the second or third or fourth shot until you hit.

 

Chancy

[Col. Cornelius Gilliam, SASS#5875TG]

Having "no miss" bonus targets can easily lead to scoring errors because some spotters instinctively count them as misses (even though they are not). It just adds another layer of uncertainty to scoring that is not necessary.

 

I've had bonus and no-hit targets incorrectly scored at a much higher rate than normal targets and it's very frustrating. I'm happy we don't use them much anymore at the clubs I attend.

[Stump Water]

21 hours ago, Chancy Shot, SASS #67163 said:

With a flyer, most clubs have a stationary bird on a post for the second or third or fourth shot until you hit.

 

Never seen that.  You break the flyer or you don't.

[Rye Miles #13621]

At our shoot at Firelands last month ( we couldn’t finish we got rained out😡) I wrote in a bonus target on your 10th round on rifle and on pistol. No miss but -10 for each hit. No need to reload just shoot your last round. You could get -20 seconds in bonuses. Everyone went for it. 

[Frederick Jackson Turner]

3 hours ago, Stump Water said:

 

Never seen that.  You break the flyer or you don't.

SW:

That is a fairly common protocol, even at state, national, and world level.  It may cost a few seconds more, but for shooters hoping to preserve a clean match, it may provide some comfort.

 

Cheers!

FJT

[Tell Sackett SASS 18436]

On 6/10/2026 at 5:12 AM, Rye Miles #13621 said:

How about using a bonus target only if you want to? 

That’s how it is now!!

[Rye Miles #13621]

1 minute ago, Tell Sackett SASS 18436 said:

That’s how it is now!!

Not everywhere. The shoots I go to IF they have a bonus you must engage and get a bonus if you hit it.

[Dusty Devil Dale]

2 hours ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

At our shoot at Firelands last month ( we couldn’t finish we got rained out😡) I wrote in a bonus target on your 10th round on rifle and on pistol. No miss but -10 for each hit. No need to reload just shoot your last round. You could get -20 seconds in bonuses. Everyone went for it. 

Yep.  The bonuses add to the fun.  I hear a cheer and laughter every time somebody gets one. I find that even the very fast shooters enjoy some more challenging targets, like shooting a clay bird flier with the rifle for a 3 second bonus (over 20% hits on that one!).   

 

I post our stages in advance, so folks can see what the match consists of.   If they don't want to shoot bonuses or half-hidden badmen, or other more difficult shots, they can pick another match or club easily enough.   But we haven't lost shooters in our matches.  In fact, our club has grown by 35% over the last two years, and our annual (traditional) match is now drawing from a big area of California, Nevada, Oregon, Hawaii, and a couple from other states, occasionally.  We've had to put a limit on our annual match, due to camping space limitations.   

So we will likely continue what we are doing. 

 

[Tell Sackett SASS 18436]

1 hour ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

Not everywhere. The shoots I go to IF they have a bonus you must engage and get a bonus if you hit it.

Then it’s NOT a bonus!! Just another target incorrectly CALLED a bonus!

[wyliefoxEsquire]

Interesting thread.

Several questions.

A) Have any state or higher matches have a bonus target? Details please.  Dates and value.

When did bonus targets first start? Where & when.

 

[Rye Miles #13621]

2 hours ago, Tell Sackett SASS 18436 said:

Then it’s NOT a bonus!! Just another target incorrectly CALLED a bonus!

If it’s called a bonus, it’s a bonus. Nothing incorrect about it! 

[Possum Skinner, SASS#60697]

What I've do at our annual is have a large circle with an 8" knockout is the middle.  If the shooter knocks out the center (knockdown) they get entered in a drawing for a prize (or one year they received a shiny new quarter).  Otherwise a hit on the circle was a regular hit.

 

One year for each shooter who got the bonus we put a dollar coin in a piggy bank and each shooter who hit it was entered in a drawing for the bank.  The shooter who won it got $70.

 

Bonuses CAN be bonuses without any effect on a shooters time.

Edited June 12 by Possum Skinner, SASS#60697

[Dusty Devil Dale]

 

2 hours ago, Possum Skinner, SASS#60697 said:

What I've do at our annual is have a large circle with an 8" knockout is the middle.  If the shooter knocks out the center (knockdown) they get entered in a drawing for a prize (or one year they received a shiny new quarter).  Otherwise a hit on the circle was a regular hit.

 

One year for each shooter who got the bonus we put a dollar coin in a piggy bank and each shooter who hit it was entered in a drawing for the bank.  The shooter who won it got $70.

 

Bonuses CAN be bonuses without any effect on a shooters time.

We have done a similar thing for a Thanksgiving "Turkey Shoot".   Bonus targets and clay BIRDS in each stage, with a raffle ticket for each one hit.  Raffle prizes were frozen turkeys and hams (And a can of SPAM).  It made for a fun day. 

[Vail Vigilante]

On 6/9/2026 at 6:35 PM, H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 said:

One of the criticisms of a bonus target is that as soon as one shooter hits it, it becomes a defacto penalty for anyone who doesn't.   This is a valid point,   

 

I look at this a little differently. Bonus targets exist in CAS and other games and if I can not connect to the bonus target it makes me want to practice and do better.

[Creeker, SASS #43022]

Bonus targets are (generally) ignorant.

 

"If" they are greater than 5 second bonuses - they unfairly overvalue for hitting/ over penalize for missing; a singular target versus all other targets in a match.

 

"If" the bonuses ARE a 5 second bonus - then they only exist to salve the peoples feelings who will cry about not having a clean match and will conveniently claim a bonus target is not a miss.

 

Score your match under the current "accepted" scoring method - if you want to place a target (or targets) at more "challenging" distance - do so and then score the match appropriately.  Folks that hit - hit; and the folks that miss earn their penalties.  

 

You will have far fewer scoring errors by scoring correctly - fewer complaints about inconsistent target scoring and fewer issues with singular targets winning or losing matches.

[John Kloehr]

34 minutes ago, Creeker, SASS #43022 said:

Bonus targets ... exist to salve the peoples feelings who will cry about not having a clean match and will conveniently claim a bonus target is not a miss.

 

This does peel off a layer of an onion... If true. No opinion, just noting well a possible distinction.

[Captain Bill Burt]

Just recently saw a clean shooter get a miss for not hitting a ‘bonus’ target. He missed it with his rifle, made it up with the shotgun, but spotter brains said ‘I saw a miss’ so he got tagged with one.

 

I also saw a shooters gun break leaving unfired rounds which were then ‘made up’ with the shotgun and the shooter was called clean.

[High Spade Mikey Wilson]

23 minutes ago, Captain Bill Burt said:

I also saw a shooters gun break leaving unfired rounds which were then ‘made up’ with the shotgun and the shooter was called clean.

Huh?? That's a new on on me......