Ava Downs, a top International Bunker Trap competitor and key member of the Hillsdale College Shotgun Team, recently won gold in Women’s Trap at the 2025 USA Shooting Junior Olympic National Championships held on her home range. She first began competing at age 12 through the Scholastic Clay Target Program. Now a double major in Economics and Psychology, Ava credits her success to years of dedication and careful gear choices. Discover what she carries in her range bag.
What are your first memories of handling a firearm?
When I was about three, I would shoot .22s with my dad and family up north. Then, when I was eight, I started pulling and scoring sporting clays for my dad and uncle, and eventually decided I wanted to try it. My dad bought a pink camouflage 20-gauge for me because I was set on it being pink.
Tell us how you began in competitive shooting.
I began competing at the age of 12 through my local Scholastic Clay Target Program team. I started because I had been shooting sporting clays nearly every weekend for the past four years, and I wanted to take it to the next level. I also started to shoot trap and skeet, in addition to sporting clays.
Please share with us some of your major shooting accomplishments.
Making the USA Shooting Junior National Team in 2023, 2024 and 2025, and the Open National Team this year. In addition, winning my first SCTP National Championship event and the ACUI Nationals in 2024 with my squad, the Hillsdale College Chargers Shotgun Team.
What firearms and other gear do you use for competition?
For competition, I shoot a Kolar sporting shotgun with a stock fit for me by Kolar. For my choke tubes, I use Briley. My favorite aspects of my firearm are probably the beautiful engraving on the receiver from Kolar and the stickers on my stock from my overseas shooting experiences.
Tell us about your range bag and what you carry in it besides your firearms.
The range bag I use is a GPS. I like that it has a lot of room to fit ammunition, glasses, my vests, hats and more. It has a lot of separate compartments that help keep me organized. I always keep my Team USA and Hillsdale “Shoot the Moon” vests in it, as well as my Pilla glasses and lenses. I also keep a Folded Wing Apparel long-sleeve shirt, hat and pair of shorts inside just in case it rains, gets hot or gets cold. I also always carry my full set of Briley chokes, especially when I am shooting sporting clays.
What do you do in your free time?
I have a lot of homework to complete when I’m not shooting, as I am a double major in Economics and Psychology. I like to hang out with my friends and spend time outside, especially going hiking. I also enjoy going to events with my sorority and spending time at the house (Chi Omega), as well as volunteering at the Humane Society.
What would you tell someone interested in finding out more about your sport?
If someone is interested in shotgun sports, I would tell them to find their local SCTP or 4-H program if they are in high school or younger, and to go see what it is all about and give it a try.
Follow Ava Downs on Instagram: @ava_downs_shooting
