Copper State Open
(registration by mail only with deposit)
About
The Copper State Open has become known as one of the top shoots held in Arizona & Zone 7 (NSSA top 100 list six years running) and a great way to start the skeet shooting season while much of the weather in the country isn't at it's best. Usually held late in February, the Copper State is the first of of the three largest shoots in the Southwest, followed immediately the next week by the Old Pueblo in Tucson and later in early April by the Comstock in Nevada at the Clark County Shooting Complex.
Held annually for 20 years at the Ben Avery Clay Target Facility in Phoenix, Arizona, the Copper State is the successor to the Kachina Open, well known by many long-time skeet shooters and what originally put skeet shooting in Arizona on the map. The Copper State has developed a reputation of its own, fielding participants from all over the country as well as visitors from Canada, and the UK. We returned to the Buffet Luncheon in the Pavilion Saturday and Sunday along with the daily Breakfast Table. The Buffet has been huge hit and a welcome return of what's becoming a great tradition.
The Copper State Open is our primary fund-raising event, with sponsorships and shoot profits put back into building the sport of Skeet in Arizona, particularly with youth participants. Funds from the Copper State Open along with our smaller shoots are used to provide free entries to youth participants, sponsorship of traveling athletes to the NSSA Junior World and SCTP Nationals, and the Arizona State Championships.
The 2026 Copper State Open Mid-Week hosted 49 participants in the 12 gauge event and the Main hosted 90, with 70 shooting all four guns. The weather this year was practically perfect, with little to no wind, warming up for the first time this year and giving some shooters a taste of our upcoming Summer weather.
Mid-Week Event
HOA Champion Martin Brister 388
HOA Runner-Up Mark Vanderbloomer 388
HOA 3rd Mike Hammond 387
Main Event
Doubles Champion Blake Baker 98
12 Gauge Champion Zyler Thomas 100
20 Gauge Champion Nick Boerboon 100
28 Gauge Champion Stephan Waltz 100
410 Bore Champion Tanner Bissell 100
HOA Champion Tanner Bissell 397
HOA Runner-Up Mike Hammond 391
HOA Third Blake Baker 391
The Copper State Open is a "Community Event, with 15 local and national sponsors in 2026 supporting the shoot with advertising in the shoot program and field sponsorship, along with a remarkable number of volunteers (over 50 again in 2026!!!) helping with every facet of the five-day event.
Our goal is to provide the best possible skeet shooting experience at the most reasonable cost we can each year, and it's the sponsors and our volunteers that make that possible! Thanks to those who joined us in 2026 and we hope to see you all next year!
2026 Sponsors
