Shotguns were fired in Backus Community Center Wednesday, but no bullets ever left the barrels.

The International Falls School Trap Team got a hands-on experience with a new indoor trap shooting simulator that will allow members to practice skills and techniques indoors.

“The school team is very excited to get this simulator,” said Eric Norstad, head coach of the team that has 40-50 members.

Tom Ridge, owner of the DryFire Target Simulator company, traveled to Borderland from Dallas, Texas, to educate the group on the system. The demonstration also drew two trap shooting coaches from southern Minnesota.

“You guys are some of the first to do it,” Ridge said of using the simulator that was developed 13 years ago. “I expect it to get more popular as more people like your club begin to use it.”

The device starts with a pattern of each shooter’s gun and transfers the information into software. When the shooters use the simulator with their own gun, the software tracks where they shoot and will adjust to their style. It tells them where their shot pattern was in relation to the target.

“It’s important that shooters know where their gun shoots and to adjust for that,” Norstad said.

Ridge said the simulator saves trap shooters money on ammunition and allows them unlimited practice time with their own shotgun during any season.

“When the snow is flying and it’s cold, you guys aren’t going to be out practicing in the cold,” Ridge told the group. “With this, you can practice in a 70-degree room with your own gun and that is key...If we gave you a gun to use with it, it’s worthless. You need to learn how to shoot your own gun.”

Ridge said trap shooting is difficult to learn because shooters don’t get feedback other sports get. With the simulator, however, the software shows shooters how much they missed a target and allows them to perfect their shot.

“This is a powerful training tool,” Ridge said. “This system will help you master the game of perfection.”