Pigeon shooting was featured in two different sessions at the 1900 Paris Olympics, although it was not considered an official event by the International Olympic Committee. Birds were released 27 meters away to be shot one at a time, and each contestant was allowed to continue to proceed until he missed a total of two birds. The winner of the main event was Donald Mackintosh of Australia, who killed 22 pigeons. By prior agreement with the other participants, he split the 20,000 franc prize among the top four contestants.
Approximately 300 pigeons died in the process.
The resulting scenario of bloody feathers floating in the air, maimed birds flopping on the ground, and nearby spectators weeping in horror provoked the use of clay pigeons in subsequent competitions.
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