Dennis DeVaux

Dennis DeVaux started his shooting career in the late 1960s at the age of 13. The Vermont resident was no doubt urged to start competing at the behest of his father, Bill DeVaux, owner of a local gun shop and respectable trap shooter in his own right. In fact, Bill DeVaux had a trap house on their family property, often utilized to the delight of family and close friends. In short order, father and son started shooting the local state and regional shoots and soon made trips to the Grand American.

In those early years Dennis began racking up championships. He earned his first Vermont state title in 1972, topping all resident shooters in the doubles and all-around and claiming the junior crown in the feature singles. He was junior singles champ at the ATA Eastern Zone that year as well. In 1973 he took junior runner-up in the Grands, Clay Target Championship.

Four years later, DeVauz blasted his first 200 in Grand competition, tying for the Clay Target Championship, and he finished the tournament tying with Kay Ohey for the all-around title. After shootoff, he walked away with the runner-up trophy. In addition he and Bill captured the parent-child trophy, breaking 396x400.

In 2002 he blasted 100 from the 27-yard line plus 50 in shootoff to win the coveted Grand American Handicap title. The century completed both his ATA Grand Slam and Grand American Slam. In all, he broke two 200’s in singles and three 100s in doubles in Grand competition. He won the Past GAH trophy in 2005 and 2008.

In 2001 DeVaux topped the Doubles Championship and all-around at the Northeastern Satellite Grand. During his career, he also collected trophies at the Southern Grand plus numerous state shoots, including Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.

In 1997 he won the ATA Eastern Zone handicap and all–around crowns.

Following his first Vermont state titles in 1972, DeVaux went on the collect a total of 52 championships over the field, including four singles, five handicap, 22 doubles and 21 all-around. He made a clean sweep of all four in 2978. His 1999 doubles win with 100 marks the only time that title has been won with a perfect century, and his 291x400 in the 2000 HAA is a record that still stands today.

Between 1972 and 2003, he garnered six placements on the All-Ameirican Team, including three junior and three mens. He earned AA-27-!! Status in 1993.

DeVaux served as Montpelier Gun Club vice president, ATA Delegate for Vermont, ATA Eastern Zone during the time of the museum’s construction in Sparta.

On Jan. 6 2022, the trapshooting community lost a beloved competitor and true steward of the sport far too soon. DeVaux was tragically struck and killed by a car while on his morning walk.

DeVaux was calm, composed and deeply organized. His squad mates often remarked, “You would never know if he missed a target or broke them all; nothing ever rattled him.” Never one to pressure others, he sought only to uplift those he mentored, helping all who sought it.