Even though he entered his first registered shoot in 1968, it wasn’t until the 1990s that Merle Decker made his mark on the Amateur Trapshooting Association at the state, regional and national level. Decker earned all-Ohio team honors with a 94.27 average in 1991, claiming the Ohio State singles championship breaking 200 of 200 targets and going 200 for 200 in a shoot-off. The same year he added the Central Zone 100 handicap title. Then in 1992, Decker was the Ohio State “High All-Around” titlist and was first with a 500 for 500 shoot on the singless quad along with being honored on the cover of Trap & Field Magazine. He earned 500 for 500 squad honors twice in 1992. His 1993 successes included a 500 for 500 singles squad at the Grand American Shoot alongside a pair of all-American shooters. A year later, Decker was an Ohio State team member with a Moose State trap shoot high overall title. Decker’s first state title, with a perfect “200”, was recorded in 1987 and added the Class “AA” high overall honors at the same Ohio Trap Shoot finals.