Archery competitions turn into social events too

by Elysia Conner
Tuesday, May 6, 2008 2:39 PM MDT

The competitions hosted by Lost Arrow Archers have become family and social events.

Friends, children, parents and grandparents enjoy time together as they improve their skills.

More than 220 people gathered at East Gate Ranch off Hat Six Road, at the area known as “the Hat Six rocks,” for the first 3-D outdoor shoot of the year on May 4.

It was also the culmination of the three-part Triple Crown 3-D target-shooting competition.

“You couldn’t ask for better weather,” said Lost Arrow Archers President Ken Thoren.

The day was warm with an unusual lack of wind, and just cloudy enough to keep the sun out of the eyes of the shooters, who went through the trails, shooting arrows at life-sized, three-dimensional models of all kinds of animals.

The targets ranged from species like wolves, an African deer and even dinosaurs.

Thoren was pleased with the turnout. This has been a good year for the club so far, he said, with more than 200 participants at each of the first three competitions.

Six-year-old Brianne Smith, last year’s Peewee state champion, said her favorite part of the day was “shooting tens.” She also looked forward to shrimp for dinner at her favorite restaurant with her family.

Brianne has been shooting since she was 3 years old, like many other archery event participants.

Many families find archery to be a fun way to spend time outside together.

Jim and Angela Berry are among them. Jim carried 3-year-old Jayce in a backpack over the rocky ground on Sunday.

Jayce is beginning to use a bow and arrow. His older brothers, Keegan, 9, and Bridger 12, have been involved in archery since they were his age.

“It gives the kids something to do besides Nintendo,” Jim said.

On target

From full featured cross-bows to handmade classic wooden bows and arrows, archers see many different types of equipment.

Brant Schoenleber, Kyle Dye and Chuck Kunkel along with their friends from Buffalo mostly used classic bows and arrows, which were handmade by Pronghorn Custom Bows.

Most of the group also sported quivers that they made themselves out of feathers and hides of animals hunted with their bows.

Bow hunters find the target shoots to be good practice, according to Steve Lamb, who bow hunts bear, turkey and antelope. He also holds the state elk record for bow hunting, according to his friends.

Vincent Wells and Morgan Young regularly take hunting trips together. Fellow bow hunters Will Moffat, Shawn Sharkey and Brandon Kegler joined them in sharpening their aims at the May 4 shoot.

The Lost Arrow Archers club hosts a bow hunting competition every summer in addition to its 3-D shoots and other events.

The club recently purchased 14 new 3-D targets with funding from 57 sponsors.

Thoren and club Secretary Brad Moore are thankful for the support that makes these events possible.

Lost Arrow Archers is a not-for-profit recreational archery club, and the goal is to give people an opportunity to enjoy the sport. The club is affiliated with the Wyoming State Archery Association.

Club membership is not required to join in the fun, and anyone is welcome and encouraged to participate in any of the events.

Information and safety procedures are given at registration before each event.

The next 3-D shooting event will be held on Casper Mountain on June 28-29, according to the WSAA Web site.

The club also invites archers of all experience levels to participate in the Northwest Sectional Field tournament on June 21-22 at the Robert Adams Archery Range on Casper Mountain.

A complete listing of Wyoming archery events can be found by logging on to http://www.wyoming-archery.org/wsaa-shoots.htm.

For more information about the Lost Arrow Archery club and any upcoming events, visit www.lostarrowarchers.com.

E-mail Elysia Conner at elysia.conner@casperjournal.com.

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