Author Topic: Resurrected Range. (Read 5888 times)

wormfood · « **on:** June 23, 2011, 05:25:28 PM »

I have taken over as archery chair at Upper Nisqually Sportsmen club and could use a little help. A quick run down on what I know of the history of this young range. A couple years ago archery became a topic at the club and soon a flat range came to be. Soon after the flat range came a small walk through with 19 stakes aimed at 16 bales. The 4-H group and their parents put a bit of work into it and the 4-H state championship was held at the club this year. Ok now to me, I have been involved for about 10 to 12 years and have shot many a 3-d tournament and a couple state shoots. I was a member of Skookum for a couple years and helped a little their and I have been pretty active at TSC for the past few years and have helped and been involved with alot of the shoots.In the last 2 months I have put in about 60 hours workin on the ranges, I have cleaned and trimmed all of the walk through and groomed the flat range as well as I can for now and am currently cutting trail in the timber to add a second walk through. Supposedly their is a separate archery account with a very small amount of funds and I am trying to do as much as I can without any cost to the club. I know that the club , in the past has put money into trying to make archery happen here. I need to throw a shoot to show the board that archery will be a positive new venture to the structure already in place. I have a few ideas to get people and business to sponsor targets in exchange for advertising but that will take time.I have a couple people starting to jump on board with me and that will make thing easier but what I really need right now is a way to come up with 30 or 40 3d's so I can just throw a 1 day shoot and seriously show the club what archery is all about. Living in Eatonville I have no doubt that people will come and shoot(as long as its not a weekend competing with other local clubs)and I am very eager to try to make it happen sooner than later. I feel as if I am headed in the right direction but just curious if any one has, say 30 3d's they might want to loaned out for a weekend? Anyways any thoughts or ideas would be helpful and please let me that when the time comes and I post UNSC holding its first archery 3d shoot that you all are comin.

wormfood · « **Reply #1 on:** June 23, 2011, 06:01:19 PM »

I wonder if any of the sponsors on here would be interested in some more advertising?

wormfood · « **Reply #2 on:** June 23, 2011, 07:02:08 PM »

Come on with how many guys on here so opinionated, I cant believed I dont have someones 2 cents yet.

wormfood · « **Reply #3 on:** June 23, 2011, 07:54:01 PM »

Anybody, Anyone?

KillBilly · « **Reply #4 on:** June 23, 2011, 08:03:19 PM »

Just exaclty where is this Range? I don't have any 3d's but I could probably help out in some way. I'll donate $25.00 in the name of WFW if we can get a 3d with Dales picture on it.....

wormfood · « **Reply #5 on:** June 23, 2011, 08:15:05 PM »

The range is in Eatonville at the end of Lynch Creek Rd. Really is a very cool range. For gun and rifle there is a 50, 100, 175,550, and a 600 yard range but the 600 is for special events only. The sporting clay range is remarkable and I plan on using part of it for archery shoots. The upper part of the range is actually in the rimrocks and it really is pretty cool. I really look forward to puttting a moving billy goat on those rocks some day. Maybe one or two guys from wfw are willing to kick in and get a full target sponsorship. The sponsorship/advertisement will the stay with the target for the life of the target. Thanks for support.

wormfood · « **Reply #6 on:** June 23, 2011, 08:22:37 PM »

Hey while I am still logged on if you are willin to do 25$ for wfw I too am willin to do 25 for wfw. That gets us to a very very small target of half way to a small sized target.

NWWABOWHNTR · « **Reply #7 on:** June 23, 2011, 09:50:21 PM »

Pretty tough to get started. Our club, WHidbey Bowmen has been around for a long long time, we spend $6-7,000 annualy in upgrading/replacing targets. Best way to raise money is to have shoots... but to have shoots you need the initial investment to buy the targets... catch 22.... You should be able to talk to some of the closer clubs to you that are selling used targets to get you started... (I am talking 3D targets) for practice range butts, get compressed straw to get started. WE compress 2 bails into one.... however we are replacing all of our old trail course butts with new foam butts from here:
http://www.archerytargets.com/Elastafoam.aspx

If you get an active membership there is a lot you can do to cut costs.... good luck!

wormfood · « **Reply #8 on:** June 23, 2011, 10:03:43 PM »

Thanks for the link. How well does the foam last? Looks like a hell of a good idea. There are carpet bales on the flat range already and I have a few of the super compressed straw bales sitting on the side lines. I am just tryin to come up with a way to through a shoot and start getting 3d's. I think I can I think I can.

Wa hunter · « **Reply #9 on:** June 23, 2011, 10:31:24 PM »

Worm
Possible you can do a safari type shoot to get things started?

KillBilly · « **Reply #10 on:** June 23, 2011, 10:35:10 PM »

Would you guys mind if I open the WFW Archery Committee to continue this discussion?
If you want to,
Go here to Archery Committee: http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,78524.new.html

MLBowhunting · « **Reply #11 on:** June 23, 2011, 11:38:45 PM »

i have some used 3ds you could use. roughly 8 to 12. they are used and shot up but thats what they are for

NWWABOWHNTR · « **Reply #12 on:** June 24, 2011, 12:48:07 PM »

You can repair shot out 3D targets, a little bit of insulation spray foam and a knife.... a little paint and you are good.

Special T · « **Reply #13 on:** June 24, 2011, 01:14:58 PM »

http://www.washingtonarchery.org/
They are the states main resource for helping shooting clubs... Some one from a closer club may be of more assisatnce...
As far as repairing 3d targets you can get cheeper used ones, but usually the cost of fixing them makes up the difference unless they wee free or already woned by your club. The best way we have found.. Silver Arrow Bowmen... is to use silicone calulking... the down side is it takes quite a while to cure... much longer than a week... @ weeks might do if you let them "Cure" in some sunshine and get nice and warm...

JKEEN33 · « **Reply #14 on:** June 24, 2011, 09:27:08 PM »

I would try contacting a club and see if they would rent you the targets for a weekend.

Todd_ID · « **Reply #15 on:** June 25, 2011, 01:16:00 AM »

Contact Rinehart. Invite their R100 shoot, and you be the host. They bring the targets. (For a large cut of the profit, I'm sure.)

wormfood · « **Reply #16 on:** June 25, 2011, 07:22:52 PM »

I am really thinkin that when I get the second loop of the walk through done it might be easier to do a half safari half 3d shoot. Kinda like a soft start just to get a few people coming out to the club. If I go this route it should be a lot easier to come up with a dozen or so 3d's instead of trying to find 30 or 40 right off the bat. From the shoots I have been invoved in it always seemed like a lot less of a turn out for a safari shoot but I have to start somewhere. Thanks for the ideas and support guys.

STIKNSTRINGBOW · « **Reply #17 on:** June 26, 2011, 07:53:13 AM »

Is there an area you can use for overnight camping?
Contact TBW or WSB and see if they would be interested in a weekend shoot, set-up and take-down is pretty intensive for a one day shoot.
Also, if you contact a distributor, then you might be able to get a discount for a large order, get a few people to buy their own targets at the discounted price, and take them home after the shoot.
Unfortunately the grant program through the WDFW has been suspended, so you are pretty much on your own.
An interesting idea would be to arrange a "Top Shot" type competition, with pre-registration for the event, plan on using the whole range (pistol, rifle, shotgun, archery) and an aggregate (combined) score for winners.
Use 10-15% of registration money to buy a few targets for event, maybe a few donated prizes from local stores, raffle, snack-bar, cash payout from registration of ,..say 25-30%, figure clean-up and sanitation (port-a-potty) another 15%,account for 10% for misc. cost over-runs.....leaves 30% left over to invest in more targets for range........
Not sure how many people would be interested in something like this, but

it is an idea, and would involve the whole range, and all shooters (not just Archery), could become an annual thing...

OlympicElkJunkie · « **Reply #18 on:** June 26, 2011, 08:37:43 AM »

The Blacktail Foundation does a shoot every year near Corvallis OR and they get their targets by first off all having some of the proceeds go to their nonprofit and then asking for target sponsors. They must get some kind of a good deal because I have sponsored targets and they were pretty inexpensive.
http://www.blacktail.org/shoot.html

Special T · « **Reply #19 on:** June 26, 2011, 02:02:01 PM »

Well here is an idea for targets that is more labor intensive than costly. I have made several burlap bags filled with plastic. I currently have a couple of big potato gunny sacks that i filled with old blue plastic tarp material. I also have one that is old plastic bags and constructions plastic (Visquine) they work well on field tips. I shot a course near Baker City OR that had only those kinds of targets. They took 2 long 5-6' fence posts and strung the bag up between them. The other kind of backstop i have seen that is more labor than $$$ is a compressed carpet backstop. They use those at the Chinook club in Camas wa. they use some 4x12 treated or cedar and cut carpet 3-4' long by 18in wide, stacking the stripes on top of each other. You can either compress the carpet by using a hydrolic press and banding them with galvanized banding, or can use 4' long all thread and compress them down that way. They last nearly forever but take a lot of labor especially is you don't have a press to use... another kind i have seen is a compressed cardboard backstop in the same way. They must be covered in order to last. All of these are just for flat targets. If i were starting out with a new course i would try and plan out 30 permanent targets 15 in each group. Any targets to get you started will work. I would work more on the layout and trails of the course... The biggest part of you thought process should be maintenance. Our club uses compressed hay bails. We used to have to pack them i by hand until we widened several trails to accommodate ATV's and the trailers we use. If you have any other questions feel free to PM me.

NWWABOWHNTR · « **Reply #20 on:** June 26, 2011, 02:16:59 PM »

Almost all the target manufacturers have "club" discounts.... rinehart included. The Rinehart 100 takes a bid process, to get them to come here or to your range. Get with local archery pro shops in your area, get in tight with the owners. They will help support your club, through doantions of door prizes and even getting you targets at or close to their price... which is even cheaper than your club prices.... Silver Arrow, Whidbey Bowmen and Wilderness all go in each year for our orders to split shipping costs.... There was a comment about getting TBW or WSB involved... TBW would be a good bet, if you have area for camping etc.,..... might be a good place for next years WAJAM... contact snapshooter on here... he can talk to you about the TBW...

wormfood · « **Reply #21 on:** July 10, 2011, 12:47:27 PM »

I am really thinking of a safari/3d mix for a couple of fun shoots maybe end of Oct. early Nov. If I can get some old 3d's that need a lot of repair for free or extremely cheap maybe a late season warm-up with broadheads.

D-Rock425 · « **Reply #22 on:** July 10, 2011, 07:50:31 PM »

I think half and half could be a fun shoot. If you get a date I will volunteer to help for the weekend.

wormfood · « **Reply #23 on:** July 12, 2011, 08:31:27 AM »

Looking at Oct. 29th if things continue to go well.

D-Rock425 · « **Reply #24 on:** July 12, 2011, 08:58:16 AM »

Is it going to be just a fun shoot or will you be doing awards? Try to start collecting door prizes now. Most shooters remember shoots with good door prizes.

bowhunter851 · « **Reply #25 on:** July 16, 2011, 12:32:16 PM »

IF YOU NEED an extra pair of young hands to help you.. ill be glad volunteer to help i only live about 10 minutes away

TheHunt · « **Reply #26 on:** July 17, 2011, 06:59:07 AM »

Give me a PM if you want. I am a member of that club and use it for sight in and use to shoot shot gun up there a lot. You have a natural land offering up there that can provide some real challenging shooting. You can talk to Arlin at Cabelas to see what he thinks to get started. He might give you a smoking deal on their targets.

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Author Topic: Resurrected Range. (Read 5888 times)

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