Archery Shoot Wisconsin USA
June 22nd, 2005 by Administrator
Archery offering hit the bullseye HORICON-The first ever R-100 Archery Shoot featuring 50 3-D animals native to Wisconsin and 50 exotic/prehistoric creatures as targets held at the Horicon Marsh Bowmen’s club grounds over the weekend was a huge success.
So much so that president Richard Greshay is looking forward, hopefully, to a repeat of the 3-D target shoot next year.
“If we can get him, we will probably for sure. But he has so many requests and bookings,” Greshay said. “He is booked through mid-September,”
The “he” referred to by Greshay is John Rinehart of Janesville, owner of Rinehart 3-D targets. “He held archery tournaments in England in March. Just last weekend he was in Couer d’alene, Idaho,” Greshay said, noting that the shoots feature 50 or 100 targets.
Setting up the 100 targets throughout the grounds and on a neighbor’s 40 acres was held Thursday and Friday.
Rather than the more traditional targets, the weekend archers took aim at coyote, bears, wolverines, fox, turkeys, bear, and a variety of deer, all native to Wisconsin. The Jurassic Fun targets included a polar bear, mountain grizzly, cougar, antelope, zebras, lions, cougar, panthers, and the pre-historic duck bill hadrosaurus, velociraptor, and the stegosaurus.
No prizes were awarded in the weekend shoot. In preparation for the event, Greshay said, “This is a family fun event and is the biggest shoot in Wisconsin this year other than the Necedah Shoot. The neighbors have been very cooperative, with Keith Qualmann allowing use of 40 acres, and Onyx, space for parking. The weatherman assured us great weather and with 180 pre-registrations we anticipate a tremendous turnout. It will be lots of fun and enjoyment for all,” he said.
Located in the town of Hubbard at N7240 County Highway V, three miles east of Horicon, the Horicon Marsh Bowmen has a membership of 120. That number includes individuals and families from Horicon, Beaver Dam, Mayville, Hustisford, Waupun, Hartford and West Bend, and ranging in age from five to 75 plus.
Members meet at the clubhouse the second Thursday of each month year ’round. During the summer months they shoot outdoor league, moving indoors in the winter.
The bowmen offer free one hour hunter education classes on seven Monday nights in January and February, providing bows and arrows for the lessons. Open to “kids” of all ages, the younger set meet at the clubhouse at 6 p.m. and those over 18 at 7 p.m.
Club members also offer a state hunter safety education course with certified instructors to an organized group. During the spring, the Bowmen hold an international bow hunters’ education course that is a requirement to purchase an archery license for hunting in many states.
The clubhouse is open at no cost to church groups, children and 4-H youth. Arrangements to visit the club for instruction can be made by calling the clubhouse at 387-2576.
“We do everything we can to promote archery,” Greshay said.
By CONNIE DORNFELD/Staff Reporter