Perfecting the technique of shooting a bow and arrow requires practice. Numerous archery clubs with indoor, outdoor and night ranges dot the state of New Jersey. Whether you are looking to perfect your skills for bow hunting or just want to shoot tournament style, most clubs cater to both. Grab your bow, a quiver of arrows and some comfortable shoes and test your accuracy at any of New Jersey's archery clubs.
Types
New Jersey archery clubs accommodate specific types of the sport and a few that cater to multiple forms of archery. Many privately owned sportsman stores offer indoor ranges with access based on hourly fees. Those with ranges offer leagues or weekly club shooting on specific nights. Many of these charge a fee when you come to shoot as opposed to an annual membership. For example, Bob's Little Sport Shop in Glassboro organizes a group that shoots weekly in a relaxed league setup.
Private club archery ranges cater to bowhunters and tournament shooters alike, offering a wide variety of range lengths for shooting longer distances. A few elite clubs also offer indoor ranges as well as outdoor. Some of the outdoor ranges are lit for night time shooting. Private clubs require membership dues to pay for equipment and land. The Obissquasoit Bowmen in Bridgeton is one club that is organized for both target abd bowhunting archers. It offers many competitions throughout the year for those wanted to test their abilities.
Sportsman clubs cater primarily to gun owners but a few also offer outdoor ranges. While these primarily serve the needs of bowhunters, a tournament shooter can also get some practice time. These clubs also charge membership fees. The Shongon Sportsmen's Association, out of Northern Warren County, includes 3D target shooting and competitions as part of its archery offerings.
A few clubs operate independently, offering the use of their ranges for a daily or hourly fee. In the long run, these cost more than a membership would.
Benefits
Belonging to an archery club offers multiple benefits. For the beginner, or even an intermediate shooter, opportunities exist to pick up tips from more experienced archers. The knowledge shared and resources offered make the fees well worth the cost.
Many clubs offer fun shooting events such as poker shoots. Clubs cater to their membership offering educational clinics, competitions, and more.
From indoor to outdoor ranges and different shooting distances, a club membership goes well beyond the limitations of shooting in a small home range.
Requirements
Archery and sportsmans clubs survive by serving their membership. Many have organizational requirements in order to keep their costs down. Sportsmans clubs often require NRA membership and New Jersey state firearms identification for insurance and legal purposes.
Other clubs require a certain number of hours of range related work, or clean up days, as part of the membership cost.
Pricing
Most ranges, such as the Obissquasoit Bowmen, in Bridgeton, New Jersey require an initiation fee of $100 as of 2010. Annual dues vary from club to club. As of 2010, membership dues ran between $75 to $150 yearly. Ranges may also require a waiver of liability for insurance purposes.
Considerations
To get the most from your membership dollars, consider these factors. In order to use the range, it should be close to where you live or work. The hours of operation should match your available down times. The specific type of archery they cater to, bowhunting or target, should match your preferred style.
Before signing up, attent a club meeting and ask to tour the ranges. Find out what events are frequently held. If you are interested in the competitions, see if they offer any and if they are sanctioned by the appropriate governing body.
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