Archery has been popular for thousands of years, offering tests of skill and strength and providing excitement for enthusiasts worldwide. In North Texas, famous for its lakes and prairies that provide a natural setting for outdoor sports, there are several clubs where archers can test their ability.
Denton County Archers
At Denton County Archers, a traditional archery club that meets near Lake Lewisville in Aubrey, Texas, the focus is education, proficiency and security. Once open to members only, the club now welcomes associate, non-voting members with hopes of promoting and defending the safety of bow hunting.
The club meets monthly and holds an annual awards banquet with guest speakers each summer. On Thursday afternoons the club welcomes nonmembers and guests who wish to try both the practice and 3D ranges for only $5.
Texins Archery Club
Texins Archery Club is a private club in Dallas. With membership open to the public, the club provides a convenient, safe and economical place for the entire family to practice archery. Beginner classes are offered every Saturday morning, which include a brief history of the sport. JOAD (Junior Olympic Archery Development) classes are also featured on Sundays. Class participants benefit from the expertise of Olympic coaches, nationally ranked shooters and longbow champions. All equipment for classes is supplied by the club, but participants may bring their own.
Aside from instruction, the club offers something for every archer including a variety of shooting opportunities on practice and long-distance ranges, a form wall, an instructional area, 3-D course and organized hunting trips.
University of Texas Archery Club
Students, faculty and staff at the University of Texas in Austin are invited to join the UT Archery Club, which competes nationally under the rules of the national Archery Association/College Division. Open to both recurve and compound archers, the club offers members both indoor and outdoor ranges and meets every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. during the fall and spring semesters. The club also features first-time archer classes for beginners on practice days beginning at 6 p.m.
The Rest -- Archery Clubs in Texas
For a review of archery clubs throughout Texas, visit huntingsociety.org/archeryclubsTX.htm. The link includes tournaments, sites, ranges, JOAD clubs, a calendar of events and archery news.
Cost
Aside from the membership fees to join the various clubs, which range from approximately $70 to $150 per year, you can enjoy archery on a budget, especially if buy used equipment. Purchasing new equipment and the latest gadgets, however, can add up, making archery a costly venture. Bows can range from $50 for a beginner model to nearly $1,000 for a custom model. Those who compete often need a bow, arrows, sights and other accessories that can range from $800 to $1,500.
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