Archery is a sport that improves focus, hand-eye coordination and upper-body strength. Practice the sport while getting fit and enjoying the great outdoors. Las Vegas has many opportunities for you to learn basic archery skills and safety, practice target shooting or take part in competitive events. The scenic desert landscape of Las Vegas, filled with Joshua trees, Mojave yucca and desert willows, provides a stunning backdrop to the local archery courses.
History
Men and women have been practicing archery in Las Vegas for many decades, and the annual World Archery Festival has taken place in Las Vegas since 1970. The popular "Vegas Round" is used regularly in national tournaments, but it was originally created for the World Archery Festival. The Vegas Round uses a special Vegas target face, which consists of two gold rings, two red rings and a blue ring.
Local Clubs
The Las Vegas Archers Club, located on Spring Mountain between Las Vegas and Pahrump, has more than 75 challenging targets. It hosts regular club activities, events and championships. The Las Vegas Archers organize out-of-town events, and members can travel throughout the year to participate in national archery competitions. Camping facilities are available on the property for out-of-town guests.
The Clark County Parks and Recreation Shooting Park has a world-class archery center. The park is regularly open Wednesday through Sunday. There is a small day-use fee for shooting or camping. The Parks and Recreation Department offers regular archery training classes, safety classes, and competitive events for juniors and adults. It hosts the annual Pumpkin Smash archery event each October. The archery center can also be rented for private events.
The Silver State Archery club in Henderson hosts weekly indoor league events and competitive shootdowns on Friday nights and Sunday mornings.
Ranges
Many public and private archery ranges can be found in Las Vegas and the surrounding towns of Henderson, Boulder City and Pahrump. You can participate in indoor, outdoor or 3-D archery shoots. The sandstone cliffs, juniper trees, and sage create scenic outdoor shooting ranges. Local sporting goods stores have private archery ranges and offer regular archery skills classes for Las Vegas residents. Additionally, for those interested in trying their skills beyond the archery range, the state of Nevada offers a limited number of hunting tags for bighorn sheep and elk.
Tournaments
The Nevada Bowhunters Association and the National Field Archery Association organize regular educational and competitive events to promote the sport and teach safety, good form and sportsmanship. The Nevada Bowhunters Association sponsors four annual archery tournaments for youths and adults. The National Field Archery Association holds regular events in Las Vegas. Check out its website to find out about upcoming archery tournaments in Las Vegas, including the World Archery Festival.
Safety
Because of the extreme temperatures in Las Vegas, it is important to follow general safety precautions when participating in fitness activities like archery. Always stay properly hydrated and carry extra water with you. Wear sunscreen and sunglasses, and seek shade if you begin to feel light-headed or dizzy. Avoid drinking alcohol when you are on the archery range and follow all of the established rules. Let the range master know if someone in your party is not feeling well.
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