4 reasons bowhunters should consider joining an archery club

My wife and I just returned from the annual banquet of the Alberta Bowhunters Association. Aside from breaking bread with amazing people who share our passion for archery and bowhunting, we thoroughly enjoyed networking, exchanging countless stories, and recognizing members for their achievements through the organization’s awards program.

Following the banquet, many of us continued to visit into the wee hours of the night. Reuniting with long-standing members, and getting to know newcomers reminded me of just how special it is to be an active participant in one of the best communities in the world of hunting. Sharing information, strategies, successes and failures—as well as making new connections—is truly a special thing.

Carrying this communal exchange over to the local level, I highly recommend bowhunters get a membership at their local club. For similar reasons, I enjoy being a part of my own club, the Parkland Bowbenders. Thanks to a great executive, our membership is growing every year and, with more members, comes more opportunities to shoot with different people, both recreationally and competitively. And as a bonus, these new relationships invariably lead to exciting new hunting opportunities. Networking aside, there are several other benefits to joining local archery clubs.

#1  COMPETITIONS

At the local level, most clubs feature one or more ranges with static target butts, as well as 3D ranges. With plenty of different 3D animal targets strategically placed in realistic hunting scenarios, shooters can experience field-like conditions at variable distances.

3D shoots are a club benefitIf you’ve never tried shooting 3D before, it’s like working your way through what’s best described as a golf course for bowhunters. Instead of hitting a ball down the fairway, however, you work your way through the woods launching arrows at animal targets. These ranges are typically restricted to members only, and available for practice rounds when tournaments are not underway.

Then there are special 3D tournaments, either closed club competitions or sanctioned 3D tournaments hosted by individual clubs. Growing in popularity, these events offer something for every archer, from youth to seniors, using everything from compound to traditional bows.

#2  EDUCATION & MENTORING

As far as learning and mentoring goes, local clubs are tough to beat. As with many other archery clubs, my local club hosts seminars and coaching sessions for young archers, as well as other special events from time to time.

If you’re new to archery and bowhunting, there’s no better place to meet experienced shooters and bowhunters, and develop your archery skills. If there’s one thing I’ve gleaned from almost four decades of shooting at local clubs, it’s they are full of friendly folks willing to mentor newcomers.

#3  AWARDS PROGRAMS

Undeniably, one of the most appreciated elements of a club membership is the awards program. The Alberta Bowhunters Association offers an amazing example. It recognizes individual bowhunters for specific achievements and contributions within the archery and bowhunting community, as well as category-specific awards for all members achieving benchmarks in their bowhunting journey. For example, members can work toward a Small Game Award, Bowhunter Award or Master Bowhunter Award by fulfilling specific eligibility requirements. The pinnacle achievement is the association’s Grandmaster Award, which is earned by taking six Pope & Young class big-game animals. This, and the other club award programs, serve to enhance awareness, celebrate achievement and foster community involvement.

#4  CONSERVATION PROJECTS

Whether at the local or provincial level, clubs also often administer a wide variety of community and conservation projects. Examples include the National Archery in the Schools Program, educational and public awareness initiatives, provincial wildlife habitat enhancement projects, and other community-based outreach programs promoting the benefits of archery and bowhunting.

In the end, clubs and associations serve to improve involvement in bowhunting, while providing a credible base to lobby for improved bowhunting opportunities across the country. And perhaps above all, they promote conservation and ethical hunting practices, honouring the animals we value and hunt.