Shooting Sports News, Oct. 27, 2009

Hey Shooters, in this issue you’ll find:

• Ben Avery Shooting Facility sets winter hours and new late arrival check-in
• New program teaches the fun sport of archery to families
• Target archery shooters and bowhunters: Expand your skills, try 3-D targets
• Grants available for public shooting ranges in Arizona

Ben Avery Shooting Facility sets winter hours and new late arrival check-in

Recreational shooters are reminded that the Ben Avery Shooting Facility is operating on winter business hours as of Oct. 15.

In addition, shooters arriving near closing time are required to check-in 30 minutes before closing time to allow shooters and archers ample range time. Arriving with less than 30 minutes could leave customers in the middle of a cease-fire offering little to no opportunity to shoot.

Ben Avery Shooting Facility winter business hours are:

• Monday – CLOSED
• Tuesday – CLOSED
• Wednesday – 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (7:30 p.m. last check-in time)
• Thursday – 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (7:30 p.m. last check-in time)
• Friday – 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. (2:30 p.m. last check-in time)
• Saturday – 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (7:30 p.m. last check-in time)
• Sunday – 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. (2:30 p.m. last check-in time)

Winter hours are in effect until May 14, 2010.

To learn more about the Ben Avery Shooting Facility, shooting programs offered, upcoming events and location, visit www.azgfd.gov/basf.

New program teaches the fun sport of archery to families

Looking for a great activity the whole family can learn and enjoy?

The Arizona Game and Fish Department is offering a Family Archery Program at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Phoenix beginning Oct. 12. This introductory program is designed to give families a hands-on experience to learn more about archery and possibly start a new family tradition.

The program focuses on three specific archery disciplines: target, field, and 3D archery. Each participant is taught range rules, bow and arrow safety and handling, correct form and stance, and scoring for the different discipline venues.

The three-session program will be held Oct. 31, Nov. 7 and Nov. 14 (all Saturdays) from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The first session is mandatory and pre-registration is required. Participants must be 8 years of age or older.

The cost for the entire program is $40 for individuals, $45 for teams (at least one child and one adult), and $50 for families (at least one child and two adults). Equipment will be provided, however archers may bring their own equipment.

The Ben Avery Shooting Facility is located along Carefree Highway just west of the I-17 in Phoenix.

To pre-register for this event, please contact Brett Moser at (623) 582-8313 or e-mail bmoser@azgfd.gov.

Target archery shooters and bowhunters: Expand your skills, try 3-D targets
Arizona Game and Fish offers fun shoots

Step off the range and into the field and expand your archery skills in judging distances, terrain, and identifying the target zone on a variety of life-sized 3-D targets in a natural desert setting.

All ages and skill levels are welcome, so bring the entire family out to the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in north Phoenix to enjoy some cool fresh air and the Sonoran landscape. The 20-target course will add a new dimension to your archery skills.

“The course uses life-like animal targets (elk, turkey, bear, deer, etc.) set in the desert landscape and it makes for a fun and challenging shoot,” said Mike Raum, bowhunter education coordinator for Arizona Game and Fish. “On 3-D courses the distances are not marked. Targets could be on a hill or in a valley, and the scoring area varies on each target, much different from the target range. It’s a lot of fun.”

There are three shoots available this fall. No registration is required and the cost is minimal. For participants 17 and younger the course fee is only $3. The cost is $12 (includes $7 range fee) for shooters 18 and older. The scheduled shoots are:

• Saturday, Oct. 31, open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 14, open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Saturday, Dec 19, open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Additionally, the course is open to all Arizona Archery in the Schools shooters as part of the 3-D Regional Shoot. For Archery in the Schools 3-D information, please contact Tanja Washburn at (623) 236-7233 or twashburn@azgfd.gov

The Ben Avery Shooting Facility is located on the northwest corner of I-17 and Carefree Highway. Archers can enter the range at Archery Drive, which is the first light on Carefree Highway about 1.25 miles west of I-17. For a facility brochure and site map, visit www.azgfd.gov/basf.

To learn more about the outdoor programs like watchable wildlife, environmental education, fishing, shooting sports, hunting and others offered by the Arizona Game and Fish Department, visit www.azgfd.gov/getoutside.