DESPITE being in the middle of a “rebuilding” phase member wise, Orange and District Bowhunters Club range captain Matt Fowler is expecting a big turnout for the Walkabout Shoot, which starts today at Lewis Ponds.
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“Our numbers are definitely starting to grow again,” he explained.
“At one stage we were getting upward of 300 people to this shoot, and while we won’t go near that this weekend we are expecting at least 100.”
This weekend’s event is the first branch shoot for the club, with bowhunters from all over the state expected to compete.
The event is played out over today and tomorrow, in upward of 20 different divisions based on age, and bow specifications.
Today archers will compete for points, shooting at 40 animal silhouette targets at varying distances over several three-hour rounds. Each competitor has three shots, and is scored via a points system; an archer receives 20 points for hitting the target on their first shot, 16 on their second, four on their third and zero should they miss the target completely.
Tomorrow, archers make their way around the Lewis Ponds course and take aim at 30 rubber, three-dimensional animal targets, again vying for points.
“We use everything on Sunday, from foxes and turkeys to buffalos and pigs,” Fowler explained.
“That event is proving to be the most popular, it gives people a chance to get out a bit more in the bush. The course is quite steep and hilly and takes around three hours to manoeuvre.”
Fowler said he is expecting Orange archers to excel, mainly because of prior course knowledge.
“All of our juniors have been winning just about every competition on offer,” he said.
“That is one of the main goals of this event, it’s to keep our juniors involved. After all, they are the future of the sport.
“We should go very well in the seniors as well.”
Today’s bowcheck is at 8.30am, for a 9am start. Tomorrow’s bowcheck is 7.30am for an 8am start.