[shadowcat05]

I am the member of a Archery Club. I am also on the board.
This years outdoor 3-d shoots have not been up to par with turn outs.
When the president asked for suggestions 3 out of 4 members said SHORTEN the shots. He keeps setting them out at 45-50 yds for the bowhunter class.
A club not even 30 miles away has a "hunter friendly" course.
This guy keeps setting these long shots at targets like the small rhinehart bear and skunk. When this comment was said his statement was "Everyone likes them mean and nasty." I spoke up and said that the other club had 213 shooters the weekend before ours and we had 17. 5 of which helped with the setup.

So the battle is......I thinking of leaving the club. the president is surrounded by his groupies and wont' listen to anyone else's ideas. Now they are sorry we are in a bind for $$ because of lack of turn out.

What are your thoughts on this matter.:sad:

 

[TexasGuy]

I am the member of a Archery Club. I am also on the board.
This years outdoor 3-d shoots have not been up to par with turn outs.
When the president asked for suggestions 3 out of 4 members said SHORTEN the shots. He keeps setting them out at 45-50 yds for the bowhunter class.
A club not even 30 miles away has a "hunter friendly" course.
This guy keeps setting these long shots at targets like the small rhinehart bear and skunk. When this comment was said his statement was "Everyone likes them mean and nasty." I spoke up and said that the other club had 213 shooters the weekend before ours and we had 17. 5 of which helped with the setup.

So the battle is......I thinking of leaving the club. the president is surrounded by his groupies and wont' listen to anyone else's ideas. Now they are sorry we are in a bind for $$ because of lack of turn out.

What are your thoughts on this matter.:sad:

Piss on 'em.....join the other Club.....let the "groupies" ruin that Club financially.....having FUN is what an archery Club is supposed to be all about.....and it sure sounds like the one you belong to is NO FUN! :sad:

 

[boojo35]

45 - 50 yards is toooooooo lllllooooooooooonnnnnnnggggggg for hunter class. They need to be about 35 max and average about 26 to 32. This will stop running off new shooters. Everything at 45 - 50 yards will even run off some open shooters. Courses need to be diverse and offer something for all types and abilities of shooters.

 

[shadowcat05]

So I'm not Crazy?

You mean you guys don't like me mean and nasty???

It may sound terrible but I didn't even go out and check on them this last on I was so mad

They beg for help setting things up and mowing (which I can understand)
But in the winter when Anouther guy and I teach a kids club on Saturdays and are dealing wiht 50-100 kids in one day NO ONE seems to find thier way there. Oh wait.....Except one weekend when we have a swap meet and they can make $$.

 

[Guest]

Give him the facts "mean and nasty" like! I too am on the board of my club, we designate officers to be in charge of certain targets and helps get a good mix of target setups. Good luck, I assume this club is considerably closer for you?

 

[GatorSlayer]

You can either leave and let that club bite the dust, or follow the model the other club is offering, get a good backing from like minded club members, and you become president of the club. Sounds like you have good ideas, and you just presented your thoughts to a forum with 50,000 members, so you're not afraid to speak up; I say take the bull by the horns and become the man that saves the club and makes it fun for those who like to be there. Set the targets where they are fun. If a pro comes out and shoots 30 up, so what; the other pros need to break 32 .

We have a club in my city that is doing the same thing and they have almost no turn out, it is sad to see great clubs go to waste like that . Get the voice of the club behind you; when your clique is bigger than theirs, take over and give the people in your area two great clubs to shoot at.

 

[SLash]

If it works for them it'll work for you.

Shadowcat,

If the other club has a shoot format that is bring in shooters and your clubs format is failing to draw shooters, then it's time for your club to wake up and change their format to be more like the successful club.

Try not to give up on them until you've completely bloodied your forhead on their stone wall thinking. Then move on and involve the other club in your Saturday morning youth program.

Best of luck

Slash

 

[hobbs4421]

too far

It is fun to shoot long range once in a while for fun. (I do it), If u r trying to prep for archery hunting, then the majority of the shots should be within 5-35 yards w/ a couple out at 40(not skunks though). Let the groupies play, and find a place where you can have fun and get the practice you need. Good luck w/ everything. I know it is dissapointing, but u will find a better place.

 

[shadowcat05]

Thanks for the support guys.

I'd love to take over but it will not happen anytime soon. I have my first baby on the way (October 21...I have got to plan better) and my main 2 focus's family and the youth. I've prayed and prayed maybe something will happen but I think I will still resign and hand in my key but still do the youth program there for now.

 

[GatorSlayer]

Family definitely comes first, but do you think the CEO of a company is on the floor in the grind...nope! Find someone who you think would take the position, and help them get the backing. If you are close to the person, or they respect you, your ideas will still find there way into the club plan. Then when you are able, and the person your help get into the position of president is burned out, you can step in and continue on. Corporate politics suck and it stinks to put them in line with the archery world, but if it is the only thing that will save a good club, I would do what had to be done. Think of the kids life's you have changed...I would not let that get away.

 

[Mark250]

That is too far for the hunter class. You need it to be various yardages and maybe even put one out a little farther. Most of us like the yardages mixed up. If your not happy then join the other club. Archery is meant to be competitive and mostly fun.

 

[Nito]

I am the member of a Archery Club. I am also on the board.
This years outdoor 3-d shoots have not been up to par with turn outs.
When the president asked for suggestions 3 out of 4 members said SHORTEN the shots. He keeps setting them out at 45-50 yds for the bowhunter class.
A club not even 30 miles away has a "hunter friendly" course.
This guy keeps setting these long shots at targets like the small rhinehart bear and skunk. When this comment was said his statement was "Everyone likes them mean and nasty." I spoke up and said that the other club had 213 shooters the weekend before ours and we had 17. 5 of which helped with the setup.

So the battle is......I thinking of leaving the club. the president is surrounded by his groupies and wont' listen to anyone else's ideas. Now they are sorry we are in a bind for $$ because of lack of turn out.

What are your thoughts on this matter.:sad:

If the other club had 213 shooters and you had 17 and they dont understand the problem , you must be the only one useing your brain and dont spend your time there, let them get ruined.
you tried and they dont get it, their problem.

 

[Tommy Chumley]

Sounds like it is time for a members revolt! Either that or a mass exodus!

 

[Mr. October]

The clubs in our 3d league have two stakes. A trophy stake where anyone interested in shooting for a trophy shoots from and a hunter stake for those not interested in trophies or who want to shoot closer. We even tell non-trophy shooters that if they are uncomfortable with any of the stakes that they can shoot from wherever they like.

A 3d course needs to be balanced between too long and too short. Too short and the big 3ders won't show . . . . too long and the hunters and casual shooters won't show.

The only safe bet is that no matter what you do, someone will whine: about targets, costs, distance, the coffee . . . . you can never make everyone happy.

 

[canam]

Shadowcat

I completely understand where you're coming from on this one! There was once a great club in my area and a lot of people were involved in running the shoots, etc and we had a lot of shooters; however, "politics" got in the way and now they're lucky to have 10 shooters. Many people have made suggestions about how to help the club, but if it isn't the idea of "the group" it doesn't happen! The sad thing is that the failure is blamed on everybody else and not where the problem truly lies. BTW, a few mean and nasty shots make for interesting conversation around the clubhouse after the shoot, but not a lot of them. It is better to have a few "deceptive" shots instead. You can position the Javelina at 35 yards and make it a very challenging shot!

I can tell you from personal experience, in that situation, it is better to get out before you start to get bad feelings toward the people left in the club. Sadly, the club will probably not make it, but you have more important things to take care of now.

Congrats on the new baby! You'll be so busy with it that you won't even know there is an archery club nearby, lol!

 

[gmherps]

Piss on 'em.....join the other Club.....let the "groupies" ruin that Club financially.....having FUN is what an archery Club is supposed to be all about.....and it sure sounds like the one you belong to is NO FUN! :sad:

Dang, we think a lot alike!

You bring a lot of wisdom and experience to the table man, so take it to a group that will apreciate it.

 

[EROS]

Just move on. If they can't figure out 213 to a 17 turn out, you can't help them. To me a 17 to 213 turn out is mean and nasty.

 

[Bees]

I am the member of a Archery Club. I am also on the board.
This years outdoor 3-d shoots have not been up to par with turn outs.
When the president asked for suggestions 3 out of 4 members said SHORTEN the shots. He keeps setting them out at 45-50 yds for the bowhunter class.
A club not even 30 miles away has a "hunter friendly" course.
This guy keeps setting these long shots at targets like the small rhinehart bear and skunk. When this comment was said his statement was "Everyone likes them mean and nasty." I spoke up and said that the other club had 213 shooters the weekend before ours and we had 17. 5 of which helped with the setup.

So the battle is......I thinking of leaving the club. the president is surrounded by his groupies and wont' listen to anyone else's ideas. Now they are sorry we are in a bind for $$ because of lack of turn out.

What are your thoughts on this matter.:sad:

Yerp sounds like your pres is just like every other lame archery president was around here and some still are although we might be getting through to one. Finally got one to listen to what I was saying and we made what really looked liked a short and easy coarse from the longest stakes. there was nothing over 40 yards, bigger targets at 40 and smaller ones in close. We used terrian to hide some of the legs on some of the longer targets. Fair footing on all targets all kill zones easily visible from the stakes.
Everyone said it's too easy, I said just wait until after the shoot. Well they came and shot the couarse, all said it was a fun fair course but tricky. No one tore up the so called easy course. Now he does it all the time like that and his shoots are the most popular around and his attendence is the largest.

Secret is, use terrian, the easier it looks to you when you walk it with no bow the more confusing it is going to shoot. But most lame archery presidents just don't get it, and they never will. leave cause if they won't listen you can't help. good luck.

 

[cath8r]

It sounds like you can chip away at this guys thinking.
First, suggest that you put out 2 sets of stakes. The Bowhunter stakes that are in the 35-20 yard zone and then the Open stakes that are 'mean and nasty' as you refer. It will allow the guys that want the challenge to have it and the hunter looking to drill lungs what he wants.
213 - 17! Thats a big discrepancy. I bet there are other factors at play besides how close the targets are.
Are you guys alot farther to the people than the other club?
Is that prez. a bit of a jerk to people that show up?
Do you serve crappy food or no food when the other club does?
213 - 17 seems a little too big to me.

 

[Will K]

My persepective

hey there. I am no 3d guy. I want to get out and shoot a few local courses with friends for fun, but the "tournament" part just isnt for me at this point.

All that said, one thing that "scares" me off is the shot distances and difficulties. A challenge is great. but the thought of going to shoot for fun and loosing a few arrows doesnt float well for me.

In my mind, the "hunter class" should be similar to shots you would take at REAL animals while hunting in that area. Mean and nasty sounds like a great challenge for a skilled 3d competitor but for a person focused on hunting it seems like a bad idea... Sort of like practicing to make overly risky shots.

change locations. sounds like a tough group you are with.