CULLMAN, Ala. – Hey archers, has Robin Hood got nothing on you? Would William Tell’s son have been relieved to see you step up to the line? If so, you might want to put your skills to the test and earn some free range time at the Cullman Parks, Recreation & Sports Tourism (CPRST) 25 Arrow Challenge, going on at the agency’s indoor range this month.
CPRST Archery Director Anthony Parker explained, “It’s a set of four targets, and if it’s shot perfectly, it’s 25 arrows- takes 25 arrows to shoot it all the way through completely, and shot perfect. What we’re doing: the first person in that division at that distance that shoots (a perfect score), we’re giving them a month of range time for free.”
The targets include six 1.5-inch-wide vertical lines, six 1.5-inch horizontal lines, 12 3-inch circles and one final circle target. Archers must shoot until they hit the first target, then move on to the next. According to Parker, the best score shot on opening day was a 29. If your score isn’t perfect the first time, you can keep trying.
Said Parker, “They can come as much as they want to, and they can try as much as they want to. If they come and shoot tomorrow and they don’t do it, they can do it again the next day, until they get it in 25 or they give up.”
Archers can compete in different divisions, based on shooting style and distance:
- Bows with sights and mechanical releases
- Bows with sights but without mechanical releases
- Bows without sights or mechanical releases
Participants can shoot at various distances in 5-yard increments from 10 to 40 yards in any of the three style divisions. There is no age limit or gender differentiation; the challenge is open to everyone. Shooters are also welcome to compete in multiple divisions.
Parker said, “It’s just a real unique challenge, something that I came up with when I was teaching kids’ archery . . . As I was teaching kids, some of the stuff we were dealing with, these targets kind of help with that, so I just came up with it.
“We’re going to present it, let the people around here see if they enjoy it, try to give it a whirl, see how good they are.”
Shooting on the CPRST indoor archery range costs $5. The target set and score card for the challenge is an extra $5.
The CPRST indoor archery facility is located at 1913 Second Ave. SW (U.S. Highway 31) in southwest Cullman, and is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 3-7 p.m. For more information, visit https://cullmanrecreation.org/cullmanindoorarcheryrange/ or call 256-734-9157.
Copyright 2020 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
