I know there are some out there. Let's get a little more organized and have a get together at different places throughout the year. I am in Portland ND, we have excellent facilities here, both indoor and out. Any ideas?? Joel N (oh, almost forgot, I will bring the chicken for the barbie!!!)
Jason here in Fargo. We've got a number of traditional archers here at Sandhills Archers in West Fargo. Plus a few more at Lake Agassiz Bowmen in Fargo. Sandhills is planning on having a traditional 3D league on Tuesdays at 6:30 pm, starting next January. I'm hoping there will be anywhere from 10 to 20 trad archers shooting. Should be a lot of fun.
www.sandhillsarchers.org (http://www.sandhillsarchers.org)
Jason
This is Brad in Dickinson. We have a few trad guys and gals here and a few more playing around with it. I know quite a few more across the state. Williston has a bunch of them and then there is Finley and his crew up in DL.
I too have been thinking about a ND trad shoot. Years ago Williston held them at thier range. It was a pay one price and shoot until you got tired of the misquitoes type of thing. Just a fun shoot, no scoring, just the way they ot to be.
Yester day I sent an email to Scott Rehak to see if they are still doing it or if they might try it again.
I was thinking about having something at our range here in Dickinson or something out in the badlands. But that would be a long drive for some of you.
I might be able to get our club to let me use a bunch of 3Ds, but I don't know what it would cost.
Years ago there was a bunch of us that met at the down river campground below the dam at Pick City and had a long bow shoot. It was very casualy organized and had a lot of home made targets and other games. Didn't realy cost us a thing but was a lot of fun.
The other day I talked to a guy from Lemmon SD that makes arrow shafts. He said they have a group in SD that has a shoot every year and it rotates around the state. That might be something to think about.
Brad (Badlands) Davis
Jon Barnett from Devils Lake here. Pretty much the only other Trad guy other than me up in the Lake Region is Tim Finley (and his son) who builds Kota Bows. I'm having him build me one of his Prairie Swifts...
Count me in for a Trad Gathering somewhere in state...
I will keep in touch with you guys and plan something for those that want to come and shoot here at the Portland range ( da Norseman archers, ya know!!) We have set up planned for the 3rd week of April, so I am thinking some time in May before the skeets hatch. JN
Sounds like a great idea, like Jason said there are a quite a few of us trad guys here in Fargo. It would be nice to get a traditional shoot set up.
Isn't there a guy in Dickinson that does flint knapping? I met him at a Medora 3D shoot. It might be fun to get some other activities going like knapping, string making, arrow building, bow building, etc. They're doing something similar in MN with Chad Holm rounding it up.
Jason
Jason
yup there is, his name is Joe Hicks. I'm sure that he would be interested and I'll get him in the loop.
I just had supper with Tim Finley and Damon last weekend at the NDBA banquet. Tim is down pig hunting right now, but I'd bet that he'd be up for anything.
I make strings and take down recurves. I don't know if I'd want to drag all of the things that it would take to make a bow along, but if anyone would want to try thier hand at a string, I have a couple cases of B-50 Dacron that I would be more than willing to share.
Chad was at the banquet too. I had sent him an email about this bow building get together that he has planned for the second weekend in June. I got to meet him that night and talked to him for a while the next day. He sure makes some nice looking bows. Jason are you planning on going to his gathering??
I would like to if it works out, with 3 kids at home, nothing is ever for sure.
I make all-wood bows, fiberglass laminated bows, strings, arrows, fletchings (stripping goose/turkey feathers), quivers, and tan hides. I know a few others have made wooden and fiberglass bows with more tools than I (and trailers) at the club. I'll kick it around at the next league night.
Jason
ttt
Hello from Manitoba. If you are having a shoot and want more shooters, let me know and I can post something at our local archery range. We usually have a pretty good tradidional group at the shoots around here. If its not too far into ND some of us may be inclined to drive down.
We have a pretty good setup already for this in West Fargo at Sandhills Archery Club. We already have at one location:
- outdoor 3D range with 3D targets nestled in trees
- shelters for demos/workshops (some have power)
- modern outdoor toilets
- playground for kids, practice range (4'x4' layered foam targets at 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 yards)
- a pond with bass and sunfish for fishing (catch & release). Fly fishing is pretty decent too. We've setup a bison on one end and shot at from the other (over 100 yard shot). We've also had canoe shoots (one guy paddles and the other shoot at targets around the pond.
- Elevated stand with a broadhead pit.
- NFAA Field course
- Indoor range that will allow up to 30 yard shots at layered foam backstop, lounge, kitchen and toilets.
- Shopping (West Acres, the largest Scheels, Sportsman's Warehouse, Gander Mountain)
- Hotels and restaurants.
- Over 20 traditional archers in the F-M area that I can name (probably more out there I don't know).
Its quite a ways from Dickinson/Williston/Minot, not as scenic as the badlands, but not too far from Winnipeg/Grand Forks/Devils Lake and right next to Minnesota (might be able to pull a few in from MPLS/StPaul area).
I'll be working with the Sandhills board to get this going (I'm a board member and webmaster) if there is interest in West Fargo.
Jason Jelinek
jelinekjason@hotmail.com
I'm game for just about anything. If you guys want to get the ball rolling, and the timing is right, I'll be there and bring as many others along as I can.
Jason, are you talking about the range by Kindred?
Brad,
The Sandhills Archery club is in West Fargo (we just got annexed in the last 2 years). We are located NW of the Red River Valley Fairgrounds North of I94 and main.
I'll try to get some kind of date/schedule of events sketched out and add it to this thread. Let me know if Joe Hicks is interested in giving a flint knapping demo/workshop. If anyone else has a skill they want to share let me know and we can add it in.
If someone wants to have this located centrally in the state, I'll back off and help with whatever I can.
Jason
A friend of mine and I are going to hunt Mulies in the Grassy Butte area, September of this year (got drawn for my tag). I am very excited. Fred Bear hunted this area in his video "Badlands Bucks" so kinda neat that way as well. I am looking forward to hunting ND. Any of you near Grassy Butte?
Bill
I'm in the north central part of the state, but have hunted the Badlands west of Grassy Butte many times. Planning on wandering out there in September, myself.
In my younger days (before cell phones, GPS's, and when few people outside of ND knew about the Badlands), I would park my truck, shoot a compass bearing, shoulder my pack & bow, and take off into the Breaks. Lived on Salted Nut Rolls, Jerky, and cleaned up & cooled off in stock tanks. Would just crawl under a cedar and sleep wherever I ended up at night. Never see another person for a week. To say those days were grand doesn't do it justice.
The Badlands is my favorite wild place of all that I've seen in my lifetime. You'll have a ball. First thing you do when you get out there is take your watch off, forget about time, and slow down...
Bill
I live in Dickinson, about 50 miles SE of Grassy Butte.
When the time gets close, drop me a line if you need any arrangements made localy, I'd be glad to help.
Brad
Thanks Brad, Will do. I am really loking forward to hunting Mule deer. It will be my first time.
Good Luck to you guys getting a Trad shoot together. I belong to an archery club in Wi. We are lucky to have a bunch of clubs in the area. Almost all have a trad shoot each year.
Bill
Hey I'm in Grand Forks and would love to get together whenever and wherever you guys want. I'm kinda new to trad but always love to meet others. Keep in touch.
ttt
Howdy, Ya'll! I'm with Brad in Dickinson and am a member of his archery club. Count me in as a participant if we organize a trad shoot, as I'm always looking for opportunities to meet and shoot with others of my "kind."
Claudia
I'm hoping to have more information late next week.
Jason
update
We had our monthly club meeting last month so I asked for the ok to host a "Trad fun shoot". I explained that what I had in mind was charging participants on fee to shoot as much as they wanted for the weekend, that this would be limited to traditional equiptment only and there would likely be other "traditional" type events and games along with it. I explained that this would not necessarily be a money maker for the club, but we would charge what ever was necessary to cover target depreciation. They thought it was a great idea and gave me the green light to go for it.
We didn't spend the time to dicide on a price but $13 pr day or $25 for the weekend was mentioned, so it would likely be in that ball park.
So, depending upon what the rest of you decide to do, My club would be willing to and probably will host a shoot.
If I had to guess at this time I would say that it would be on or about the weekend of the 23rd and 24th of June and, although I'd love to have one out in a remote part of the badlands, we would probably have it at our outdoor range the 1st year.
Would you have any area for camping out there?
Sounds like a great idea to me. Count me in. I am in Bismarck and please let me know if I can help out.
BillW, I hunt around Grassy Butte every year. Shoot me an email if I can be of any help.
Greg
Get a hard date so I can put in for vacation days...
Taiga
No problem camping at the range if we have it there (other than an occasional train going by).
About the dates,
I think I could firm them up soon, but I've kind of been waiting to see what Jason and the Chickenman have to say. I think they were both working on setting something up in thier areas and don't want to step on thier toes.
I think it would be fun if we could have a few trad shoots and have them spaces out enough so it would be easy to attend more than one.
The next thing would be to think of other fun activities to do at the shoot.
Brad
If you want to run with it, that's fine with me. You're not stepping on my toes.
Jason
Hi everyone! This is Bob from Jamestown. We have a handful of trad shooters here - Dave, Steve, Larry and Glenn and a few more, but no place to shoot outdoors, yet.
It would be fun to meet others from around the State. We don't have an archery club here anymore but Stutsman Co. Wildlife has an archery committee that sponsors 2 shoots a year.
Some of you may have come to Jamestown's annual 3-D archery shoot in March sponsored by Stutsman Co. wildlife and the park board.
ttt
Badlands, Dickinson is my favorite end of the state, I will be there will at least one other. I will have a weekend lined up at our range just for fun and b/s session. No fees, just some good times and some excellent BQ chicken. Joel N
July 14th
We are going to have a traditional shoot/gathering at Sandhills Archery Club in West Fargo on July 14th. We plan to have the following:
- primitive fire starting techniquest
- primitive arrow building
- KE, PE, efficiency, and arrow speed measurements
- aerial shooting
- distance shooting
- 3D course
- other demos (possibly sonme from a local sporting goods store in the FM area)
The costs aren't fleshed out yet, but mark your calendar and come out and have fun. I'll have more info on the website in the next couple of weeks.
www.sandhillsarchers.org (http://www.sandhillsarchers.org)
Jason Jelinek
jelinekjason@hotmail.com
ttt
I also see where the Prairie Rose State Games are being held in Fargo that weekend with an Archery event. It looks as if they are specifically setting up a Traditional class. Why not come to Fargo and attend both shooting events, the Sandhills Traditional Shoot and the State Games. You can kill two targets with one arrow... isn't that saying?
Look forward to meeting some of you
ttt
I will put up a poster at my archery club, Missouri Basin Bowmen. Keep me informed of any changes or updates in planning. Not sure if I will be able to make it, but hopefully others from our neck of the woods can.
Dakota Kid
Badlands,
How goes the planning for your shoot out there. I would like to say myself and who ever I can drag along will be out for yours.
Taiga
Anyone who would like to is welcome to camp primatively at our range. I think that there will be plenty of room.
Our clubs next meeting is next Tuesday the 8th. After that time I should be able to post more details and put some type of flyer together to get out to the clubs and whoever else would like one.
For now I can just say that there will be a Trad only shoot and it will be the weekend of June 23rd and 24th.
I'm hoping that in addition to shooting a 3d course, we can do some other fun stuff.
Regarding the trad event at Sandhills, we have a schedule conflict with another event at the park and we won't be having it on July 14th. We've decided to make this an informal event at the club at a time to be determined later. I'll post some more information when we've narrowed it down more.
Jason
Hi all
Finally had our club meeting last night. We are deffinately on for the weekend of June 23rd and 24th.
The place will be the Rough Rider Archers range just east of Dickinson.
Free camping at the range for anyone who wants for Friday and Saturday. BBQ grills available.
20+ 3D targets.
cost will be $15 for the whole weekend or any part of it. Shoot as much as you want.
I think we'll do some airial shooting so bring your flu flus.
Probably a coon shoot Saturday night.
Maybe some distance shooting like clout.
Maybe a milk jug shoot.
Whatever other shooting games we can dream up.
Gear swap, bring anything trad that you would like to sell or trade.
Giant Albino carp shoot.
Campfire after dark.
If Joe Hicks is around we may get to see a flint knapping demo.
We could make some flemish strings if anyone wants.
Tom Braun from Lemmon may be there with a supply of his Douglas Fur arrow shafts for sale. He makes very nice shafts and they are very reasonably priced.
Let me know if there are any other events you would like to see or if there is anything else you can think of that might make the weekend more fun.
oh
I forgot. I'll try to put together a flyer to send out to area clubs and anyone else who would like one. It will have directions to the range etc.
But for now please help spread the word.
Jason and Joel
Any new developments on shoots in your areas??
ttt
So what's the scoop on the shoot out in Dickinson? The one if Fargo has been postponed due to the boyscouts using our park and range during the weekend we wanted to hold it.
TTT
Brad has all the info above. See his post from May 9th and you should be all set!
Claudia
oops, if I would only read, sorry.
Brad, when you get a chance can you shoot me some directions to the range.
Thanks
Tony
Tony
Sorry about the delay in responding, I was out of town atending the MN bowbuilding weekend that Chad Holm hosted last weekend. What a great time.
The planning is going great.
It's only a week and a half away.
We had a meeting last night to finalize some planning and it sounds like we'll have a work crew out at the range a few nights next week to get it all set up.
The club is excited about the idea and the prostpect of making it an annual event. They have been willing to forgo any profit making potential to make sure that everyone has a good time.
Please come if you can and help spread the word to any of your trad friends that you think might be interested.
Again
Primative camping will be available at the range.Showeres are available in town at the community center.
We may line something up food wise, but its hard to guess how many people might be there. We are close to town so running in to grab a bite or pick up groceries won't be a problem. We'll have grills available for anyone who wants to use them.
Shooting will be Saturday and Sunday. Shoot all that you want. We'll have 3Ds up and you can shoot as many arrows and as many rounds as your fingers can take. Vary the shots all that you want so long as they remain at a safe angle.
Kids under 16 shoot free and must shoot with an adult.
later in the evening we'll probably gather everyone together to do some areal shooting. BRING YOUR FLU FLU ARROWS, we have some but more is better.
I have some ideas for some fun shoots like a balloon busting speed shoot and after dark we'll have a coon shoot on Saturday night.
Bring any trad gear that you may want to sell or trad, vendors welcome.
Hope to see as many of you there as possible. If this works out this year, we'll deffinately do it next year, might even be out in the badlands somewhere.
If you have any questions at all, give me a call at 701-590-0079
Brad
OK guys
It's getting close and the guys in the club here have been working hard to get the range in shape.
Who's comming?
I hope that most of you can make it, I think that it will be the start of an annual event that could be big in the future.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Brad
I'll be there at some point this weekend.
Greg
I'll be there, Brad! Goodness knows...I need some time AWAY from the hospital!!!!
Claudia
I won't be able to make it this year. My hometown is having it's 125th Anniversary (Pisek, ND). Best of luck and have a great time!
Jason
Only a few couple days to go.
The range has been mowed and the targets laid out.
Most of the shots will have multiple 3D targets to shoot at and remember you can shoot as much as you want.
Brad