Archery club has indoor range

Downtown Albert Lea features merchants, restaurants, bars, banks, law offices and, interestingly, an archery club.

Nestled into the second level of the Knutson Building on Newton Avenue, the Full Draw Archery Club has a lot to offer, including leagues and tournaments.

Most of the club’s activity happens in winter, board member Larry Hill said. Winter is when the club’s hunter and target leagues happen as well as their three 3-D tournaments.

Also, many members join the club before bow-hunting season in the fall, Hill said, to brush up on their skills.

According to Hill, the Full Draw Archery Club — which is at 133 S. Newton Ave. — has been in Albert Lea for about 25 years. The club was started by Dwayne Renchin, who shot in Clarks Grove at Fisherman’s Stop, Hill said.

Renchin eventually started a club in Albert Lea, and Hill said it started with about five to eight members. Now, the club has over 80 members.

About 70 members participate in the club’s leagues. The club has two leagues: hunter and target leagues. The hunter league started on Sunday and will run for 13 weeks.

Hunter league shooters can post scores from Sundays until 6 p.m. on Tuesdays. At that time the scores are counted for the week and the range is set up for target league. Hill said target league shooters come in on Thursdays.

Hunter league shooters shoot at an array of hunting targets like bears, deer, birds and even a dinosaur. Target league shooters shoot at traditional paper targets on blocks.

Hill said he thinks this year will be better for leagues, as last year’s winter was harsh and not many people wanted to come out.

The cost to participate in leagues is $45 for one and $65 for two, or can be paid on a weekly basis of $4 for one and $6 for two.

The club also holds three 3-D tournaments, the first of which was Saturday and Sunday. Board member Ryan Green said the turnout for the first tournament was double from last year with around 64 shooters.

For shooters that participate in all three 3-D tournaments, an overall trophy will be awarded. The tournaments are open to the public, not just members of the club.

The second 3-D tournament will be on Feb. 7 and 8 and the third will be on March 7 and 8.

Starting Saturday, the club will also have a kids’ program. The program is open to children of any age, Hill said, as he’s seen children as young as 3 years old participating. The age cutoff is about 12 years old.

The program will teach the children how to shoot bows and for those without equipment, it will be provided. A donation of $1 per child is suggested.

Memberships for the year cost $60 if purchased between Jan. 1 and March 31. Otherwise, the membership cost is prorated, Hill said.

Memberships cost $45 if purchased between April 1 and June 30, $30 if purchased between July 1 and Sept. 30 and $15 if purchased between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31.

While most of the club’s activities happen in the winter, the club is open 24/7 every day to members. The club is a key club, which means members get a key code to the door and can use the facilities at any time.

Coming up next for the club are the 3-D tournaments as well as a banquet in April that will also have a raffle. Hill said proceeds from the raffle will be used to buy new equipment for the club, and he hopes to have tickets for that available by the next 3-D tournament.