Archery Clubs in Maryland

Unlike people featured in Robin Hood, most archery enthusiasts never get the urge to dress in tights or run around the woods defending the homestead. In Baltimore, several archery clubs and ranges keep the sport alive for those who want to perfect accuracy or get out among like-minded enthusiasts.

Baltimore seems like an urban area, but archery thrives here, with bowhunting being a favorite among sportsmen. Baltimore hardly seems like the archery capital of the world, but within a mere 30 miles of Baltimore, an archery enthusiast can find a number of archery ranges and/or clubs.

Baltimore Bowman Club, www.baltimorebowmen.com
The Baltimore Bowmen archery club operates three distinct types of archery ranges on 65 acres that's part of Gunpowder State Park. It's good for novices as well as the expert with bunny courses and 80-yard targets.

The Howard Hill Course. You'll find 28 targets on this is National Field Archery Association-approved (NFAA) range. The Howard Hill Course allows the archer to test uphill as well as downhill shooting skills.

Fred Bear is a challenging course where the archer can shoot from a tree stand at moving targets.

A 3-D Range opens for special events. The Baltimore Bowmen play host to a Traditional Classic for three days annually that attracts archers and families from around the world. For info., check out the club's online newsletter which includes a calendar of events.Baltimore Bowmen, Graham Memorial Park, 10301 Harford Rd., Glen Arm, MD, 21057.

Deer Creek Archery, www.deercreekarchery.com
About 30 miles outside of Baltimore in Churchville, archers can enjoy Deer Creek Archery year round on an 8,000-square-foot indoor range. It's known for its advanced, computer pop-up 3-D targets.

Beyond the course, Deer Creek maintains a pro shop as well as repair facilities for Mission, Mathews and P.S.E. bows. The National Shooting Sports Foundation rates Deer Creek at four stars.

Deer Creek Archery, 3021 Churchville Rd., Churchville, MD21028, 410-734-9554.

Tuscarora Archers, www.tuscaroraarchers.com
Tuscarora prides itself as a club where families can learn and enjoy archery together. It's located about 40 miles from Baltimore in Frederick, and has been operating since 1954.

Tuscarora Archers maintains a 20-yard, indoor archery range as well as a practice field. It holds a 3-D shoot once a week, June through September, then several times during the winter.

The club hosts archery tournaments and sponsors youth clinics and competitions, even offering an annual scholarship to a high school senior. Tuscarora Archers is associated with the Maryland Association of Archery, the International Bowhunting Organization and the National Field Archery Association.

Tuscarora Archers, Etzler Rd., Frederick, MD, 21702, 301-695-5316

Twelfth Precinct Pistol and Archery Club, www.twelfthprecinct.org
At the Twelfth Precinct Pistol and Archery Club, archers can use an indoor, 18-lane course, open to members and their guests daily. In terms of club activities, this club sponsors a 3D league once a week April through September. October through March, the club holds a 300-round match.

Twelfth Precinct Pistol and Archery Club, 450 Harwood Road , POB 26, Harwood, MD, 20776, 410-867-0560.

Heart of Maryland Bowhunters, http://www.eteamz.com/HMB
This member-run archery club is based in Marriottsville and maintains a 40-acre piece of land near Sykesville within Patapsco Valley State Park. The tract presents archers with the real world of bowhunting in microcosim: hills, hardwoods, brush, fields and ravines. Each shoot involves 50 3D targets that are set up along a course, so the archer sees a different course for each shoot.

Heart of Maryland Bowhunters, 7930 Henryton Rd., Marriottsville, MD, 21104.

Mayberry Archers Club, http://mayberryarchers.org
If you're a beginner, you can take an 8-week course to teach you how to use a bow. New classes start Oct., 2010. It's a family-oriented organization, so all ages are welcome. They also offer a bowhunting safety course.

This is a social organization. They maintain a Facebook page, and place an emphasis on getting members together to swap stories and tips.

Mayberry Archers Club, 2555 Mayberry Rd., Westminster, MD, 21158, 410-346-7927.

Other Resources

Anne Arundel Archers, http://www.annearundelarchers.com

Maryland Archery Association, http://www.md-archery.org

Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Archery in the Schools Program, http://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/education/nasp/index.asp

http://www.huntingsociety.org/ArcheryClubsMD.html