Aim, archery and adventure
Photo courtesy of Rudy Abersold Starting today, and every Thursday through Sep. 24, the Bear Lake Rod & Gun Club will open its 3-D archery range, featuring 20 targets, at 4 p.m., inviting all archers and bowhunters to practice skills before the New York state big game archery season opens Oct. 1.
Photo courtesy of Donald Campbell At the Bear Lake Rod & Gun Club, monthly highlights include informal firearms shoots and safety training, held each second Sunday of the month. The next shoot is Sunday, Sept. 13, with pistol shooting beginning at 10 a.m. Each month brings a different drill designed to keep things interesting while reinforcing safe shooting practices.
Photo courtesy of Rudy Abersold Starting today, and every Thursday through Sep. 24, the Bear Lake Rod & Gun Club will open its 3-D archery range, featuring 20 targets, at 4 p.m., inviting all archers and bowhunters to practice skills before the New York state big game archery season opens Oct. 1.
Photo courtesy of Donald Campbell At the Bear Lake Rod & Gun Club, monthly highlights include informal firearms shoots and safety training, held each second Sunday of the month. The next shoot is Sunday, Sept. 13, with pistol shooting beginning at 10 a.m. Each month brings a different drill designed to keep things interesting while reinforcing safe shooting practices.
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On Stockton Hill, where the landscape lends itself naturally to hunting, shooting and time spent outdoors, the Bear Lake Rod & Gun Club has become a gathering place for people who believe outdoor recreation is about more than the activity itself. It is about learning, camaraderie, conservation and sharing the experience with others.
Established in 1946, the Bear Lake Rod & Gun Club is a family-friendly club offering rifle, pistol and archery opportunities, along with social activities and a strong emphasis on safety and education.
Under the leadership of President Rudy Abersold, the club continues to welcome newcomers and seasoned outdoorspeople alike. Its approximately 20-acre property provides members with a place to hunt, practice archery and enjoy the outdoors close to home.
One of the club's regular highlights is its monthly informal firearms shoot, held the second Sunday of the month. The next shoot is Sunday, Sept. 13, with pistol shooting beginning at 10 a.m. at distances of 10 to 15 yards. Each month brings a different drill designed to keep things interesting while reinforcing safe shooting practices.
"Each month we work on a different drill to make it fun and safe," firearms expert Donald Campbell said. Recent participants tried the club's new "Dueling Tree," adding a little friendly competition to the day.
At noon, attention shifts to the 200-meter rifle range. Shooters might test themselves in a big-bore knockdown contest or try newer targets such as the "Angry Hornet" for centerfire rifles and the "Know Your Limit" target for rimfire shooters.
Campbell emphasizes that the goal is as much about learning and enjoying the sport as it is about accuracy.
"Emphasis is on fun and safety."
Adults with legal firearms are welcome at these informal shoots, providing an opportunity for experienced shooters to refine their skills and newcomers to learn in a welcoming environment with experienced mentors on site. Campbell, who spent 15 years competing at the Ridgway Rifle Club in 1,000-yard competitions, is also available to help rifle shooters develop their long-range skills.
Firearms are only part of the Bear Lake story. The club has become particularly active in archery, hosting regional American Archery Association events and welcoming archers for practice and competition. The club's archery program has helped make Bear Lake a destination for bowhunters and target archers throughout the region.
That combination -- skill-building, friendly competition, safety and simply getting people outdoors -- captures the spirit of Bear Lake. Like the best traditional outdoor clubs, it is a place where knowledge gets passed from one generation to the next, where a newcomer can ask a question without hesitation, and where a day outside can turn into an evening of stories and new friendships. Chautauqua County Federation of Sportsmen President Zen Olow says that the club also hosts the Federation monthly meetings several times a year.
Membership at the Bear Lake Rod & Gun is $40 annually for an individual or $60 for a family. For membership information, contact Rudy Abersold at 716-397-9717. For information about the monthly firearm shoots, contact Don Campbell at 716-338-2050.
Starting today, and every Thursday through Sept. 24, Abersold says, "the club will open their 3-D archery range, featuring 20 targets, at 4 p.m., inviting all archers and bowhunters to practice and tune their skills before the New York state big game archery season opens on Oct. 1. This is a non-scoring, non-competitive event, just for practice."
The Sept. 13 firearm shoot is open to members and the public. The season's monthly firearm shoots conclude in October.
I respect and admire local conservation clubs like the Bear Lake Rod & Gun Club that build the outdoor community through open invitation to share in the outdoors and build their skills.
Gotta love the Chautauqua outdoors.
CALENDAR
Aug. 12-23: Erie County Fair, visit the Conservation Building, Erie County Fairgrounds, 5600 McKinley Pkwy., Hamburg. Info: 716-649-3900.
Aug. 13: 3-D Archery, 20 targets Bear Lake Rod & Gun Club, 4 p.m. start, $10 fee, open to public, 4391 Stockton-Cassadaga Road, Stockton; 716-397-9717.
Aug. 13-16: Hawkeye Bowmen Archery, 33rd annual Traditional Shoot, events, camping, more; 13300 Clinton St., Alden; Nadine Fulle, 716-427-9076. Info: https://www.ecfsc.org/ecfscevent/hawkeye-bowmen-annual-traditional-shoot-the-big-one/.
Aug. 14-15: Innovative Outdoors Walleye Challenge, Dunkirk Harbor, Jim and Diane Steel, 716-481-5348.
Aug. 14-16: Sportsmen's Rendezvous Outdoor Show; hunting, fishing, seminars, supplies/gear, more -- Cattaraugus County Fairgrounds, 501 Erie St., Little Valley, Info: 716-474-7251.
Aug. 16: Sunday 50s Trap Shoot, Celoron Rod & Gun Club, 210 Livingston Ave., Celoron, registration 9-10 a.m.; Info: Jerry Martin: 814-688-9209.
Aug. 16: Bart's Trolling Invitational 1-Day Trolling Only Walleye Tournament, $500 entry, six-fish bag, NYS only, See Dan Hanley: 716-480-9862.
Aug. 16: Ellington Rod & Gun Club, "Don't Know Partner Trap League," 1045 Hagerdon Hill Road, Ellington; Info: 716-287-3987.