Archery Participation Benefits from Popular Movie Franchise

            Archery is experiencing a wave of popularity thanks, in part, to the successful Hunger Games series, and locally to Iowa’s expanding archery in the schools program.

In conjunction with the release of Hunger Games: Catching Fire on Nov. 22, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will be giving away a brand new Matthews Genesis Bow valued at $200. 

To enter the drawing, watch the movie, save the ticket and go to www.iowadnr.gov/archery for instructions.  Entries must be postmarked by Dec. 31, 2013 for the drawing in January.  The Iowa Bowhunters Association’s National Archery in the Schools Program Foundation is sponsoring the bow for the drawing. 

Iowa has real life archery stars of its own.

Miranda Leek, from Des Moines, is the current indoor and outdoor champion, a member of the 2014 Senior US National Archery Team and the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team for women’s recurve archery.  

Bridger Deaton, of Otley, is a member of 2014 Senior U.S. Archery Team for men’s compound archery, after his team placed silver in Wuix, China at the 2013 World Archery Youth Championships. 

Matt Stutzman, from Fairfield, won a silver medal in the 2012 London Paralympics. 

Currently, more than 2,500 elementary through high school student athletes participate in Iowa’s National Archery in the Schools program. Parents or students interested in competing in archery at their school can learn more about the program at www.iowadnr.gov/archery. 

There is so much more to archery than the simple bow and arrow. Make sure to also visit www.releaseyourwild.com to spread the love of archery.

 

Sidebar: West Des Moines Archery Park to Open Spring 2014

The Raccoon River Archery Park in West Des Moines will be the first in Iowa and the third nationwide when the 12 lane outdoor containment park opens in the spring. 

The range with feature moveable targets up to 40 yards and be enclosed on all sides by a combination of solid wood walls and chain-link fencing.  Rubber belting will be hung between the tops of the wood walls to insure stray arrows do not leave the facility.  The range will also have a shelter over the shooting area.   

Programming and facility rules are being planned by the City of West Des Moines.

Media Contact: Donise Petersen, Archery in the Schools Coordinator, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, 515-205-8709

ASK A DNR CONSERVATION OFFICER QUESTIONS LIVE ON FACEBOOK

DES MOINES — DNR Conservation Officer Aron Arthur will answer Iowans’ questions live on the DNR’s Facebook page Nov. 20.

Arthur will be available via Facebook from noon to 2:30 p.m. To ask a question, post it as a comment on the “Live Q&A” post that the DNR will post at noon that day. You can also post questions ahead of time on the DNR’s Facebook Timeline at www.facebook.com/iowadnr. Questions received after 2:30 may be answered at a later time.

To make sure you see the Live Q&A when it is posted, make sure you “like” the DNR’s page on Facebook. Go to www.facebook.com/iowadnr and click on “like” and make sure “get notifications” and “show in news feed” are selected.

Commenters should also view the DNR’s Facebook posting policy ahead of time at https://www.facebook.com/iowadnr/info.

 

MEDIA CONTACT: Jessie Brown, DNR, at 515-281-5131 or Jessie.Brown@dnr.iowa.gov

 

Get Your School Hooked!

"Fish Iowa! Games is a great confidence builder for students. It doesn’t matter your size, age, or gender – everybody can compete on a fair level.”

Fish Iowa! Games is a competition where students cast from three distances using the flipping, pitching, and overhand techniques. It was developed by the Iowa Sports Foundation, in conjunction with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources in 2006. Since then, over 73,000 K-12 students throughout the state have participated.

All medalists (gold, silver, bronze) from each school are invited to compete in the Fish Iowa! Games Finals at the 2014 Summer Iowa Games on Saturday, July 19.

 

2014 Registration Now Open!!!

Register your school or your class now to secure your competition kit. The competition may be held anytime between February 1 and May 1. Competition kits will be shipped beginning January 23.

Competition Kit

• Guidelines and diagrams
• 2 targets
• 2 contest spincast rods & reels
• 16 casting plugs (5/16 oz) for practice
• Participation ribbons – 1 per contestant
• Medals – gold, silver, and bronze for each class
• Sample press release