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