RIGHT ON TARGET
BLOOMSBURG — Early Bird Sports Expo owners Jarrett and Jenna Swartz wanted to get more people to show up to the event, stop what they were doing and enjoy a little show.
They knew exactly what to do to ensure that would happen, reaching out to the Berwick Archery Club and bringing back its exclusive event — the paper shoot.
"My goal is to get as many people into the door and make those people happy," Jarrett Swartz said. "The paper shoot and 3-D shoot were mandatory to make that happen in my opinion because the numbers definitely dwindle when you don't have one with the other."
The event was split up from the Bloomsburg Archery Club's 3-D shoot with the Expo placing them on opposite sides due to both the balance in popularity and giving people something to watch on either side.
The paper shoot was a last-minute get for the Expo with Swartz reaching out to club president John Frey in October or November. That, and the Expo dealing with the Lancaster Archery's paper shoot may lead to a small number of shooters this go-around.
"Biggest problem is Lancaster Archery has their big money shoot this weekend. They're giving thousands of dollars away ... It's practice up to the Las Vegas shoot in three weeks," Frey said. "[Coming back was the] spur of the moment — not a whole lot of time to set up. Most of the shooters will be local, but I did get some calls and expect to get some bow hunters and senior division hunters from the Lancaster Archery [tonight]."
Frey, though, expects people to still show their support, recounting the last time the club held a paper shoot.
"Last time we were here, we had 160 shooters and we paid out $6,500. I'm working on sponsorships for next year to put some sponsor money up for next year," Frey said with a four-high bleacher set behind the row where shooters stand. "We'll call back, hopefully, 40 shooters on Sunday with 80% payback to the top three men, women, youth and bowhunters."
That payback will be determined by the amount of money the club makes over the weekend.
3-D gets a size adjustment
The Bloomsburg Club did away with the lighting and timing of targets from its first year by getting twice the size and putting in over 20 targets for shooters this year. It took help from Benton Archery Club, Orangeville Sportsmen's Club, and North Montour Sportsmen's Association to get the event ready for the weekend.
Last year, the club saw 30 shooters over the duration and well-exceeded that total in the pre-registration phase with over 50 sets to test their skills. Bloomsburg president Barry Sones is hoping for even more walk-ins — a similar direction the club took since the inaugural shoot last winter.
"It's amazing for the club, we've brought in a lot of new members from the shoot last year," Sones said. "It's a different style shoot this year, but we're some family-oriented stuff, some kids shooting, we're excited to see some more growth this year."
Even with twice the size, Sones is hoping a group of four maximum will get through the course well within 90 minutes, awarding trophies to the top three shooters. The club also has an option for shooters to aim through a window that gets narrower in a steel plate, earning a cash prize at the end of the weekend.
"This is the first year it will ever happen, but it costs $10 with half of it going to Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors," Sones said. "If you hit the bag, you'll gain a total of 10 points and if you get it through the first one, you'll qualify for the shoot-off on Sunday after the finals are done, and the last three people will get 50% of the money with 50% going to first, 30% going to second and 20% going to third."
All shooters must bring their own bows for both events.
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