As the preparations got underway for the second annual WomenHunters™ 3-D benefit, members of the Twin Lakes BowBenders (TLBB) stacked hay bales and set up target stations. Lots of physical labor and time go into setting every stake that supports a target and placing metal flags various shooting distances from the targets. A full day of work and set up takes place before the 3-D course is ready for the archers.

In a forest setting, even 3-D targets offer realistic archery shots. Tree branches hang too low interfering with the archer’s draw. Other woodland vegetation will invariably be aligned in the arrow’s flight path. They do not position the flags at exact yardage but instead set them indiscriminately to challenge each 3-D shooter. In addition, range finders may not be in use on the course. This is a rule that applies to most 3-D courses.

Months of planning and cooperation would come together on this one day event for the benefit of the WomenHunters™ organization. The fundraiser provided an opportunity for men, women and children to take part in an archery shoot. For some this would also be their first 3-D event.

This was to be my first 3D shoot as well and I did not know what to expect. Already I was impressed with the course and the people working behind the scenes from WomenHunters™ and those at TLBB Archery Club in Cole Camp, Missouri.

On June 17, 2006 , the day of the shoot arrived, and participants gathered to sign in and register for hunting product raffles.  WomenHunters™ introduced two hunting raffles at the event (both are still open for ticket purchase at the WomenHunters™ website). WomenHunters™ will hold online drawings for the Montana antelope hunt and the Oregon Black-Tail hunt on December 15, 2006 .

Gentlemen, ladies and children of all ages warmed up to shoot and began the course early. Archers typically shoot half the course and rest a bit before continuing with the final half of the course. A handful of small children shot both of the 12-target sections along the 3-D course as well.

Three of the ladies I met throughout the day admitted they were also first-timers to 3-D shooting and that they enjoyed it enough to do it again. The other ladies I chatted with that day had been to several of these kinds of events before and really enjoy it.

An occasional breeze and the shade trees sheltered most of the courses from the warmer temperatures. Todd Meese with Missouri ’s Department of Conservation set up an air riffle shoot for the children. They visited the target range again and again taking aim at the tops of plastic spoons. During the afternoon, Fred Peters with the TLBB offered an instructional bowfishing seminar for those bowfishing enthusiasts. It was very popular with most of the event participants.

The youngest archer of the day was Eli, a two-year-old archer, who shot the entire course. Later he won his division and was all smiles as he proudly displayed his trophy. I asked him, “Is this the first time for you to shoot at a 3-D event?” Eli replied, “No, I have done this before.” When asked if he would like to do it again he said, “Yes!”

Once everyone had turned in their score cards, they claimed their door prizes. A young lady walked away with a Daisy rifle package and a young man won the youth knife from W.R. Case Knives. Thanks to these and many other sponsors’ donations, everyone took home a nice prize.

They handed out trophies to the top three winners in each age and archery division.  The raffles were drawn and ladies and men stepped up to claim their prizes consisting of an AMS Bowfishing package, a Muzzy Bowfishing package, Zeiss binoculars, a Rinehart block target, Heater Bodysuits, Archery Standby stands and Alpine quivers. Others claimed Rinehart targets and Wolverine Boot certificates.

I would definitely choose to shoot this course under the trees again. I was challenged by the varied distances I had to shoot from along this course. It was so encouraging to see the ladies and children participating and taking home trophies. This is what it is all about, encouraging the kids and the ladies to get involved in enjoying the sport of archery.