Crow River Gun Club Adds 3-D Archery Range

The Crow River Gun Club is no stranger to activity. Most summer weeks, the loud popping from trap shooting and target competition can be heard throughout St. Michael.

But, things might get a bit quieter on the grounds, which are nestled against the North Crow River directly across from Milside Tavern.

Gary Schoen, his son, Calvin, and other archers are setting up a 3-D archery range on the grounds, just to the west of the trapshooting area.

"I think it's an activity that is catching on with a lot of people around here. It's getting to be a preferred way to hunt for some people, and for some landowners," Schoen said.

Gary and Calvin both bow hunt, and have networked with St. Michael, Albertville and other area residents about the sport. Gary is also a field instructor and works with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

"I think you have to get past that stigma that shooting an arrow is going to just wound the deer–that archers wound a lot of deer. If you know how to do it, it's very clean," Gary said.

So far, Gary and Calvin have set up a handful of targets on the grounds, and will set up shooting lanes. They include a couple of deer targets, a bear and a turkey.

Gary hopes to have the targets open from 5 to 9 p.m. each Tuesday and Wednesday, when trapshooters are also on the grounds (the targets are more than a safe distance away from the traps).

"I think we'll get a good response. We hope people will have respect for the targets and treat them like they were their own. The longer they last, the more we can do."