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Rosman archers Mason Bell, Aiden Perry and Bradley Queen show off their trophies from the NCBA District Nine Membership Drive held Feb. 11 at Crooked Stick Farms.

Bowhunting is about more than hitting the target.

Rosman archers Mason Bell, Aiden Perry and Bradley Queen show off their trophies from the NCBA District Nine Membership Drive held Feb. 11 at Crooked Stick Farms.

Bowhunting is about more than hitting the target.

It was a cool winter morning Feb. 11 in the Quebec community when area archers gathered for the North Carolina Bowhunters Association District Nine membership drive.

The N.C. Bowhunters Association (NCBA) has been a leader in supporting bowhunting in the state for 48 years.

While NCBA supports local clubs and archers, it is not a tournament or archery competition association. NCBA is a fraternal bowhunting membership whose mission is to ensure bowhunting for future generations by preserving and promoting its heritage, tradition, history and values.

Crooked Stick Farms was the site for this year’s membership drive and the 25-acre farm had surprisingly flat topography compared to most of the mountainous terrain surrounding it. The range where the archers shot was a reality-hunting scenario using 3-D foam animal targets at various distances.

The course consisted of 20 shots and each target was scored based on rings located on the vitals of the 3-D animal. A missed target counts for zero points and a shot outside of the rings is worth five points. Landing within the rings is worth eight points with 10 and 12 point scoring possible as the rings get smaller.

Each archer’s registration fee paid for a year’s membership to NCBA. Membership dues are a huge part of NCBA’s annual budget to allow the organization to accomplish its many programs and goals.

Members get to enjoy benefits such as an association-only campground located near North Carolina’s largest archery-only public game lands in Butner, quarterly-produced magazines, an annual harvest awards contest and banquet, as well as membership representation in legislation and wildlife conservation projects.

Transylvania County is in the NCBA’s ninth district and the organization has been active in getting the voices of local bowhunters heard in the newly-released Nantahala/Pisgah Forest plan and raising funds for the Courthouse Wildlife Field. NCBA is also a partner in WNC Wildlife Day held each year at Headwaters Outfitters.

To learn more about NCBA, visit www.NCBowhunter.com or find them on Facebook.

Thirty archers attended the District Nine membership shoot. Twenty were new members and the turnout also generated several family memberships. The beauty of the sport is it can include all the family. The youngest participant at this year’s shoot was 5-years-old.

While the day was cool and grey, the rain held off and the future of bowhunting looks bright.

Results from the 2023 NCBA District 9 Membership Drive

The sport of 3-D archery is enjoyed by several Transylvanian archers. The best in the sport is Transylvania County native Levi Morgan who is a professional archer and a 15-time world champion. Several other local archers have either enjoyed success or are pursuing their dreams in 3-D archery. It is a great way to spend time outdoors.

Even though NCBA is not a competition association, the value of being good at 3-D archery lies in building the skills needed to make someone a good archer and bowhunter.

Another NCBA chapter, Blue Ridge Bowhunters in Leicester, hosts several shoots each year and welcomes new and non-club member archers.

The WNC Archery Circuit is another way to find a shoot happening on most weekends within a hour or so drive from Transylvania County.

Don’t be intimidated by the competition factor; it’s about having fun and being the best you can be.

Shooting a fun round or matching your level with the class you’re shooting in allows everyone the opportunity to enjoy.

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