Sycamore Archery Range
About the Sycamore Archery Range
In 2009, one man’s commitment brought together hundreds of hours of volunteer labor and a partnership with the state, to transform an overgrown meadow choking with tall weeds, brush, and ivy, into an appealing and safe archery range. The range was the idea of outdoor enthusiast Gunars “Gunny” Cakste a member of the Lord of the Harvest Archery Club. The Lord of the Harvest Archery Club (LOTHAC) is a chapter of Christian Bowhunters of America. “Gunny” has said the concept of a local archery range “came off as an idea I had after seeing the range dedication and 3D shoot at Hueston Woods State Park a few years ago.” Hueston Woods State Park near Eaton has had a range for several years now. In January 2009, Gunny approached Sycamore State Park Manager, Jeff Wenning about building a range at Sycamore - and with that “we were ready to start.”
With an agreement made with the ONDR to supply the bag targets, and the lumber to make the stands, Sycamore’s Lonnie Snow gave the go-ahead to use land just south of the park office on Diamond Mill Rd, near Snake Rd. Donna Westover of the Park cleared the land in a pass with her flail mower, followed by volunteers providing the ‘ground troops’ to clear brush, remove "scrub" trees and bushes, and remove the tangles of vines from the ground. With the site cleared it was now time to build and place target stands. Multiple target stands were built with the assistance of Bob Gorrell of the Kings Archers, another CBA chapter, from nearby Greenville, Ohio. With the placement of the targets at ranges varying from 10 to 50 yards – the range was open!
The Sycamore Archery Range is free and open to the public daily from sunrise to sunset. Whether you shoot to hone your completive edge, sharpen your hunting skills, or shoot just for plain fun – you’ll find the Sycamore Range a welcoming place. Any type of archery gear is welcome whether you prefer traditional, compounds, and crossbows.
Volunteers from the Lord of the Harvest Archery Club maintain the range along with other individual volunteers. LOTHAC meets every Thursday night at the Sycamore Range for fun and fellowship beginning at 6:45pm until dark up until hunting season starts. Come out and join us for some fun and see what we’re all about. If you don’t have a bow – come anyway. There’s usually a few extras to loan and always someone to help.
For more information on:
Sycamore State Park - Park Link
Lord of the Harvest Archery Club – www.LOTHAC.com
This page was last updated: April 17, 2010
