Is archery popular in Virginia?
Do visitors and locals both enjoy this hobby in Virginia?
What makes archery stand out in this area?
Virginia is home to many archery ranges, clubs, and organizations. There are plenty of opportunities available throughout the state to participate in archery, and there are options for all skill levels and age ranges as well. Because of this, archery is quite popular in Virginia, including both target shooting and bowhunting.
Visitors to the state find plenty of ways to enjoy their favorite hobby while in Virginia, and locals enjoy participating in clubs as long-term members. All of the events, shoots, and tournaments held in Virginia stand out as some of the best archery experiences in the country as well.
In this article, we’ll show you seven of our top picks for archery ranges you can try out in Virginia. Each one provides its own strengths, so take your time choosing the one that meets your needs the best.
Read on to find out more about the variety of archery ranges in Virginia.
1. Bull Run Shooting Center
SEE IT HERE: https://www.novaparks.com/parks/bull-run-shooting-center
Physical Location: Centerville, Virginia
Indoor/Outdoor: Indoor
Public/Private: Public
Availability of Facilities, Gear, and Activities:
- 18-lane indoor range at 20 yards
- Shotgun classes and shooting lanes also available at this location
- Beginner lessons available periodically
- Archery tournaments held on-site
- Targets provided
Features that Set This Range Apart:
- This range is part of a larger shooting facility that includes firearms, so there’s a lot to do at this location.
- The archery range is open year-round since it is indoors, with only a few holidays as exceptions.
- There is no membership required to shoot at this range.
2. Cub Run Archers
SEE IT HERE: http://www.cubrunarchers.org/index.html
Physical Location: Centreville, Virginia
Indoor/Outdoor: Indoor and outdoor
Public/Private: Private
Availability of Facilities, Gear, and Activities:
- 12-target practice range outdoors
- Crossbow station outdoors
- 28-target outdoor 3D range
- 20-yard range available with reservations
- On-site fishing pond, camping, and picnic options
Features that Set This Range Apart:
- This range is part of a spacious club that incorporates a variety of activities at one convenient location.
- Members can enjoy access to the club’s amenities throughout the year.
- Some lanes allow the use of broadheads, which can sometimes be uncommon.
3. Massanutten Archery Club
SEE IT HERE: http://massanuttenarchery.com/
Physical Location: Front Royal and Bentonville, Virginia
Indoor/Outdoor: Indoor and outdoor
Public/Private: Private
Availability of Facilities, Gear, and Activities:
- 40 acres of land
- 28-target outdoor range and practice range
- 3D target range outdoors
- 16-lane indoor range
- Leagues hosted indoors
Features that Set This Range Apart:
- Members may use the outdoor ranges freely from April through August at this location.
- The indoor and outdoor ranges are located at different facilities, giving archers more convenient options to their own locations.
- Membership is affordable at this club.
4. Northern Virginia Archers
SEE IT HERE: https://novaarchers.org/wp/
Physical Location: Fairfax Station, Virginia
Indoor/Outdoor: Outdoor
Public/Private: Private
Availability of Facilities, Gear, and Activities:
- 71 acres of land
- Practice range with 6 lanes at distances from 11 to 40 yards
- Practice distance range with distances from 15 to 60 yards
- Field and 3D archery range courses
- Specific broadhead range for bowhunters
Features that Set This Range Apart:
- Beginners to archery can shoot on a special Archery Academy range with four targets designed specifically for those who are learning.
- Youth archers can enjoy a children’s-only 3D archery range on-site.
- The on-site clubhouse provides plenty of equipment for bow and arrow maintenance for use by members.
5. Rub Line Archery Range
SEE IT HERE: https://www.facebook.com/Rub-Line-Archery-Range-1627707177494390/
Physical Location: Moneta, Virginia
Indoor/Outdoor: Outdoor
Public/Private: Public
Availability of Facilities, Gear, and Activities:
- 3D outdoor range
- Some 3D targets available for purchase periodically
- Tournaments and 3D shoots held regularly
- Some lessons available at certain times of the year
- Opportunities available for adults and kids both
Features that Set This Range Apart:
- This range is open to the public and encourages anyone who wants to participate to join in the fun.
- The range focuses primarily on bowhunting and includes bowhunting activities and events throughout the year.
- The range works with area partners to provide the ideal archery experience for all of its visitors.
6. Shooters Archery Inc.
SEE IT HERE: https://www.shootersarchery.com/
Physical Location: Beaverdam, Virginia
Indoor/Outdoor: Indoor and outdoor
Public/Private: Public
Availability of Facilities, Gear, and Activities:
- 3D course available separately from indoor and outdoor ranges
- Hourly rates for indoor and outdoor ranges
- 3D tournaments held annually
- Membership available but not required
- Lessons for adults and kids both available at this location
Features that Set This Range Apart:
- This range hosts Junior Olympic Archery Development for children and youth archers to participate in, and it provides high-quality education as part of this program.
- The archery range is also home to an on-site bow shop where customers can purchase and test gear and equipment.
- The range provides a free hour of archery for visitors’ birthdays.
7. Tidewater Bowhunters & Archers
SEE IT HERE: https://www.tba3-d.com/
Physical Location: Newport News, Virginia
Indoor/Outdoor: Outdoor
Public/Private: Private
Availability of Facilities, Gear, and Activities:
- Classes available for bowhunters and traditional archers of any age
- Crossbow classes and shoots available
- Future Bowhunters basic skills class available for kids 8 and under
- Outdoor 3D target course
- All equipment permitted
Features that Set This Range Apart:
- Memberships are available for individuals as well as for families at a discounted rate and include discounted purchases at the on-site bow shop.
- Members are encouraged to participate in work parties before and after major club events, which helps improve the sense of community in this club.
- Shoots hosted by this club are available for the public as well as for members, although public participants will need to pay an additional fee to join the event.
Conclusion
Did you find a range that will work for you? There are plenty to pick from, and it may be as simple as just choosing the one that’s closest to your location. However, you may also want to pick based on amenities, lesson availability, equipment on-site, and much more.
Of course, you may not yet be sure you want to try archery in this area at all. Here are some pros of practicing archery in Virginia:
- There are many tournaments and competitive shoots hosted throughout Virginia every year, and these provide all skill levels and age groups with a chance to enjoy shooting competitively.
- Many Virginia archery ranges include bowhunting in their lineup, which is ideal for those who are looking to practice, hone their skills, or purchase bowhunting equipment and gear in this area.
- Since Virginia features a lot of wooded outdoor space, it can be a great place to enjoy archery outdoors as well. Bowhunters can make the most of archery in Virginia by taking hikes, camping, and soaking in some fresh air at the same time.
And here are some cons to remember:
- Most Virginia-based archery ranges and clubs are located outdoors, which can sometimes make practice difficult due to inclement weather. There are few indoor options on our list.
- Most of the Virginia ranges are part of members-only clubs which require paid memberships to access. If you don’t want to join a club or organization, you may have trouble finding a range to use long-term.
When you keep this information in mind, you’ll be better able to choose whether or not archery in Virginia is right for you. From there, you can pick from the list above and discover all the benefits of these archery ranges.