ATA Commits $80,000 to Grow Archery in Nevada

The ATA will contribute $40,000 this year and again in 2010 to cost-share a new position with the Nevada Department of Wildlife (DOW). The position was created to coordinate Nevada’s archery programs statewide for schools and recreational departments.

ATA works to increase archery opportunities for kids in Nevada. Photo courtesy the Missouri Department of Conservation

The new position will work from the recently completed Clark County Shooting Park in North Las Vegas. Among the coordinator’s first tasks will be implementing the National Archery in the School Program (NASP) and After School Archery Programs (ASAP) in nearby communities.

The Nevada DOW created the new staff position despite confronting a 38 percent budget cut this year. DOW Director Ken Mayer said he views his agency’s partnership with the ATA as a sound investment in archery and bowhunting. Mayer expressed regret that the nation’s state agencies had grown apart from the hunting industries in recent decades, and vowed to renew his state’s partnership with the archery industry to benefit both parties.

“Ken Mayer is a lifelong archer and bowhunter, so he understands the importance of partnering with the industry to grow and promote our sports,” Jay McAninch, ATA CEO/president said. “He’s among the first agency directors to step up and make archery a priority for his state. We’re also excited to see the Clark County Shooting Park give archery so much attention. The Las Vegas area is one of Nevada’s thriving markets, so it’s a great place for NASP and ASAP to grow.”

The Clark County Shooting Park includes an International Archery Federation approved archery range and four field-archery courses. The shooting facility also features a hunter education center, an indoor range, public day-use ranges, tactical ranges, rifle and pistol silhouette ranges, a benchrest range, a mounted-cowboy shooting arena, and a 1,200-yard high-power rifle range.

There’s also 125 trap and 24 skeet ranges, as well as sporting clays for the shotgun enthusiasts. Its major programs include firearms safety and education, youth safety programs, women’s training/safety programs, public shooting, and shooting competitions. It will be open to the public 12 hours daily, five days a week.

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