The interesting thing about West Allis Bowmen is that it isn’t in West Allis, WI.  The club’s ancestors moved the club to its present location in Franksville, WI long ago.  We have active club members who have belonged since at least 1962.  A wealth of knowledge, no doubt.  WAB encompasses 60 acres including a twenty yard indoor range, ten to sixty yard practice butts, broadhead practice pit, broadhead course, two 3D ranges and a field archery course.  It takes a lot of work to keep the range fit.  

When deer season closes it is time to get out on the range and do maintenance, even if it is still winter.  If you belong to a club here there are typically two types of membership; working and non-working.  Working memberships are required to provide a number of hours per year in support of club events.  Non-working memberships pay much higher annual dues for the privilege of working.  Since that cost is near the price of a hog hunt I choose to keep my money and put in the hours.  It is a great time to build camaraderie with your fellow members anyway.    During my time in the Navy I belonged to four archery clubs in three states.  Each club was significantly different in its primary source of funds, membership, topography and assets.  One thing that wasn’t different is that a  minority of members perform the majority of the work. 

Yesterday was a designated work day. We were slated to perform the annual brush pile burning which we try to schedule when snow is on the ground and trim out a lot more brush.    Much of the club’s land is enrolled in the Managed Forest Law Open program which provides some tax relief to this all volunteer recreational organization.  Additionally WAB is enrolled in a state program that reimburses the club for work hours and some costs associated with brush clearing that improves the growing forest.  Invasive species such as Buck Thorn are specifically targeted for removal.  

Led by our range chairman we formed two groups and attended to tasks.   Several of us attended the burning of the brush pile while others cut and stacked more brush to be hauled and burned later.  Not only does the brush cutting improve the the forest, but it also provides less habitat and cover for the mosquitoes that frustrate us while we are trying to shoot.

With lots of jibes and lots of team work a lot of good was done for our range.

Safety note:  It’s a good idea to wear your safety glasses when doing this type of work.  A hot ember flew off the fire and hit me right in the shooting eye!  It’s all better now, but could have easily been worse and just as easily prevented. 

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Coming up on Mostly Archery

• Outfitter Reports – Why we should be doing them.
• Overhauling My Bow
• Outfitter Report – Javelina and Hogs in Texas.