Archery shoot set in Bear Paws

The Bear Paw Bowmen Archery Club is hosting its 17th Annual Barber Ranch 2-Day Archery Shoot this weekend and raising money to help local college students.

The competition has 80 targets set over four courses, covering about 4 miles of mountain terrain, said a press release from the club.

The targets are life-like creatures — ranging from deer and turkeys to dinosaurs — tucked into the natural terrain.

Several classes and divisions are offered to accommodate experience and age ranges of competitors, who come from across the region and Canada.

The shoot attracts about 500 competitors each year, said Clyde R. Thomas Jr., the club’s president. Most competitors bring family, and multiple family members join in the competition or other fun shoots offered.

With the competition located on Frank and Bettie Barber’s ranch about 35 miles south of both Havre and Chinook near the Hill-Blaine county line, most competitors camp on-site, giving the weekend the feel of a family vacation destination as well, Thomas said.

Each year, the Bear Paw Bowmen have donated the proceeds from the shoot to local charities in the Barber’s name, said the release. This year the proceeds will go toward the Frank and Bettie Barber Scholarship Fund, established last year at Montana State University-Northern for graduating seniors of Havre High School or Chinook High School who are planning to attend Northern.

Registration for the event begins 8 a.m Saturday and Sunday mornings. Shooters are welcome to compete either day, but to be eligible for prizes must compete both days.

Spectators are welcome to attend.

For more information, including a map to the location, call Thomas at 265-4572 or Nick at 395-4844 or go online to http://bearpawbowmen.com.