(Editor's note: This is another installment in an ongoing series that spotlights shooting clubs across Lancaster County).My how far things have come.
Just 20 years ago, 3-D archery shoots were virtually unheard of.
There were hardly any commercially made targets, and many bowhunters who wanted to practice on a life-size, foam replica of a deer carved their own out of foam.
They were ugly and wore out quickly, but they did the job.
In the early 1990s, I was a member of the Tri-County Fish, Game and Frontier Archers Association off Route 23 in northern Chester County.
Every summer, club members made a bunch of homemade animal targets, scattered them around their wooded property and held 3-D shoots.
Hundreds of archers from all over the state attended every shoot.
The club started the practice in 1968 and members claim to this day on their Web site that Frontier is "home of the original 3-D archery shoot."
I don't know if that's true or not. If it is, I thank Frontier for creating what has become one of my favorite summer pastimes.
Nowadays, you can find a 3-D shoot — which employs sturdy, commercially made targets — just about every weekend at clubs all over Lancaster County.
Regularly going to 3-D shoots is, in my opinion, the best way to get in shape for bowhunting.
You learn to judge distances. You learn how to aim at animals. You learn to shoot in varying light conditions, ranging from bright sun to dark shadows.
Until recently, however, these events didn't offer much practice in doing all these things from the position most bowhunters are likely to shoot from — 15-20 feet off the ground in a tree stand.
But that's quickly changing.
More and more clubs are building elevated platforms that are incorporated into their 3-D archery courses.
And Mount Joy Sportsman's Association was one of the first to do so.
The club on Sportsman Road in Mount Joy Township, just outside the borough of Mount Joy, actually has two tree stands on its wooded 3-D course.
During one of the club's monthly 3-D shoots, archers typically get to release a total of five arrows at targets from the two stands combined.
And while the public can only shoot from these platforms during the club's monthly tournaments, Mount Joy members can use them every day of the year.
But that's just one of the club's draws, said President Steve Stoltzfus.
"We have a lot of variety to offer," he said.
Established in 1933, the 67-acre club has just more than 1,000 members.
Anyone can join at a cost of $50 per year for individuals or $75 per year for families. A one-time initiation fee of $15 also is charged to new members.
People looking to join, Stoltzfus said, must attend one of the club's orientation and safety-briefing meetings held at 7 p.m. the first Monday of every month in the clubhouse.
"That gives them the chance to see all our facilities and learn the rules, and it gives us a chance to get to know them a little bit," he said.
Prospective members then must attend one of the club's regular monthly meetings, which are held at 7:30 p.m. the second Monday of every month in the clubhouse.
After attending those two meetings, Stoltzfus said, most people are voted in as new members.
One of the unique things about Mount Joy Sportsman's Association is that the club has indoor pistol, air-rifle and archery ranges that club members can access 24 hours a day.
"I know the guys who work shift work like it because they can go practice whenever they want," Stoltzfus said.
Each member receives a magnetic key card that allows them to access the gated areas and the clubhouse 24 hours a day.
The indoor archery range allows shooting up to a maximum of 30 yards. During the winter, when nasty weather would make an outdoor shoot miserable, the club hosts public 3-D shoots every week on the indoor range.
The indoor pistol range has 14 lanes for shooting up to 75 feet. Any pistols shooting straight-walled cartridges — and .22-caliber rifles — can be fired on the range.
Mount Joy has a pistol team that competes in the William Penn League. Stoltzfus is the captain of that team.
"The pistol team is what got me to join Mount Joy in the first place," he said.
Practices are held every Sunday and Monday.
The team shoots in bull's-eye matches, as opposed to tactical competitions.
Outdoors, the club has a trap range, and public shoots are held at 6 p.m. every Tuesday from March through the fall.
Also, there's an outdoor pistol range, which offers shooting out to 25 yards.
The rifle range has backstops at 25, 50, 100, 150 and 200 yards. There are multiple benches, so several people can shoot on the range at one time.
On the second Sunday of every month, beginning in February, the club hosts shoots on the rifle range in which anyone can participate using any military-style weapon that has open sights.
Even if you don't own such a weapon, you can still participate, Stoltzfus said, because Mount Joy owns several M1 Garands, M1 carbines and an AR-15.
Nonmembers must bring their own ammunition. Club members can buy the club's ammunition.
Other activities the club hosts include hunter-trapper education courses and basic handgun and home firearms safety classes.
Stoltzfus said the club has several members who are certified by the National Rifle Association to serve as firearms instructors.
"Whenever we get enough people that express an interest in the safety courses, we'll hold one," he said.
For more information on Mount Joy Sportsman's Association, visit the club's Web site at
www.mountjoysportsmen.com.
P.J. Reilly is the Sunday News' outdoors writer. E-mail him at preilly@lnpnews.com.
