Introduction
The Grande Ronde Bowmen (GRB) has existed for over 100 years with documentation of its existence in 1918. Our outdoor range is one of the first designated outdoor archery ranges in the state of Oregon. The first location was west of La Grande between the community of Hilgard and Spring Creek Junction and was referred to the "Stump Patch" because of the many piles of stumps that existe
d from logging. In the 60s the range was moved closer to La Grande, approximately 1.5 miles North on Owsley Canyon Road (about a mile south of where it currently exists). As the sport became more popular and more demand was placed on the outdoor range another location was determined to be more appropriate and the range was again relocated to its current location approximately 2.5 miles North of La Grande. With the counties purchase of the Mount Emily Recreation Area (MERA) a new lease was acquired with Union County in the early 2000s to secure the current property consisting of 100 acres. Since that time, the membership has grown from just a few members to over 200. Members volunteer with maintenance tasks, development projects, community activities, and sharing the sport of archery for training programs and demonstrations with local churches, clubs and other organizations. The club maintains a full complement of 3-D targets, a 28 target field course, ADA bathroom access, dry camping area, and a site-in area for practice at distances of up to 100 yards. GRB also conducts several tournaments a year in addition to providing safe areas for members to work on their proficiency for recreation, hunting and competition . The fees from membership and the Club tournaments are used to manage the costs of maintaining the facilities, the 3-D and targets ranges. All financial costs associated with managing the club are secured with the utilization of volunteers and local contractors when necessary. Officer positions are volunteer with no funds utilized to pay officers or members except for incurred costs associated with range maintenance. Winter shooting in past years was organized two nights per week at the local Eagles club however with recent changes in Eagle ownership, there is not currently a location for club shooting indoors. Efforts are ongoing to provide indoor shooting in the Winter as space becomes available
Club Mission
-to promote all disciplines associated with the use of bow and arrow and the sport of archery through the provision of safe areas for practice of the sport, the provision of competitive tournaments and fellowship activities for members and non members alike
-to encourage the use of the bow in hunting and competitive archery through the support of International Bowhunters Organization (IBO), Oregon Bowhunters Organization (PBH), USA Archery, National Field Archery Association (NFAA), Archery Shooters Association (ASA), Oregon Hunters Association (OHA) , National Archery in Schools Program (NASP), Junior Olympic Archery Development (JOAD) and 4-H archery
-to cooperate with all organizations in the conservation of our natural and wildlife resources
-to maintain a range and conduct tournaments and games in accordance with the rules of the National and State Archery Associations.
