Arizona Looks to Expand Archery in Phoenix and Tucson Metro Areas

The Arizona Game and Fish Department has partnered with the ATA to grow archery in the state's key metro areas and ensure stronger relationships between Arizona's government and industry.

Representatives from the ATA and Arizona Game and Fish sign a partnership agreement. Seated are, left to right, Mitch King, ATA director of Government Relations, Larry Voyles, Arizona Game and Fish director. Standing are, left to right, ATA Board member Randy Phillips, Arizona Game and Fish commission chair Bob Hernbrode and Arizona Game and Fish assistant director Ty Gray

"A few years ago, I would have never imagined people in the government agencies reaching out to us," said Randy Phillips of Archery Headquarters in Chandler, Ariz. Phillips is also an ATA Board member. "They are excited to have the archery and bowhunting industry as a working partner. They are in a tough fight to recruit and retain hunters, and we are a great ally in that effort."

The ATA has committed funding to Arizona's wildlife agency, while the agency is committed to focusing Community Archery Program (CAP) efforts in the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas.

"Our intent is to reach a vast new audience of urban youngsters who might otherwise never pick up a bow," said CEO/President Jay McAninch in discussing the CAP program. "The ATA's emphasis on urban and suburban areas recognizes the old real-estate maxim, which holds that strong sales depend on three things: location, location, location."

By targeting large population centers and vast numbers of kids and beginners, the ATA and Arizona have the potential to get more bang for every dollar invested.

Field range at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Phoenix, Az.

"We're going to try and build a triangle around the metro area," said Phillips. "So, if we can't get in the center of town, we can hit around these large metro centers. The idea is to get these urban facilities to feed into the larger Ben Avery Shooting Facility at Black Canyon."

The state agency is planning to add an indoor archery facility to the Ben Avery Shooting Facility. Another four archery parks are in the pipeline. Some are additions to existing facilities, and others are new facilities.

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