Howdy Okie friends! Comin’ back at ya with some useful knowledge for those of you that are archers, are “wanna-be” archers, or have ever had questions or the desire to learn the sport. This month with us we have Neil Cooley (who I can assure you is more proficient with a bow than I am.) That said, let’s get right to it.
Tell us a little about yourself: I’m the Oklahoma Archery Shooters Association state director, co-founder of Triple-C Archery, and co-host of the Oklahoma Archery podcast. We are all about any kind of archery you want to shoot in Oklahoma or surrounding states. I travel coast to coast from Pennsylvania to Alabama and all the way out to Vegas every year to chase that Perfectly executed shot under the bright lights. I’ve been shooting since I was about 4 or 5 years old, still learning every single day.
Could you explain the organization you lead? There are so many organizations in this state that grow and support Archery at every level. From local fun shoots on the weekend to national programs televised live, we do it all. Locally, we have a full summer ahead of us with multiple shoots each weekend. The ASA is a yearlong qualifier trial that culminates at the state championship July 20-21 at the OKC Gun Club. It’s a one-day shoot round, so either day will work. There is no requirement to be there both days. On Sunday, we will be drawing several raffle prizes, including seven bows as well as yearly club memberships and merchandise for all things archery. You only need to shoot a single qualifier to be eligible. 3d Archery is my favorite, but I shoot indoor, field, target, and broadhead competitions as well. The only months we take off are usually October through December, primarily for deer season.
There are classes for youth and adult men and women of every skill level. We want to emphasize that beginners don’t have to compete against seasoned veterans. Across the several organizations, there are different rules for each that can be confusing to a beginner, and we try very hard to help people navigate these obstacles to facilitate their passion for archery. Skill level does not matter, we want you to come join and learn with us. The community of archers is the most helpful and supportive group of people that you could ever meet. They become like family, and the weekends are spent together full of good memories and fun times.
We want to be inclusive to anyone out there who has an interest. We are here to support you, and any questions/concerns you may have are always welcome. If there is someone you know that has an interest in trying archery, then you’ve come to the right place. For further information, contact Mr. Cooley at 918-639-6654 or neilcooley531@gmail.com.
There ya have it folks! All the information you need regarding all things archery. Until next time (when hopefully y’all will have harvested a turkey with your bow by then), make sure your bow, arrows, and form are tuned up. . .
Dates:
-State championship is July 20-21 at OKC Gun Club
-State annual meeting is September 14th at 6:00pm at Autry Technology Center
