Didnt get any response in other section.What do yall think about this??

[BOWtechnicianTX]

Alright folks i work at the Gander Mountain archery Dept in College Station TX. We currently have a 20 yard 10 lane indoor range that is open to the public during regular store hours. We are about to go through a store renovation and we will be losing our Range. It will be shrunk to a 1 lane 30 yard "test tunnel"which is awful because there are'nt alot places to shoot around Bryan/College Station area. But that comes to the topic at hand. There use to be some 3D shoots hosted in the outdoor sales department of our store (about 50 yards long,by 40 yards wide). We had a gentlman come in and set up his pop up target system and the shoots ran Saturday-sunday and adult shooters competed for cash and youth shot for trophys and archery items . I have been working closely with John(target system owner) and we are planning on hosting a shoot the first weekend of march to see what kind of turnout we can get. Following that shoot, we would begin a series shoot after the renovations are complete. A series would include a 5 weeks,a shoot every saturday and take the best 5 shooters from each week. The 5th week finale would be be shot for a grand prize of up to 1000 dollars depending on the participation. we would work on getting vendors in to set up booths and welcome any local hunting group to set up a booth as well.

Now as for scoring, it is still being written up. But we have been talking about mutiple scoring styles and formats. We are trying to make the shoot as fair as possible. I know that this info is very important to yall and i will have it up as soon as it is set in stone for the first shoot.

We had around 30-35 people show up for the shoots a year ago. I was told that it was a great shoot and everyone seemed to have a good time. I hope we have an even bigger turnout this year. Last year the shoot was only advertised on a local radio station, but i know theres folks on here on AT that would love to participate in somthing like this.

Give me your input an let me know what yall would want as shooters and if yall think somthing like this would be successful. Tell your friends and family. The more people who show up, the bigger the 1-3rd prizes will be.

Thanks for looking, and please dont turn this into a "Gander bash thread".

Thanks again for looking.

[huntinpool]

Pop ups are a trigger punchers dream but many 3d shooters don't shoot them because it has to be done so fast. Sounds good for hunters class but many open and top shooters shoot back tension.

[Pistol]

We had around 30-35 people show up for the shoots a year ago. I was told that it was a great shoot and everyone seemed to have a good time. I hope we have an even bigger turnout this year. Last year the shoot was only advertised on a local radio station, but i know theres folks on here on AT that would love to participate in somthing like this.

Not going to bash Gander because I love the store in Tyler. They are very nice to us archers. But you might want to avoid calling this forum AT !!!

Anyway, Gander is always trying to find new ways to attract folks, and I am glad they do. I think you are missing the mark though. Many folks would rather have a nice 20 yard indoor range than a monthly pop-up shoot, especially when it comes to getting ready for hunting season or during the short days of winter.
You asked, and I don't live around there....

[Twztid]

If I was closer ild come...


---
I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=29.359399,-98.194460

[BOWtechnicianTX]

Not going to bash Gander because I love the store in Tyler. They are very nice to us archers. But you might want to avoid calling this forum AT !!!

Anyway, Gander is always trying to find new ways to attract folks, and I am glad they do. I think you are missing the mark though. Many folks would rather have a nice 20 yard indoor range than a monthly pop-up shoot, especially when it comes to getting ready for hunting season or during the short days of winter.
You asked, and I don't live around there....

hahaha shoot, i left that in that in there. Ive posted this is two forums and failed to catch that. But i completely agree with you. I orginally requested that outdoor sales became a full time 0-50 yard range for local shooters. but corprate wants to keep it for the boats and atvs that we no longer sale (go figer). so i was only given the option to reserve it from time to time. the loss of our range is going to hurt our archery sales.

[splitbeam145]

Pop ups are a trigger punchers dream but many 3d shooters don't shoot them because it has to be done so fast. Sounds good for hunters class but many open and top shooters shoot back tension.

I'm a back tension shooter but have no problem punching trigger for one day!!

[bowhuntntxn]

I would suggest you look I to the schedule of Brazos County Archers. And maybe hold something in conjunction with either their club shoots or their ASA qualifier, which will have a lot more attendees.

[tpostaggie]

being an A&M student, this would be great to have

[down2hunt]

I think gander is missing the mark. Archery isn't doing anything but growing in popularity. Every time I go to the CS store (which is often) you guys are understaffed and there's several people waiting to be helped. I've tried to support gander as one of only two stores that have an archery staff on site, but in my opinion they are effecting the customers experience in regards to their archery dept. and this will only hurt their bottom line in the long run.

Btw I'm not just voicing my opinions on tbh. I've had a lengthy talk with the manager about my concerns.

[down2hunt]

I should also state that I know its not your fault you are understaffed, you don't make the schedule.

[Jay-J]

WOW! That really stinks! This is the first I've heard of this. I shoot in that indoor range all the time. Can you post an e-mail link to someone at gander Mtn. corporate so people can write and maybe try to save the range?

As far as the pop up...I agree with huntinpool.

[Dusty Britches]

....... I think you are missing the mark though. Many folks would rather have a nice 20 yard indoor range than a monthly pop-up shoot, especially when it comes to getting ready for hunting season or during the short days of winter.
You asked, and I don't live around there....

I do live around here and Gander has missed the mark for the market. I stopped going there over a year ago because they wouldn't replace the bales and my arrows were smashing all of the way through. A larger indoor range is great for meeting new shooters and helping them get a good start. I guess I'll just go back to using the Brazos County Archery Club's range. Maybe I'll petition for outdoor lighting so we can shoot at night.

I would suggest you look I to the schedule of Brazos County Archers. And maybe hold something in conjunction with either their club shoots or their ASA qualifier, which will have a lot more attendees.

Amen, Glenn. Thanks for the plug. BCAC does a lot to help girl scouts, boy scouts, 4H and everyone who wants to shoot. Our officers and directors are some of the best people you'd ever meet in archery.

being an A&M student, this would be great to have

Check out www.BrazosCountyArchery.com. The practice range is really nice. Also, for indoor - Sullivan Outfitters. Eddie is very knowledgable.

I think gander is missing the mark. Archery isn't doing anything but growing in popularity. Every time I go to the CS store (which is often) you guys are understaffed and there's several people waiting to be helped. I've tried to support gander as one of only two stores that have an archery staff on site, but in my opinion they are effecting the customers experience in regards to their archery dept. and this will only hurt their bottom line in the long run.

Btw I'm not just voicing my opinions on tbh. I've had a lengthy talk with the manager about my concerns.

While I haven't voiced my concerns to local management, I have voiced them to corporate. Deaf ears. So, I stopped buying from them, too.

[BOWtechnicianTX]

"I do live around here and Gander has missed the mark for the market. I stopped going there over a year ago because they wouldn't replace the bales and my arrows were smashing all of the way through. A larger indoor range is great for meeting new shooters and helping them get a good start. I guess I'll just go back to using the Brazos County Archery Club's range. Maybe I'll petition for outdoor lighting so we can shoot at night."

The bales have since been replaced, but i understand that did upset many shooters who were losing arrows. And a large range is real great for meeting new shooters. I will always continue to fight to get that outdoors sales dept for good, so we can make it a range. I think over time that would be possible. But you should stop by the store sometime and chat with me about the issue and maybe do a little shooting.


"Amen, Glenn. Thanks for the plug. BCAC does a lot to help girl scouts, boy scouts, 4H and everyone who wants to shoot. Our officers and directors are some of the best people you'd ever meet in archery."

Gander mountain does a bit with 4H shooters in our range. I know they do use it on some occasions and we are happy to welcome them. I need to contact them to see if they would want to work on this shoot and future shoots together. Bc the more youth we can include the better.


"Check out www.BrazosCountyArchery.com. The practice range is really nice. Also, for indoor - Sullivan Outfitters. Eddie is very knowledgable."

Eddie is great, im in there quite often chating with him and rusty. their range is great as well but is only open till 6:00. Thats where ganders range was nice for those late night shooters and for those rainy days.


"While I haven't voiced my concerns to local management, I have voiced them to corporate. Deaf ears. So, I stopped buying from them, too."

I agree, they really dont get down to the store level very well. Unfortunalty thats where big business will make or break you. Quotes didnt work quite the way i wanted them too

[BOWtechnicianTX]

I should also state that I know its not your fault you are understaffed, you don't make the schedule.

I know what you mean. We are for sure understaffed at times.Its tough to make customers happy when they wait an hour for something as simple as a peep install or have there draw weight adjusted. I try to work threw customers as efficent as possible. But i try to give each customer the same level of service and time so the work is done right. Typically saturdays are the only days with more than one person. It gets old.

[bowhuntntxn]

If your gander happens to have a hot spot for an indoor range, and none of the stores I'm Wisconsin do, they will shut them all down. It is a nationwide corporation, so they are making decisions based on overall sales. And if it is cheaper for them to convert part of the store to something that sells better, they will do just that, regardless of what employees think is best. Sometimes it is a raw deal, but it is business.

Best of luck.