How far would you travel to shoot an indoor range?
 

In my quest for info concerning opening my own archery shop/range I would like to know how far you would be willing to travel to shoot indoor 3D and or regular targets? Keep in mind the indoor aspect, rain,snow or sunshine. Heated and air conditioned. No mosquitoes to carry you away!
Day or night shooting

Now I know some of you have the luxury of just stepping out the back door and shooting at your home. Please try to answer as if that isn't an option. Here in Waterloo you cannot shoot in your yard. Ther are no other ranges in town either.

I looked at a building that is for rent/lease but it is about 15 miles out of Waterloo in a small town. It is right on a major hwy and the building is about the right size and shape to work.

Advantages
Rent would be a lot less
Town would welcome any business rather than have an empty building
Less restrictive city ordinances
Lower price and taxes if I end up buying the building(my end goal)
I already know some bowhunters that live there
Well known,popular meat locker plant in town(it's where I take my deer meat) to team up with season Big Buck and Fat Doe contests.

Disadvantages
Not in the main population area of Waterloo
Price of gas!
Not as much drive by business


Any and all opinions welcome

RE: How far would you travel to shoot an indoor range?
 

Thanks guys!
Looks like all of us would travel a little way to get to a range.

RE: How far would you travel to shoot an indoor range?
 

I knew at least one of you had to be tired of all my questions!:D

RE: How far would you travel to shoot an indoor range?
 

sorry i just had to be the person to click the cool button:Di dont shoot at indoor ranges with my xbow but it could be usefull. i'd have to go about 20 miles to shoot indoors

RE: How far would you travel to shoot an indoor range?
 

Sorry bud, but I think an indoor range kind of defeats the point. As a naturalist, I understand that some days the weather just prevents you from doing what you may want to do. But then again, if friends of mine wanted to go shoot, I'd love to take a day trip with a few buddies to your range. Maybe, 120 miles?, 2-hour trip?, --for a day trip once or twice a year, if they're really good buddies, and by the way, there better be some good eats along the way! When I get back to your survey, I'll click around 15 or 20 miles, because that's what I'll drive for a good shop/ equipment supply, which I assume a range will have.
North Carolina
-Drew

RE: How far would you travel to shoot an indoor range?
 

I would drive over one hundred miles to shoot at an indoor range. I enjoy shooting outdoors in the sun, but I also enjoy shooting with fellow archers and hunters. Spending a day with a newly aquired friend is worth the drive to me. I mainly go to shoot at an indoor range to meet new people.

Down here, I am sure many people would drive the same distance in order to get out of the heat. It is not uncommon for the temperatures to reach into the 100's, which will force some indoors when they would like to try that new setup.

RE: How far would you travel to shoot an indoor range?
 

I wouldn't pay to shoot my bow. I sneak over to a rodeo place. No one is there at 6:30 AM. I climb in the upper platform with my arrows and quickly have at it. I will continue to do that till I get busted.[8D]I've also gone to baseball fields but I wanted to shoot from at least from 10 foot high this year. Last year I tried shooting off my roof. The first 2 aluminum arrows went into the kill zone. My 3rd arrow was bent and went through my neighbors fence, screen pool and into his bathroom window. :([&:][:o]

I ran over there with a 50 dollar bill and he met me at the door with only his briefs on. I told him I would never shoot in my backyard again and gave him the money. Totally embarassing.
C7
PS I've switched to carbons and sold my aluminums on Ebay.
Carbons shoot straight.

RE: How far would you travel to shoot an indoor range?
 

Where I practice shooting has a outdoor & indoor range.
I preffer the outdoor one over the indoor because its more realilistic and they have eleivated stands.
The indoor one is all one level not very challengening.

RE: How far would you travel to shoot an indoor range?
 

I shoot outdoors year round and wouldn't travel to shoot indoors. My view on the indoor range is for leagues and trying out new bows and bow setups.HCH

RE: How far would you travel to shoot an indoor range?
 

Zero , I have my own range .

RE: How far would you travel to shoot an indoor range?
 

I regularly travel about 35 miles to my favorite facility. The Sportsmens club I am a member of is only 5 miles from my house, however a friend owns a facility called the Archery Barn and they have 60 yards indoors, a seperate 20 yard range indoors, a full shop w/ all the tools you could ever want, a 15 target 3D course outside, and a full FITA field outside that goes to 90 meters. In the winter we bring the 3D's inside and can setup a pretty nice course. They also have a DART video system that will be up and running soon hopefully, it has been sitting in a box for quite some time now. I can't imagine how many miles I put on thecar going there last winter, I was there at least 2-3x a week.

RE: How far would you travel to shoot an indoor range?
 

Thanks again for the replies.
I will put this info to good work.

RE: How far would you travel to shoot an indoor range?
 

im kinda lucky gander mt is about 4 miles from my house and i live at the indoor range there. i shoot everyday and man they have the coldest dasani water ive ever had lol

RE: How far would you travel to shoot an indoor range?
 

I drive about 35 miles to my archery club. We have a 20yd indoor and a 28 target field/3d course.

RE: How far would you travel to shoot an indoor range?
 

I travel about an hour to my favorite range, it's in Prattville, AL. The owner there is a really good archer. I have bought several bows from him, learned more from him,and really like his indoor range. He has the "Techno-Hunt" and it's alot of fun in the evening when you can't shoot in the dark anyway, or during those months like now when the temp rarely gets below 90 down here during the day.

I don't think your location has to be in a super populated area, just advertise, or let word of mouth get you the business. If your area is like mine, there aren't too many bow shops! I am actually closer to the shop where "T-Bone" from the Realtree videos works, and he is really good, but I still drive over to my friend's shop.
He has a web-site that may be helpful to you: http://archeryunlimited.net/index.html

God Bless you and your new business!
Trae

RE: How far would you travel to shoot an indoor range?
 

My wife and I travel about 40 miles twice a week to shoot at an indoor range (BlueRidge Backwoods, Monticello Illinois.) Regardless of being a naturalist or not, the indoor ranges are awesome. Adjustments are easy inside, all the tools are right there at the shop, plus the weather is NEVER an issue. It sure is nice in the winter.

RE: How far would you travel to shoot an indoor range?
 

My goal is to provide a range and shop that will let people justify driving a little ways to get there.

Thanks to everyone that posted and voted in the poll.
I am going to look inside the building Monday morning with the owner and negotiate the rent/lease terms.
Then it's off to the bank to see if I can get some $$ to get started.

RE: How far would you travel to shoot an indoor range?
 

I have my own range as well, But I would shoot at an indoor range. Especially if they had the dart system. I just love shooting at the dart system. Its a lot of fun...