DesertBull Report post Posted February 12, 2007 Saw this on another site and thought it would fit here. Would be a shame to lose this facility. All Arizona archers and particularly those in the Phoenix metro area should be aware that Maricopa County Parks & Recreation is planning to close half of the Usery Mountain Park archery range and build a visitor's center, amphitheater and nature trail there. The part of the range to be gutted (my term) will be the Field and Hunter courses (14 target layouts - 28 target total) and the practice range (15-60 yards). They're reason for putting the visitor's center there instead of the more logical location at the park entrance is because there isn't enough use of the field course. Also they say they don't want to destroy any pristine desert. They don't seem to mind destroying an existing recreational facility that is the best field archery range in the state and the only outdoor range in the East Vally. If you are at all interested in seeing this great range survive intact, contact the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, the County Parks & Rec department, the Arizona Game & Fish or anyone else you can think of who would be interested or willing to help. The County acts like this is a done deal but I am not willing to give up without a fight. Thanks for your help, Dave Twigg Usery Mountain Archers Field Coordinator Arizona Bowhunters & Field Archery Association Tournament VP Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHT_MTNMAN Report post Posted February 12, 2007 That would be too bad.... I usually shoot alot there from Feb. to August. Do you have # or email to Dave Twigg. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BowNut Report post Posted February 13, 2007 Just an update. Usery Mountain Archers has met with Game and Fish and valley archery shops to talk to the park to see what we can do to convince them this is a bad idea. We are doing everything we can to save this range. The visitors centers are going in all the Maricopa County Parks we are just trying to get them to move this one to a different location in the park. It does not look real good at the moment but they are willing to talk to us and that is a good thing. As you now this is very important to us to keep archery alive in the east valley. Currently we are the only archery club that holds shoot at Usery and we would like to keep doing that. I will try to keep you informed on what is going on as soon as I get more info. We are getting a meeting lined up with the Parks Dept., Game and fish, our club and local shops to get it worked out. In case you are wondering why we contacted G&F they have a group that works to better shooting facilities and they work with local archery shops to get youth archery groups started in schools and at local ranges etc. G&F will be meeting with us to talk to them about making more money and getting more use out of the range year round and not just around hunting season. Since that is what seems to be a big part of the reason for putting it in that location. We will know more after the next meeting. I will try to keep you all informed on what is going on. Thanks Dallas Daily Usery Mountain Archers Vice President Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grizzly Report post Posted February 13, 2007 If you could post an email address we could send our opinions to the park about this. I shoot at Usury Mtn frequently and would hate to lose this facility. I would like to join some of the 3D shoots out there but they all seem to fall on Sundays and I have conflicts with church schedule. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BowNut Report post Posted February 14, 2007 If you could post an email address we could send our opinions to the park about this. I shoot at Usury Mtn frequently and would hate to lose this facility. I would like to join some of the 3D shoots out there but they all seem to fall on Sundays and I have conflicts with church schedule. We have scheduled some Sat. shoots this year for that very reason. We have one this Saturday the 17th. You can contact Maricopa County Board of Supervisors or Anthony Chavez he is the one helping us at G&F.This is a link to the board of supervisors I found. Not sure if these are the guys but it looks like it. Also there is a board of supervisors meeting Wednesday Feb 21st at 9:00am http://www.maricopa.gov/county_glance/defa...p?link=govtBody Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bowhuntinmaniac Report post Posted February 14, 2007 Might be worth yer while to do some research and see if they still get federal funding thru the Pittman Robertson Act. If so, they could be in jeopardy of losing it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
