Archery ranges near Bloomington, MN

[Chester Thompson]

I am going to be back up in the Twin Cities on Aug 10, and my wife is going to see a friend that I don't really have any intrest in seeing all day long, so I was trying to see if there are any ranges in or near Bloomington area. I used to live down the road from the ski jump off of W84th street, but I was not into archery at the time so I am not familiar with that aspect. I found on range at a park off off France road that has five targets, is it a good place? I know at one point in time I heard about a place in a city park in maybe Brooklyn Center that had a shooting tower and such at it, the reason that I heard about it though was it had been torn up by vandals (this was 4-5 years ago min) and I was wondering if anybody knew anything about that. I would prefer outdoor, or is there a place where I can legally stump shoot?

Posted in the MN section too.

[Gator1]

Chester,

There is a great range, across from the Normandale Community College.

It is on France Avenue.  The one you mention on France has a lot of elbow room, and about 10 Targets...

Your best bet for sure....

[Chester Thompson]

Gator,

Looks like we are talking about the same place, the City of Bloomington website says 5 targets, so that is why I said 5. Sounds good.

[Robhood23]

If you don't mind an hour drive south I would be happy to take you out to the Rochester Archery Club, we could stump or shoot the cardboard cutouts we have set up on 40 acres of woods.

[Chester Thompson]

James, I am sure that will not work on Friday, I need to stay closer to the Twin Cities in case my wife needs anything. Thank you for the offer.

[Chester Thompson]

Anybody been to the City of Shakoppe archery park?  http://www.ci.shakopee.mn.us/pages/Parks/Archery_BoatLandingSchematicDesign.pdf  Looks like it could be really nice.

[Chester Thompson]

Found out that I will actually be up there on Aug 3rd. Any other archery ranges that I have to see? Do a lot of the towns up there have actual city archery ranges? That is cool, nothing like that I know of near me.

[rraming]

That range is still there and I use it once in awhile. Bad for shooting early am as the sun is in your face. If your around and need to shoot and have some extra time, I belong to south forty archers and can take you there. In addition to the range they leave out Reinharts for use to shoot walking through a loop (maybe a mile, I guess). Some kids caused trouble and they reduced it a bit but still should be 20 or so out. Won't cost you anything.
I live about 3 miles from that ski jump (they built a new one)

[bpjon]

You'd be about 20 miles from the Lower Spring Lake Park Preserve, which had a very nice field archery range.  At least it did, been many years since I was there.    

 http://www.co.dakota.mn.us/LeisureRecreation/CountyParks/Locations/SpringLake/ArcheryTrail.htm

 http://www.co.dakota.mn.us/LeisureRecreation/CountyParks/Locations/SpringLake/SpringLake.htm

[rraming]

Originally posted by Chester Thompson:
Found out that I will actually be up there on Aug 3rd. Any other archery ranges that I have to see? Do a lot of the towns up there have actual city archery ranges? That is cool, nothing like that I know of near me.

Cool, maybe, it's because shooting on our own property here is illegal, don't think that is so cool-ha. Most cities have ranges open to the public, they are mostly small, Eden Prairie has a terrific range that must have cost 200 K  but it's set up for compound people, most advanced thing I have ever seen. I think guys have mentioned Bunker Lake, 30 minutes from Bloomington and you pay a small fee to use it, I did not think it was that special. Most are just 5-8 hay bales either against wooden posts or hanging by chains.
Rapids Archery and South Forty are you only clubs I know of in town.
As far as archery shops, don't bother in town, The Footed Shaft is great, down in Rochester and you need a whole day to hit them and the Pope and Young Museum.
That's the tour!

[Chester Thompson]

Shooting on any private propety is illegal or just in the city? If it is just in the city it is the same as here, just you have to pay to join a club here. Glad that I am far enough of the the city that the county sheriff only come through once in a great while.

I talked with my wife and I should have most of the afternoon to myself, so I am up for just about anything.

[mjh]

If your going to be on the south side of the twin cities then South Fourty would be the place to go.... if on the north side of the twin cities then the anoka county parks bunker hills archery complex off hanson blvd.  home the rapids archery club ....toward the northwest on the south side of the mississippi river elm creek park has both a walk through range and a set distance range...if your thinking you might want to ckeck out the north or northwest areas give me a pm and I'll see if we can show you around some, might have family in town around then but might be albe to escape for an few hours....check out rapidsarchery.org

[Chester Thompson]

I think that from what I am hearing I really would like to check out the one in Eden Praire, and I would really like to make to the Spring Lake, but I am not sure there would be enough time. I really would like to see those, and then maybe bring the idea back to here. There is a range that is 30 miles from me, so nothing outdoors that is close. There is a large park near me that most of the part is not used...

[Chester Thompson]

Just over a week till I will be up there. I think that the ones that I would like to see are the Eden Prairie, and Spring Lake, it really does not look like it is set up for trad, but looks impressive. Fairly far from where I will be though. Not sure what time, but if anybody is around and wants to shoot let me know.

Chester

[Chester Thompson]

ttt

[BowsnLabs]

I'd recommend the Shakopee outdoor range (adjacent to MN River and outdoor with lots of space), there is a range at Staring Park in Eden Prairie (outdoor but covered shooting area), and if you have time as was mentioned the Lower Spring Lake Park range near Hastings ($5/day but worth it).  SLP range has two loop trails through the woods...one has bullseye targets and the other is all animal face targets, some with raised shooting platforms. All of the loops are woods courses.