Looking for a TRAD shop near Quantico, VA

[AlanF]

Will be traveling to Quantico Marine Corps base in June for training and wondered if anyone knows of any traditional archery shops near that area.  Thanks,
Alan

[sweet old bill]

Alan check out the NFAA for the state of VA and it will list all the local clubs. There are several near the marine base station of Quantico Va.
 The marine's on station use to have a great bow course I have been to many years out of this state, but there are local clubs like Prince William archers Farfax and or Cub run archers Manassas that are within a 3/4 hour drive of the base that have loads of archers. They I am sure can tell you of were they are going for there archery items,and may also ask you over to shoot a arrow or two.I think the Prince William archers have a shoot in June called the black bear shoot, I shot it every year I lived there and wanted so bad to win the shoot, best I ever did was 4th in my class.

Best to you

Bill
 
USAF 1960 1964
Cub run archers 1969 1979

[michaelschwister]

Alan

No trad shops around, just a few trad archers. I have hunted Qco since 94, and have a couple friends who also hunt there. Last I heard the base range was shut down. There is a range at the Rod and Gun Club.

Mike

[Killdeer]

There is a good range at Belvoir, and NORVA is located outside Clifton, VA. If you would like to shoot at NORVA, PM me.

ApplePie did a lot of hunting at Quantico, if you PM him, you may get some good info.

Killdeer

[Roadkill]

I have been retired for 13 years, but what a place to hunt!  Turkeys abound as well as deer-I killed 5 in the archery season my last year sstationed there. There was a small shop out by Manasses a few years back he would get whatever we needed. Killy is a great source of info on this site and she's offered-give her a shout.

[michaelschwister]

Deer numbers are way down from what they were in the middle/late 90s. 2000-2002 drought as well as major deer herd reduction combined with a coyote infestation really changed the place.  That is probably good as deer population was way too high to be sustained. Mainside is about 1/2 the size it was 5 years ago, lots of new construction. Only 27 car/deer collsions on mainside this past year, years ago it was 100-200, and lots more car traffic now.  5B near the hunting shack is closed and has been mostly cleared, lots of new buildings. 6A was given back to the county for a park and is now no hunting, bunch of new buildings in 6B and some planned for 5A. Also lots of hunting pressure. 2008 deer kill was about 1/3 of the 2002 kill, and deer sightings are way down.  Good news is the base has been closed after 9/11 for civilian vehicle access and patrolled, so less poaching.  Also lots of logging in the western areas, 13, 14s,15s,16s,etc so when that does grow back, habitat should be much improved. For now, when you do see a doe, she is alone or has one fawn. Gone are the days of seeing groups of 5-10.

[michaelschwister]

Almost forgot, X-bows have been legal in archery areas/seasons the last couple years..........

[AlanF]

Thanks for the information.  I will be there for training on Combat Stress and in particular how it impacts families.  Since I currently do not have a T/D bow I will be bowless for the week but was hoping to find a good archery shop to hang out in during some to the down time.  

Dave I spent two summers assigned to the OCS and to Golf Company (the NROTC candidates).  Needless to say those were some physically challenging summers but I would not trade the experience.  You are absolutely correct, there were not too many days that I would have wanted to shoot a bow when the training was done.  After leaving Quantico in '03 we were blessed to serve with 3rd FSSG (I was a "red patcher") in Okinawa Japan for almost four years.  Look forward to being with the operational Marine Corps again soon.  

Thanks,
Alan