A Little History on Deep River Bowmen:

Deep River Bowmen, Inc. was founded in 1962 by a group of bowhunters who regularly bowfished on Deep River in NorthWest Indiana. The bulk of the charter members consisted of member of the old Potawatomi Archery Club. Membership in the club has grown steadily since that time and today, DRB inc. is recognized as the largest organized bowhunting archery club in northern Indiana.

The club holds memberships in the National Field Archery Association, the Wildlife Legislative Fund of America, and actively supports the Indiana Bowhunter Association, and the National Bowhunter Education Foundation. DRB inc. is the first local organization to become involved with the WLFA's "Protect What's Right" program. The purpose of this program is to carry the Pro-Conservation/Hunting message to the non-hunter.

Membership:

Membership in DRB covers you, your spouse, and children under 18 years of age. Junior memberships are available for those under 21 at reduced price. Currently, membership cost is $100.00 initiation fee and $50.00 annual dues. Junior members pay only annual dues. A lifetime membership may also be purchased for 20 times the yearly rate plus initiation fee (if applicable).

Benefits of membership include: unlimited use of the scenic outdoor practice range which has a 10-50 marked yardage practice area for sighting in with target tips or broadheads, a 20 target 2-D bowhunter course, a 20+ target broadhead course both of have trails which wind through a hilly, forested course that includes three elevated shooting platforms, two permanent ground blinds, and several bridges that cross the meandering creek flowing through the property. The range is gated with a combination lock for safety, security, and privacy. We also offer two indoor and two outdoor shooting leagues along with several special events and organized hunts. Some of the special events in the past have been, Bowhunter Education classes (the club has two certified instructors), seminars with such folks as M.R. James and 'Maggie' Magee of Bowhunter Magazine and representatives of Indiana's DNR, and informative presentations and informal classes on such topics as bow tuning, shooting fundamentals, broadhead sharpening and selection, etc.

A typical year in DRB begins in January with indoor leagues at a selected range. We shoot each Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. and the league continues for up to sixteen (16) weeks. The indoor league consists of an indoor PAA '300' round, shot 20 yards. The purpose, of course, is to hone your skills and work on your form, but the net result is a night of shooting with friends. Shooting fees for indoor league shoots are $5.00 single and $7.00 family. Discounted Range Passes are available from the League Secretary. In February we start our outdoor shooting schedule with our infamous, "Cabin Fever Shoot'. This event, held the last Sunday in February, heralds the beginning of another season of McKenzie (3-D) shoots. The club currently schedules our 3-D shoots every second and fourth Sunday of the month. These shoots are one way to raise revenue to operate the club. We are a non-profit organization, but we still need revenue to maintain the club and its grounds.

Operating on a tight budget means that we must do virtually all repairs, grounds maintenance, and major renovations ourselves. To this end we have begun the practice of scheduling "work parties" for the Saturday before a scheduled shoot. This scheduling technique has taken the confusion out of when work parties are actually scheduled. During work parties the ranges are closed. Attendance/participation is the obligation of every member.

As old man winter begins to wind down, it is usually time to schedule our annual awards banquet. This is an opportunity for all club members to get together, outside the club, for a night of good food, good stories and awarding our plaques for the previous years' success. We try to have a quest speaker and it usually makes for a well spent night out.

Late in May, outdoor league shooting begins. These shoots are held on Thursday evenings, through the last week of September. League targets are 2-D, freestanding Bowhunter Education targets. The league consists of first a field-tip league, followed by a broadhead league (in preparation for hunting season). Shooting fees for outdoor shoots are $2.00 single and $5.00 for a family. Discounted Range Passes are available from the League Secretary.

The first weekend in August is when the club hosts its largest open shoot of the year, the Art Sears Memorial Big Game Shoot. This event is a two-day shoot, with a coon shoot at dusk on Saturday evening and special novelty shoots running continuously both days. There are raffles and door prizes given away. Most organizations have a favorite charity, and we are no different. We devote one weekend (for shooting) and whatever it takes to be successful (fund raising) to the Riley Children's Hospital in Indiana. It is our way of trying to help those less fortunate than us. We look for everyone to get involved in this endeavor.

Throughout the year there are monthly meetings of the membership on the first Tuesday of the month. These meetings are held in our clubhouse and start at about 7:00 p.m. This is where you make your membership voice heard. The club is run for the members, by the members. It is through this forum that all decisions effecting the club are made. If you don't participate, you are not fulfilling one of your obligations of membership.

When you join DRB, you are on probation for the first year. This is when you learn who your fellow members are, learn how the club operates, and begin to build, what we hope will be everlasting friendships. You will receive a club patch, membership card, combination for the gate, a copy of the shooting rules and our schedule. You will also get a monthly newsletter to keep you informed of club news; meetings, shoots; legislative info and tips for better bow hunting.

With all the benefits you receive, comes one other benefit - responsibility. You have accepted membership into an organization that requires your involvement in order for you to reap the benefits. It no longer is just a club; it is your club. The membership is what makes DRB a club, not the name, not a flag, not a building or range. You joined to be part of an organization that will help you improve your archery skills. In turn, it will teach you the benefits of involving yourself in something that can be shared by the whole family and hopefully, will be existence for our children's children, in years to come.