BY KYLE TROUTMAN ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com

A new club in the Cassville area may one day help a local youth put a turkey on the Thanksgiving table.

Lindsay Doucet, coach for the Barry County Bows, which is organized through the Barry County 4-H Club, said the archery club began in May 2023 with a goal of expanding opportunities for local youth.

“For the past 5-6 years, Barry County has given a grant for every discipline [of shooting sports], and the archery equipment was all there, but no one was safety certified to teach with it,” she said. “So, two years ago, I went to a four-day training and am now a shooting sports instructor.”

Doucet is certified in all disciplines — small boar, black powder, rifle, shotgun and archery — but the latter was her focus. Her duties as a coach include things like correcting stances and shots, as well as acting as the range officer for safety purposes.

“Scott Stephens, with Stephens Dirt Works, helped us build an archery range on our property, and we started in May 2023 and had a great year,” Doucet said. “We won states in bare bow, which is shooting with no sights. It’s the most primitive and difficult archery to do — also called instinctive archery — but, the kids chose that. They followed through and put in the work to take states.”

On Sept. 22, at Prairie Grove Shotgun Sports in Columbia, participants included: Savannah Doucet, Eli Madsen, Connor Madsen, Alec Smith, Zoei Stockton, Lydia Stockton and Garrett England. All seven placed within the top 10 in the state, earning the squad first and second place county team trophies in the process.

Doucet said because of the success, the club hopes to expand next year.

“We want to go beyond just 4-H and do some Olympic-style competitions, and we’re also working with the school to get a program going,” she said. “Exeter has the NASP (National Archery in Schools Program) where they compete against other schools, and we’d like to get that in Cassville.”

Expanding in events is also a goal, as Doucet is in the process of building a 3D range, which archers must walk through while shooting targets along the way.

“The walk-through course tests archers’ range with varying distances, and we’re raising money to get the targets and equipment,” she said.

Barry County Bows started with about 12 participants, and in only 18 months, now has about 30 members. Open to youth 8-and-up after completion of a safety course, the Bows practice yearround, but offers a great deal of flexibility.

“We do practice year-round, but it’s not a heavy commitment,” Doucet said. “It’s designed so kids can work their schedule around other sports, as well.”

Equipment for the program is furnished by STS Outdoors Guns and Archery through an NRA grant. New participants can use club equipment as long as they like, but most use it as a base for determining what personal bow to buy.

“A bow is about $150 for refurbished, and there is an annual 4-H membership fee of $25,” Doucet said. “Almost all our kids have their own bows because it’s better for consistency.”

Along with basic shooting skills, Doucet said archery offers a list of learning experiences.

“The kids learn discipline and how to follow directions,” Doucet said. “It’s really safety oriented because it is life and death. They have to follow commands via a whistle.

“Kids also learn perseverance, and how much work it takes to get results. It’s also an individual sport, but there is a team aspect when we have enough kids shooting in the same style. Beyond that, kids are encouraged to practice at home, have good sportsmanship and be dedicated.”

With a 4-H membership included, Doucet said many members have also branched into that club’s agriculture offerings.

An obvious benefit to the shooting skill is the prospect of hunting, which some Barry County Bows members have already done.

“My kids have all sat with a bow and bunted small game,” Doucet said. “We also have other kids who deer hunt with a rifle or compound bow. The 3D range will help improve hunting skills like angles and how to shoot an animal for a clean kill and no suffering.”

Barry County Bows is always looking to expand its membership, and the club held a gun raffle recently to help offset equipment costs.

“Whether a kid wants to learn a new skill or shoot competitively, we have a spot,” Doucet said.

People interested in donating to the Barry County Bows or joining the organization may contact Doucet through the club’s Facebook page, “4H Barry County Archery.”