Archery, including bow hunting, is alive and well in Northwest Montana.

Evidence of that was the more than 80 archers and bow enthusiasts who turned out on a brilliant July Montana day to take part in the Burgers and Bows 3D Shoot in the woods between Trout Creek and Thompson Falls.

On a course that wound through wooded hills on the Naegli Ranch in the Big Beaver Creek area, entrants followed marked trails that included 30 stops where mannequin animals were set up as targets at varying distances. Scores were tabulated based on the number and location of hits. The meet is referred to as a "3D" meet because of the mannequin targets archers encounter.

“I’ve been coming to this event for several years,” said Trout Creek resident and bow hunter George Galayda. “Bow hunting is a good way to hunt and this helps sharpen the skills. They really have a good range set up this year.”

The event, which was sponsored by the Trout Creek Archery Club and served as a fundraiser for the TCAC and the National Archery in Schools Program, attracted shooters of all ages. Adult entry fees were $20, with $50 for a family. Shooters under the age of 12 were allowed to take on the course for free.

“This serves as one of several fundraisers we do each year,” said Club president Ruth Boyer. “We have categories for men and women archers, as well as categories for those who use compound or traditional bows.”

Prizes were awarded in each of those categories following the day-long event.

In addition to animal mannequins, the range included places where regular archery targets were set up and varying distances.

“The targets along the way are for what we call Robin Hood shooters,” Boyer said, adding those were used mostly by long-range shooters.

Archery has long been a popular sport in the Trout Creek area and that popularity soared earlier this year when a team of middle and elementary school archers won the Montana State championship in their age bracket. The win advanced them to the Western National finals where they had a solid showing for a new team which had never advanced that far before.

“We are all so proud of the young archers,” Boyer said. “It’s really become a popular activity at the school.”

Galayda, who used a compound bow during the event, said he too was glad to see so many young people involved in the sport.

“I’m really happy that this is something taught in schools here,” he said. “We need to teach more of this kind of activity to young people and less of some of the stuff they are teaching these days.”

Boyer said the group is planning more fundraisers throughout the rest of the year, including an event as part of the Trout Creek Huckleberry Festival next month.

“We use these funds for so many things, including helping buy targets and equipment for the team.”

Use of the land for this year’s event was courtesy of the Naegli family and was held on their ranch.

“We are very grateful to the Naegli’s for letting us set up this course,” Boyer said.