Black Diamond Archery, Canton, Illinois - April 2009 

As I write this article I realize that I much prefer shooting 3D targets to writing about shooting 3-D Shoots. However, here I am again writing after visiting another mid Illinois archery club for another spring 3D shoot.

Black Diamond Archery is located in Canton Illinois on some sixty eight acres of leased land. The club is over forty years old and I had the opportunity to meet a couple of the founding members, Gary Orwig, and Alvin "Catfish" Bartlett. Some of the other members informed me that nobody knew Catfish's real name except is was briefly mentioned years ago at his wedding!

Black Diamond Archery holds a shoot a month throughout the summer. Unlike most of the 3D shoots I attend, Black Diamond offered forty targets for the price that most charge for a thirty target course, $10.00. The course was one that consistently had longer shots than I normally see at these shoots, and I liked that. The average distance for the whole course was thirty yards when shot from the men's bowhunting stakes. The course was well laid out. You would traverse through the course of wooded trails and open meadows. The shooting stations were well marked and even I didn't get confused about where the next target was. A very nice creek wound its way through the course and it was a deep and flowing creek certainly, deeper than the height of hunting boots, although that is just a guess on my part, how would I know if it was deeper than my boot? 

I had an opportunity to meet a couple of other shooters, Stan Neptune and Kyle Phipps, as I traversed the course. They graciously let me shoot through after I told them they I found some of the "5's" they must have dropped. I have got to quit collecting 5's, and work my way up to 8's or even 10's. Stan even let me shoot a picture of him as he shot. If you run into Stan, let him know that I really didn't mean for the camera to make that noise just as he released! 

Black Diamond uses Rinehart targets exclusively and they were in very good condition. They had an excellent variety of targets, from skunks to elk. And most of the targets were deer sized and bigger, with a smattering of smaller targets at the shorter ranges. The course had its uphill and downhill shots. There were a couple of elevated platforms, but they were not used for this shoot. The course was surprisingly dry considering a heavy rain the night before. There were a couple of seriously wet spots, and I was glad I had worn my boots again. Cold water was available at two or three places on the course, and since it was 80 plus degrees and 80 plus humidity, the water was a welcome relief from the heat. The club provides free donuts, coffee and candy in the morning, and they also provide more substantial food, hot dogs and brats, at a very reasonable cost. Soft drinks are also available. 

Black Diamond Archery President Pat Mosher, and Treasurer Sonny (sorry Sonny, I didn't write down your last name) made me feel like one of the gang. While Gary and Catfish were reminiscing on the age of the club, the discussion reminded me of sitting around a hunting camp, drinking bee...ah, Pepsi, and telling lies - I fit right in and told them how well I shot today! But giving out trophies was no lie. Sonny and Pat told me how they provide trophies for first, second and third places for each of the classes. These are no slouch trophies either, the biggest trophy is seventeen inches. Even cubs, who shoot for free, get trophies.
 
This is more than just an archery club, Black Diamond makes it a point to raise funds for charity, and they figure they have raised some $14,000 over that last four years for organizations like St Judes Children's Hospital and others. Their current membership is close to 70 active members. 

Wow, this was a great shoot! Forty targets for the price of thirty, good friendship, a nice warm day and great targets to miss, I mean shoot at. I would definitely recommend checking out Black Diamond Archery for your next mid Illinois 3D shoot.
 
Oh, by the way, GoreTex boots leak when the stream exceeds the height of your boot! (Just checking to see if they were still waterproof!)