Hello BMB'ers!

We hope everyone's been having a good spring and early outdoor archery season so far. Shout out to all the BMB archers who've been representing the club at tournaments near and far: Break The Barriers, USAT Gator Cup, Bay Area Senior Games, and plenty of others. A big cheer also to our local collegiate athletes, the San Jose State University Club archers, who recently won medals at this year's USA Archery Collegiate Target Regionals (West Region)! Great shooting, everyone!

The weather may not feel like it, but it's almost May already... Here are your BMB updates for the coming month:

• Rescheduled! Due to schedule conflicts, we've moved our monthly range maintenance Work Party to Saturday, May 9. We really could use your help to maintain and improve the range: clearing brush, replacing target bales, making target faces, and various other items. No experience needed and members and non-members alike are welcome!
  • Work starts around 8 AM; come find us in the clubhouse/picnic area by the main parking. If arriving late, just look around and any of the volunteers on site can point you in the right direction.
    • Dress as if for yard work, and bring work/gardening gloves if you have them.
  • As a thank-you to our volunteers, we'll be serving lunch and refreshments when work activities wrap up.
  • All parts of the range will be closed to shooting, and will reopen no earlier than 2 PM.
  • Looking to log volunteer hours? Sign up via the Santa Clara County volunteering site.
• Cardboard needed! We need cardboard panels and boxes as backing for the field target faces we deploy throughout the range. If you've got a large cardboard box you're getting rid of, or can harvest cardboard being thrown out by various businesses, please leave it behind the "serving counter" facing the picnic area (between the parking lot and the practice range). Thanks to everyone who's donated so far!
• The May Club Shoot will take place on Sunday, May 10. The Club Shoot format for the outdoor season is the NFAA 900 round:
  • Archers will shoot three rounds, each of five 6-arrow ends, at 60, 50, and 40 yards, on 122-cm 10-ring targets (shorter distances for youth and cub archers).
  • There will be two ends of practice prior to the first round (distance), and 10-15 minute breaks between each round.
  • Archers will be grouped and assigned to targets by division according to NFAA rules.
  • New to tournament archery? Check out this great introductory video from our friends at Pasadena Roving Archers.
  • As usual, the shoot is free for current BMB members, $10 for guests.
  • Walk-ons are welcome, though we do appreciate those who help us plan ahead by preregistering.
  • Setup begins around 8am, and we aim to start shooting around 9am.
• Our Wednesday Night 3D League is halfway through its season, but there's still plenty of opportunities to come and join in on the foam-hunting fun!
  • Cost: $10 for adults (16+), $5 for youth (11-15), free for cub archers (6-10).
  • Shooting times begin at 4pm and run through 6pm.
  • Learn more at our 3D League web page.
• Following up on the unexpectedly popular USAT-style club shoot we held last year, we're planning to hold a full USAT-style tournament on the weekend of June 13-14, as a warm-up for archers headed to the USAT #3: SoCal Showdown tournament in San Diego (though of course all are welcome). We will announce more details shortly, but tentatively:
  • 720 qualifying round on Saturday.
  • Elimination matches on Sunday.

Here are just a few of the many other events happening elsewhere at other MTBA ranges:

• Bowhunters Unlimited is holding their annual Al Harford/Fred Bear Legacy Shoot 3D event on Saturday, May 9.
• The 2026 MTBA Regional Field tournament will be held at King's Mountain Archers, Saturday, May 16. Get more information and pre-register here. Membership in one of the MTBA clubs is required, so if you haven't already, remember to renew your BMB membership for this year.
• Registration is still open for the 2026 NFAA Southwest Sectionals field archery tournament at King's Mountain Archers, June 14.

One more thing: we're seeing that the ticks are numerous and voracious this year, due to the recent rain and consequent vegetation growth. If you venture into tall brush or grass, be sure to check yourself (and any other people or pets with you) for these critters, as their bite can transmit some pretty nasty illnesses. (Learn more about how to protect yourself from ticks.)

Stay safe, and happy shooting, everyone! See you at the range!

- The BMB Directors