Oak Mountain archery park opening Aug. 4

Oak Mountain State Park is opening an archery park on Aug. 4. The park will be the state’s 11th community archery range.

The park will be open year-round for recreational shooting, competitive tournaments and outdoor educational programming. It includes eight targets for adults ranging from 15-50 yards, eight targets for youths ranging from 5-20 yards and a four-target range from 10-40 yards. There is also a 12-foot elevated shooting platform for bow hunters who want to practice shooting from their stands.

Kelly Ezell, superintendent of Oak Mountain State Park, said most people will bring their own equipment, but the park will host some classes where equipment is provided.

These classes will start in the fall, Ezell said, and will be geared toward younger archers. The park’s naturalist, Emily Cook, is certified to teach archery and will serve as an instructor.

Entry fees will apply to the park - $4 for visitors 12 years old and up, $1 for 6-11 year olds – but the archery range is free to use.

Alabama residents between 16 and 65 years old must have a hunting license, Wildlife Management Area license or Wildlife Heritage license in order to use the archery range. A hunting license can be obtained through local retailers, outdooralabama.com or at the park. Non-residents can use an annual Wildlife Management license or non-resident hunting license.

The archery park is the result of a partnership with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Shelby County and Alabama State Parks, Ezell said.

“We’re really happy,” Ezell said. “It’s another user group that will be able to come into our park and enjoy their sport.”

The archery park’s grand opening will be at Aug. 4 at 10 a.m.