FORT SMITH, Ark. —
A traditional archery tournament with a deeply rooted history in the area is returning the weekend of Aug. 6-8 to Murphy’s Meadow at the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant.
That is the Southern Plains Traditional Archery Tournament. It has been held at the McAlester ammunition facility for about 20 years, according to the ammunition plant’s wildlife specialist Bill Starry.
The plant, which makes up over 40,000 acres in size, is a haven for wildlife, and a sought-after spot for special controlled hunts that are allowed on the plant from time to time.
Following the heightened security after 9/11, there was a year the event was not held at McAAP, but returned the year after that, according to Starry.
It has grown tremendously, according to the wildlife specialist. Many years ago, there were about 35 archers participating in the event. That has grown to as many as 700-1,000 shooting, according to Starry.
It’s an event for more traditional archers, with equipment restrictions to using longbows and recurves, thus in keeping with a traditional archery theme, instead of using more modern archery equipment like tricked-out compound bows.
It’s also a fairly relaxed event, and you don’t have to be an expert shot with a bow to participate. Starry described it as not being a “lockjaw” event, in that it’s not a high pressure shoot, and the prizes in the shooting part of the competition are not particularly large.
However, there is the opportunity to win a very nice prize in a drawing among participants.
There’s also a special focus on children, and children shooting in the event will typically receive something, as Starry said he thought every child shooting would receive a ribbon.
It’s descibed as a family-friendly event, with some specialized vendors. The archery vendors include Black Widow among others.
While McAlester Army Ammunition Plant serves as the host site for the annual event, Starry said it is actually put on by Backwoods Bowhunters.
Sports
McAAP to host archery event
- Sports
-
-
City deer spotted out of season
Friday afternoon, while driving on West Jackson in McAlester, I noticed two females who appeared to be lost.
-
Mcalester Summer tennis, swimming programs set
The city’s parks and recreation department is gear up for summer with tennis and swimming lessons to be offered in May and June.
-
Eastern to host 40th annual Kiamichi All-Star Classic From submitted reports
Eastern Oklahoma State College will host the 40th annual Kiamichi All-Star Classic sports competition Saturday in Wilburton.
-
Top MHS athletes earn senior honors
At the annual senior assembly held last week, the Outstanding Senior Athletes for McAlester High School were named, this year in a dozen sports.
-
McAlester High School baseball team head to state tournament
For the first time since 2008, McAlester’s baseball team is going to the Class 5A State Baseball Tournament, winning a regional championship on their home field with a third consecutive five-inning, run-rule victory.
-
Buffaloes to end baseball season with Cougars
McAlester clinched the district championship with their final district game win, but will not have an “A” game with Ada to close out the regular season on Monday.
-
Day of golf to support Eufaula Ironheads
The Ironhead Golf Booster Club is hosting a fund raising golf tournament at Fountainhead Creek Golf Course in Checotah on May 19 at 9 a.m.
-
McAlester United soccer season continues
Teams for the McAlester United Soccer league played on Thursday and Friday as overall the league is preparing for the Oklahoma Soccer Association sanctioned state tournament known as the Kohl’s Cup to be played in Lawton April 28 and 29.
-
McAlester baseball drops grinding game to Duncan
At the end of a long and grinding baseball game that was the fourth in as many days for the fifth ranked Buffaloes, the home team for McAlester found themselves behind on the scoreboard 3-7.
-
Buffs baseball crushes Lawton MacArthur
There wasn’t much doubt about the outcome of the game after three innings of Buff baseball on Thursday night in the late game of day two in the McAlester Shootout tournament at Mike Deak Field.
- More Sports Headlines
-
City deer spotted out of season




