New 3D targets, including an elk, turkey, black bear and squirrel, have been installed on the archery ranges at the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Woodworth Education Facility.

“We try to have a wide variety of targets,” explained LDWF Biologist Michael Smilie. He said the facility has two options for archers – an open range with 13 3-D animal targets as well as eight sight-in targets and two broadhead targets, and a 3-D walking trail featuring 10 shooting stations with two targets each placed in natural settings and poses like one would see while hunting.

The 3-D trail includes large animals, such as elk, deer and a black bear target, as well as smaller targets including squirrels, rabbits and raccoons. The trail also offers archers an opportunity to hit some fun targets, including an alligator and a dinosaur. Archers can shoot from a variety of distances marked by colored stakes along the shooting lane.

“We do our best to simulate what someone would encounter in real life if they were hunting in the woods,” Smilie said. “Our ranges provide a safe place to shoot from a variety of distances – from 15 to 50 yards.”

The archery ranges are open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday at the LDWF Woodworth Education Facility, located at 661 Robinson Bridge Road in Woodworth. In addition to archery, the facility has rifle, pistol and shotgun shooting ranges as well.

For more information, go to https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/woodworth-outdoor-education-center or visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086109337370.