RANGELEY – Mac Dudley, archery director for the Rangeley Region Guides and Sportsmen’s Association, will offer Olympic-style and 3-D target (hunting style) archery lessons in July and August.

Dudley will also offer private lessons for those who cannot attend the group classes. An avid hunter, he is certified as a bow hunter safety instructor and as a Level II instructor with the National Archery Association. Last year, 17 took group lessons and several more took private lessons. All participants received ribbons and compasses after completing the program.

The Olympic-style lessons provide beginners with the basics of competitive target shooting, including equipment selection, setup, safety and technique. New this year will be group lessons for those at an intermediate skill level.

The program will add to lessons provided in the beginners’ program last year and offer outdoor shooting time and friendly competition target shooting. Each program will include roughly eight hours of instruction over four days beginning Tuesday, July 27.

Dudley offers separate programs for youth (ages 9 to 15) and for adults. Adult classes will be from 5:45 to 7:45 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, July 27 and 28 and Aug. 3 and 4. Youth classes, beginner and intermediate, will be earlier on the same days lasting one and a half to two hours, depending on the number of participants. Youth beginner classes will start at 1 p.m. and youth intermediate classes at 3:30.

Participants interested in the intermediate program should have completed the beginners program or talk to Dudley so she can assess the current skill level. Parents are encouraged to attend with their kids on the first day.

The club provides all equipment. However, participants may bring their own bow and arrows. The cost is $20 for adults and youths. Private lessons are available for an hourly fee. Classes will be held at the clubhouse on Old Skiway Road, Oquossoc. Those interested can register and pay at the Rangeley Town Office (contact Trisha Quinn at 864-3326) or Dudley. For more information call him at 864-5919.

For the bow hunter, this year Dudley will offer a bow hunter safety education program at the end of August. He will also offer a “Refining Your Form” instructor program in September in preparation for the bow hunting season.

More information on both classes will be in the club newsletter and local papers at a later date. Dudley also provides bow hunting lessons using 3-D targets by appointment.

The 3-D bow hunting lessons begin with a tour of the range and will be consistent with the participant’s experience level. The club maintains its own 3-D bow hunting target range set in the club’s wooded property. The targets include life-sized small and large game, including bear, deer, turkey, fox and raccoon, as well as two sight-in lanes of 10 and 20 yards. The use of the range is free to members. For non members, a donation to the club’s archery fund will be accepted. Contact Dudley for details.

Anyone interested in becoming a member of the club can contact John Thomas at 864-5360. Guests are welcome to attend a meeting on the third Thursday of each month starting at 5:30 p.m. with a potluck dinner, followed by a short meeting and guest speaker.