New York City is one of the icons of America, famous for the Empire State Building, Broadway, the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, etc., etc. Thousands of tourists flock there every year just to see the sights and experience the “American dream.” But did you know that not only does New York City have great sightseeing spots, but also awesome places to practice your archery! Who would’ve thought!
The New York City area technically extends from Manhattan to Brooklyn to maybe even Queens or Jersey City, so as you can imagine, since its a capital for commerce, business, food, history, etc., that’s there’s a ton there! But for the avid aspiring archer who’s looking for a place to shoot, there is also plenty for you as well!
When I went to New York City for the first time with my family, it was so overwhelming and there is so, so much there. So before you have withdrawals from a lack of archery or sensory overload from all the stuff there is there, I’ve got you covered.
I’ve put together a list of some of the coolest and most popular archery ranges in the New York City Area, and trust me, they will not disappoint. The top five that I chose were:
- Gotham Archery
- Pro Line Archery Lanes
- Victory Archers
- Queens Archers
- The Floyd Bennett Field Archery Range
Can you Shoot a Bow and Arrow in New York City?
In New York City, shooting a bow and arrow within city limits is typically against the law. According to the New York City Administrative Code, it is illegal to have, transport, or discharge a bow and arrow within the five boroughs of the city. This includes Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island.
This restriction is in place for safety reasons and to prevent potential harm to individuals and property in highly populated areas.
However, there are exceptions for authorized archery ranges who have been approved to do so through the city. These ranges provide a safe environment for archery enthusiasts and the public.
Complying with the city’s regulations and guidelines is crucial.
1. Gotham Archery
I know right? When I heard about Gotham Archery, I was totally thinking, “Batman must practice his BatBow skills here…” (sorry, bad joke). But seriously though, Batman could have totally practiced at this range, because it is awesome.
Featured by magazines like Vogue, Business Insider, Huffington Post, and the list goes on, Gotham Archery is the stuff of an archer’s dreams. Just looking at the website will tell you how the people at this archery range are not messing around.
First of all, the facility is beautiful. This place is basically like the ideal gym for the archer and his bow. The lighting and the interior decorating make you feel like a secret agent training for a secret mission to take out…dinosaurs?
Yes, dinosaurs. One of the courses/ranges offered is a 3D target range, or the 3D-Hunt, with yes, dinosaurs as one of the targets you get to shoot at. Not to mention a giant fish. How cool is that?
3D-Hunt is available every first Saturday of the month, from 5 pm to 10 pm, entry is $35 per person, and you must bring your own equipment. There is a 3D Hunt tournament and an intro class, for varying levels, but both of them are awesome. Each hunter moves from the sets shooting at the foam targets, and can be great practice for hunting, for just a new challenge, or taking some time to have fun.
In addition to the 3D-Hunt, Gotham Archery hosts a numerous amount of events, tournaments, parties, shooting leagues, and corporate events as well as various camps for all ages and archery levels. They also offer a pro shop in their facility for purchases, rentals, and repairs.
Gotham Archery has two locations, one in Brooklyn and one in Manhattan. Both are wonderful. If you are a hardcore archer and you happen to live in the New York area or are visiting, it’s essential that you drop by Gotham Archery. Who knows, you might even meet Batman there!
2. Pro Line Archery Lanes
Pro Line Archery Lanes is like it sounds. A place for the pros. Pro Line Archery Lanes has been in business since the ’70s, and the staff workers are all seasoned archers.
One of the things that Pro Line Archery Lanes prides itself on is the emphasis of Olympic style shooting. The staff at Pro Line Archery Lanes “chairs the NYC Archery trials for the New York Empire State Games,” so the staff there know what they are doing. Some are even members for U.S. National team!
One of their programs they offer as well is a Junior Olympic Development Program, which helps youth learn more about Olympic shooting style, and has been sanctioned by USA Archery.
Located in Ozone Park, in the middle of Queens, Pro Lines Archery Lanes has an indoor range with 30 lanes and the length of 20 yards. If you’re renting equipment, the entry fee for adults is $20 per hour and $15 for children. If you’ve brought your own equipment, then the fee drops down to $13 per adults for an hour and $10 for those over 65 years old and children from 8-17 years old.
In addition to the youth program, Pro Lines Archery Lanes offers a target league and a hunters league for the archers who are more interested in competitive shooting. They also provide archery instruction and safety training before you get started.
So stop on down by Pro Line Archery Lanes, and get ready to train with the big boys who know how to do the real thing.
3. Victory Archers
New York City has tons of hidden gems around every corner. Victory Archers is definitely one of them.
Found in the Charleston area, you wouldn’t think that a place like Victory Archers would be so popular. But the reviews for Victory Archers are raving about how great this place is. “Why?” you ask.
First, the instructors there are really amazing. Reviews about Victory Archers say that the instructors are super nice, and they really know what they’re teaching about. Even people that randomly come into Victory Archers say that the instructors that work there are great.
Secondly, the community found there is awesome. Victory Archers is technically a club, so in order to get 24/7 access to the facilities there, membership is required. Members are required to work there for 20 hours per year, so as to contribute to the community there and helping Victory Archers keep up on their business.
Victory Archers offers hunting lessons, children’s lessons, and target shooting lessons. Their shooting range is a standard 20 yard range with 12 lanes.
Victory Archers is a great place for beginners looking to pick up on archery, or archers who are looking for a club/community where they can practice their archery skills and enjoy themselves.
4. Queens Archers
Like Victory Archers, Queens Archers, located in the Flushing area of New York, is another one of those places that you might miss if you weren’t looking for it. However, once you’ve found it, you’ll be glad that you took the time to find it!
Queens Archers, established for almost 30 years, is another archery range that focuses on helping introduce beginning archers to the sport and help them learn proper technique. If you want to just go for fun with a group to try something new out, Queens is a great place to go. If you are thinking about becoming seriously involved in archery, Queens is also a great place to go!
Queens offers Groupon vouchers for purchase that make it possible for you to go as with a group or join a group class, normally for a lesser price. Reviews say that the group classes are So. Much. Fun.
Do you need a place to go for family night? Date night? Office-night-out? It might be a good idea to try one of the vouchers that Queens Archery offers and impress everyone with your know-how of the New York area and how you know how to have a good time.
Normally, with your own equipment, entry is $15 per hour a person, and for rental of equipment, the entry fee is $25 per hour a person.
The range has over 20 lanes that are available for usage, and in addition to the beginners’ classes, Queens Archers has a target league and membership that you can join as well to make things more interesting.
Queens Archers also boast a great pro shop with professional repairmen to help you pick your bow or fix your bow. So what’s not more to love? When you’re in the Big Apple, don’t forget to stop by Queens Archers!
5. The Floyd Bennett Field Archery Range
Since you’re all the way in the beautiful New York area, it would be a shame not to go somewhere where you can see the beautiful Atlantic Ocean. And while you’re at it, you can be practicing archery too! How cool would you look with the ocean behind you as you fire arrows into the red bullseye? So cool.
Floyd Bennett Field is part of the Gateway National Park and is an area where you can camp, kayak, hike, fish, and you guessed it, shoot! If you’re camping in this lovely area of New York, then the usage of the Archery Range is included in your reservation.
The outdoor range has 8-10 targets available, and you can shoot from a covered pavilion. Equipment is not provided.
How nice it would be to be able to have an area to shoot while you’re enjoying the great outdoors and camping! Think about it, you would feel like you’re really roughing it in New York City!
So there you have it! My recommendations for the avid archer who may or may not be lost in New York City! There still is hope for you and your archery hobby! Try some of these fantastic archery spots, and it should make your experience the Big Apple even better! Happy shooting!
If you want to find more of the best archery ranges in the country check out my full list.
What Makes a High-Quality Archery Range?
The country has many archery ranges, some being better than others. A quality range offers features and qualities that cater to the needs of their visitors to provide a fun and safe shooting experience. Some important things to look for in a quality archery range are as follows.
Safety: The safety of their visitors should be the top priority in any archery range you visit. A range that values safety will have safety protocols and rules clearly posted for all to see. These will include designated shooting lanes and proper signs along with trained staff to monitor and enforce their rules and regulations. Safety measures such as backstops, barriers, and adequate ventilation systems should be in place to prevent accidents and ensure the well-being of participants.
Range Layout and Design: An effective range layout is crucial for archers to practice their skills comfortably. The range should have well-defined shooting lanes with sufficient space between shooters, allowing for safe and unobstructed shooting. Distances for various shooting distances should be marked, and targets should be properly positioned for easy visibility and retrieval.
Target Variety and Quality: A great archery range offers a variety of target options to cater to different archery disciplines and skill levels. This can include traditional bullseye targets, 3D animal targets, and specialty targets for specific archery styles. Targets should be well-maintained, regularly replaced or repaired, and appropriately sized and positioned to provide a fair and challenging shooting experience.
Equipment and Amenities: High-quality archery ranges provide individuals with access to quality archery equipment and amenities, including bows and arrows, shooting stands or benches, and storage areas for personal gear.
Related Reading: 11 Best Compound Bows for Beginners
Instruction and Coaching:Â A great archery range may offer instructional classes or coaching services for people of any skill level. Qualified instructors or teachers should provide training and tips to help archers improve their form, accuracy, and technique. Their main goal is to contribute to the growth and development of archers at any skill level.
Community and Atmosphere: A positive and welcoming atmosphere can greatly enhance the overall experience at an archery range. A great range fosters community, encouraging archers to connect, share knowledge, and support each other’s progress. Organized events, competitions, or social gatherings can help build this community spirit and create a vibrant archery culture.
Accessibility and Convenience:Â Convenient location, sufficient parking, and low range fees contribute to the accessibility and attractiveness of an archery range. Range hours that accommodate various schedules, including evenings and weekends, can cater to a wider range of archers.