Jim Schoenike didn’t think he had much chance to secure a nearly $90,000 federal grant to help his small bow club expand its outdoor range and facilities, but hoped he might get a few thousand.
Using his background in the financial industry, he filled out a detailed application that included estimated costs to expand and enhance the range and submitted it in July 2024.
The expected rejection letter came a few months after he applied for the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act funds distributed through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
About five months later, Schoenike, president of the Clintonville Bow Hunters Club, got a call from the program’s DNR administrator. Another club selected had turned down a grant.
“We are able to fund your entire project request,” said Sarah Brenner, DNR grant program director.
Schoenike, whose grandfather decades ago had donated the 40 acres that the bow club sits on, couldn’t believe his ears. He thought someone was playing a joke on him.
Since then, the club northwest of Clintonville — founded in 1941 and the oldest local archery club in Wisconsin — has been buzzing with activity. Treasurer Mike Bevernitz built 28 new field target frames, bow holders were installed, concrete sidewalks have been poured and soon the club will be open for public use.
The grant will bring new amenities for the existing 35 club members to enjoy but also help attract new members to the range and the sports of archery and bowhunting.
Brenner explained the shooting range grant process, which typically has a July 15 annual application deadline (the deadline was extended to Aug. 15 this year). The grants, typically $600,000 to $800,000 per year, are awarded to 10 to 15 clubs annually, with about double that number applying, she said. The amount awarded per grant is $5,000 to $100,000 and the grants must be used within two years.
Each state is allocated a portion of the federal Pittman-Robertson Act grant money collected from an 11% excise tax on firearms, ammunition and archery equipment. The allocations are based in part on the number of hunting licenses sold per state, Brenner noted.
The club must first talk to Brenner or Brett Johanen, who oversees the state’s 11 public shooting ranges, before completing an application. A detailed budget of the project costs and plans is required. The grants reimburse clubs after the expenses are incurred. Club workers and volunteers are reimbursed $17 an hour for their work on the projects.
Clubs must come up with 25% of the grant total on their own (including donations, volunteer work and other funding), with the federal money paying the remaining 75%.
Clubs can also get reimbursed for future expenses such as target replacements and maintenance, if those items are included in the proposal, Brenner said.
CBH is close to raising its share, with a $7,500 grant from the Clintonville Chapter of Shadows on the Wolf and a $5,000 donation from Schoenike leading the way. More than 120 hours of labor and donations from club members and area businesses also helped.
Clubs are allowed to collect reasonable membership fees from those using the improved ranges, including a one-day membership fee, Brenner said.
CBH charges $40 a year for a single membership or $50 for a family membership. Members also can pay a land-use fee to hunt on the clubhouse site’s 40 acres and an additional 312 acres in Shawano County near the Navarino State Wildlife Area. Social members pay $25 a year and have no voting rights or use of the hunting properties. Social members can use the practice and field ranges 120 days a year.
“You’ve got to make it accessible and workable,” Schoenike said.
Grant applications are rated on a variety of criteria, including how many public hunting and shooting recruitment and retention programs they offer annually, days they are open to the public (the minimum is 75 per year) and whether they have done lead abatement (firearms ranges).
Area bowhunters and target archers will have a chance to see the revamped CBH club grounds and shoot a round of 3D archery featuring a variety of foam animal targets Aug. 15-16 the club, N11517 Boy Scout Lane, Clintonville. Shooting hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 15 and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 16. The cost is $10 for adults, $2 for children younger than 12, which includes a free hot dog and soda for children. Food, soft drinks and beer are available. Everyone is welcome, and no additional membership fee is required.
For more information about the club, contact Schoenike at cbh.archeryclub@gmail.com or check out the club Facebook page.
Ross Bielema is a freelance writer from New London and owner of Wolf River Concealed Carry LLC. Contact him at Ross@wolfriverccw.com.
