STOCKBRIDGE — A new archery range at Panola Mountain State Park in Stockbridge now is open to archers, bow hunters, youth groups and others interested in perfecting their target skills. While this is the first archery range at a state park, it is one of nine archery ranges available on public land in Georgia.

Constructed on the eastern edge of what used to be Southerness Golf Course, the archery range at Panola consists of two ranges. The first is a static range, built on an old fairway with 12 lanes from 10-50 yards in length. Here, archers shoot into large "bow butt" targets that are secured on freestanding target sheds. The second range is a three-quarter-mile 3-D trail with realistic targets on 22 lanes. The targets include a mix of Georgia’s game animals.

The range will serve as a resource for area archers and bow hunters, for park programming activities and for school groups participating in the National Archery in Schools Program. Users need to bring their own gear. To reduce impact to targets, broadheads are not allowed.

To help the park maintain the range, users will pay a $10 daily ($5 for children 12 and younger) or $100 individual/$150 family annual ($50 for children 12 and younger) fee. Permits may be purchased at the park’s nature center or from a permit box near the range entrance.

The development of the range was a collaborative effort between Georgia Department of Natural Resources Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites Division and Wildlife Resources Division. Using Pittman-Robertson federal grant money, WRD has supplied materials needed for construction while Panola will manage, administer and maintain the range.

The Archery Range at Panola Mountain is near the park’s Alexander Lake off Alexander Lake Road and will be open from 7 a.m. until dusk. To learn more, go to www.GaStateParks.org/PanolaMountain or call 770-389-7801.

For more information on archery ranges available in Georgia, go to www.georgiawildlife.com/node/922?cat=1.