MIKE BRAUN Local club has deer on the go

Over the years, area outdoors clubs have resorted to adding all sorts of things to their repertoires to attract and keep new members. They have included husband-and-wife fish fries, firearm and archery shooting activities of all types, stocked lakes, stag events and tournaments galore.
Along this line of thinking, one local club, the East Palestine Sportsman's Club, has delved deeply into good old American ingenuity and come up with of a new idea: a moving 3-D deer target.
Ralph Mentzer, a trustee for the club, said a few club members came up with the idea and decided to get together and see if they could develop it.
How they built it
"We got some garage door track, some wheels off a few doors, and then attached a metal plate and some mounts," Mentzer said. "One of our club members is in the automotive area, and he made the trigger device that activates the reverse on the target," he said.
"Eight or 9 of us got together at a club member's house a couple times and put it together," Mentzer said.
What they built is a McKenzie 3D deer target that "gallops" through a portion of the club's woods, presenting a moving target for archers to hone their skills. When the target gets to the end of its 40-foot track, it hits a reverse switch automatically and makes a return trip.
Mentzer said plans are afoot to expand the target's track to allow it to weave through the woods and return, maybe in a circular route.
Also, he said, the club is also planning to add a groundhog target that pops up along the deer's route.
The club, which boasts 35 acres on North Pleasant Road, just off state Route 14 near East Palestine, is sponsoring an outdoor 3D archery shoot the third Sunday monthly through August. Registration is from 8-noon, and the public, families and other outdoor club members are invited.
For more information, call Mentzer at (330) 757-8397.
braun@vindy.com