This story's last paragraphs have been updated to include information received by the Lakeland Archers on Monday
LAC LA BICHE - Thieves may have felt the bulls-eye on them last week after snagging a number of archery targets left on the trails of the Lac La Biche-based Lakeland Archers outdoor practice range. Days later, the items were returned.
The theft took place last Sunday night, but a short time later, the targets were returned and left outside the club's main building at their shooting range along Mission Road. The targets, 3D animal shapes including a bare- bummed baboon, a pint-sized bear, an over-sized frog and a life-sized cougar, went missing from the range sometime after volunteers had finished setting up the club's outdoor course for the next day's lessons.
Lakeland Archers President Rene Schaub said club members quickly used social media and word of mouth to alert friends about the theft.
"It was probably shared out there about 100 times and people knew we were looking," he said, explaining that a description of two suspect ATVs and their young occupants in the area while the targets were being set up was also included in the messages. The public was encouraged to contact the archery club or the RCMP if they knew about the theft or spotted the missing pieces.
A combination of public pressure, police intervention and a description of the suspects — along with the difficulty of hiding a two-foot tall frog or a life-sized wildcat in a bedroom, basement or garage —likely lead to the safe return of the items, he said.
"Somebody must've found out it was hard to hide a cougar under their bed ... or hide it from their mom," said Schaub with a relieved laugh last Tuesday night. "When I went to the range tonight the animals were stacked up in the corner by our clubhouse. All the animals are back."
The overall value of the stolen items is more than $3,000. Schaub appreciates the change of heart by the thieves. It is not expected that further action will be taken by the club.
Shooting season
The theft-and return comes just as the local club starts its outdoor season. Despite COVID-19 measures restricting gatherings and some sporting events, Schaub says the club can continue to offer safe, spaced and scheduled classes on their large outdoor course. The same principle was in place through the indoor winter season, said the club president, explaining that the giant 20,000 square foot indoor range had more than enough room to accommodate safe and socially-distanced sessions over the winter.
"We've kept on going — do a degree — the whole year," he said, explaining that the indoor range has room to spare. "I could get 10 feet between people and still have 20 people shooting at the same time."
To adhere to provincial guidelines, club officials ran individual training classes for individuals or family cohorts in hour-long timeslots four days a week, spacing out their scheduling.
The start of the outdoor season will have similar measures in place, he said, explaining that the club's executive members want to keep things as close to normal for their members — especially the younger ones.
"This is more for the kids, to give them something to do during all this COVID time. We're doing it more for the kids. We know it's been a challenge for everyone, so we want to be able to help," said Schaub.
Nationals cancelled
The Lakeland Archers club currently has 50 members. While that number is down from the last few years — years that included the club hosting the World Outdoor 3D Championships, and successfully bidding on the 2021 Canadian Indoor 3D Championships — Schaub is pleased with the overall support for the club. "Some clubs didn't even open for the last year, so I think we're doing pretty well."
The bid for this year's indoor 3D nationals was accepted by Archery Canada, but national officials gave notification on Monday that they were cancelling all indoor and outdoor nationals for the 2021 archery season across Canada
The POST will have an update on the date selection for the event when it is available.
