Archery a big draw
Highland Bow and Arrow popular with tourists and locals
Traditional archery is a new hot business along the Cabot Trail and both tourists and locals are loving it.
Highland Bow and Arrow, located in Skir Dhu, near Wreck Cove in Victoria County, was opened by Jay Rawding in June 2017. Originally from East Preston, N.S., Rawding moved to Cape Breton in 2014 and had targets set up at two of the homes she lived in.
Rawding said she welcomed friends who wanted to visit and try shooting arrows. Then friends of friends started stopping by and she realized there was a big interest in the sport.
That inspired her to open Highland Bow and Arrow, and outdoor archery shooting range where she offers lessons, range shooting and trail shooting — a one-kilometre path in the woods with 3D targets like deer, zombies and dinosaurs. There is also a barbecue and outdoor kitchen on site.
Lessons are available for first timers, while frequent shooters (people who have been there at least once before) get a reduced rate.
Business has been quickly growing over the past two years and Rawding believes part of the reason is because people want to be in nature.
“People are really desperate to unplug from technology and be in nature. When you are doing archery, you are also tapping into an intuitive aspect of yourself,” said Rawding, who has been shooting for six years.
The trail is one of Rawding’s favourite parts of her business because this type of shooting is something most people can only experience if they are part of a club. Another thing she loves is connecting with new shooters and watching them fall in love with the sport.
“There are about 40 people who have become full-on archers,” she said.
“One girl I shot with this summer just won silver at the Mi’kmaq summer games (in Eskasoni).”
That girl was Brittany Denny and she learned how to shoot from Rawding. Keri Coulson, from Truro, was on Aug. 27 there with her husband Paul Coulson.
The couple saw the sign and immediately pulled over because Paul wanted to try it. Keri wasn’t going to because as a kid she spent three summers at archery camp and never hit a target. After her lesson with Rawding, she was landing most of her shots.
“Turns out they were telling me to shoot with my wrong hand. Jay fixed that right away,”
she said.
Tiia Finkle, from Halifax, and her two daughters, 12-year-old Sarah Finkle and 10-year-old Hannah Finkle, were also there that day. Tiia saw Highland Bow and Arrow online when she was researching for their vacation and thought it was something different to do with her daughters.
“I feel like Katniss (from the Hunger Games),” joked Hannah.
“A bit like her but I may not be hitting anything.”
Tiia loved it so much she returned to Highland Bow and Arrow three times before the family went home.
Rawding has also started a group just for women, called Lady Archers, which matches women who want to learn to shoot with female mentors.
When she was starting in archery, a male-dominated
sport, Rawding said she would sometimes be “brushed aside” by men at clubs or ranges because she was a woman. Knowing this can be intimidating, Rawding thought a ladies-only archery club would be a good way to overcome that.
“These women walk in and they’re so amazing but they haven’t tapped into their badassness yet,” she said.
“I will be that ballsy woman
who will stand up and make it not intimidating for women.”
Rawding is now expanding to offer special events like the upcoming Harvest Moon Yoga and Archery on Sept. 22. Beginners are welcome, shooting happens at night and people can camp on site.
“This business is cool and crazy.”