Bowhunting has been used to sustainably harvest meat and other materials by indigenous people of Florida for centuries. Native American bow hunting was very accurate up to 40 yards, with some skilled hunters successfully hitting targets 100 yards away. Today, compound bows can be used to hunt many Florida game species, including white-tailed deer, turkeys, and wild hogs within their respective seasons.
The Florida Frontiersmen, Inc. is a non-profit, family-oriented organization that aims to preserve the skills honed by Florida’s past, including traditional archery. The nonprofit hosts monthly events on their 317-acre property in Homeland, Florida. Their archery range winds through Florida swampland and provides loaner bows for those who have never shot before. Experienced educators, like their six USA level two certified archery coaches, are available for instruction to make any level archer feel confident and comfortable.
Our Foundation has funded 3D targets for the archery range, including a moose, a red stag, and a stegosaurus. 3D targets not only promote accurate and consistent archery, but also enthusiasm for young beginners and skilled archers alike. Despite the lack of stegosaurus to hunt in reality, the target was a hit with younger age groups!
Their annual event, the Alafia River Rendezvous, celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022, which we also helped to fund. It included 33 youths ages 13-17 and 32 “cubs” 12 years and younger. The Florida Frontiersmen pride themselves on providing opportunities to diverse age and gender groups to inspire appreciation for wild and historic Florida.
