UPDATED ORANCO BOWMEN MONTHLY NEWSLETTER - OCTOBER- 2026 | | |
ORANCO
BOWMEN ARCHERY CLUB
| | |
Club President
By: Al Wiscovitch - Club President
Hi Oranco Members,
Well, here we are with some cool weather and boy do we need it. Yes, it had been a bit warm and I sure am glad its cooled off finally.
Well last month I had shared that Mike O. and myself were scouting for the deer opener X9A a tag that we had been putting in for over ten years. When we found out that we had finally gotten our tag it was bitter sweet for us. Mikes dad has been putting in with us for all those years, and he wanted to have this last hunt with us. Unfortunately, he was taken from us by cancer. Mike didn’t feel up to putting in this year as he was still morning the loss of his dad, perfectly understandable. But I told Mike that his dad would have wanted us to get out there and get it done. So, Mike and I decided to dedicate this hunt to his dad and with that said we went out on the weekends and put the work in, hoping that we would get a shot at a few bucks.
I must say that X9A is some big county to hunt, not ever having the opportunity to hunt that unit, we new that it was going to be a big challenge for us. So, with that we got out every weekend and put the work in. Not having any inside where to start, we called the X9A biologist for any intel they could share with us, as well as friends that may have any info that would help us get it done.
In the end, here we are down to the wire and yes, we got it done! We both had to help each other find our bucks. I found Mike’s and Mike found my buck the next morning. As we promised, we honored his dad. It was a very emotional moment for both of us.
What a week of hunting. Congrats Mike, you are a beast! And a good friend. Folks this is the short version of our journey there were so many moments during this trip I would need a month to tell the hole story. I will never forget this hunt...
As always thank you for reading this newsletter!
Al Wiscovitch
alwisco@msn.com or ob.president@orancobowmen.org
(909) 322-3869
| | |
Club Vice President
By: Pete Whitworth - Club Vice President
Hi everyone, I am Pete, the Vice President and as such it is my responsibility to run our club invitational shoots. I also help our President Al Wiscovitch deal with the day to day running of the club in general, interfacing with the Parks Department, Corp of Engineers, Fire Department and most importantly we handle any complaints or issues that any of you have. Naturally you are always free to voice any issues at our club meetings held on the second Tuesday of every month at 7:00 PM in the clubhouse, however; Al and I are here to keep things running smoothly on a daily basis. So, when problems arise, you should always feel free to contact either of us for immediate help.
This coming weekend is my signature shoot, the Tomahawk. It will be held this Sunday on October 18th, so put that on your calendar and plan ahead to get out and camp with us for the weekend. I will be camped at the range from Friday evening the 16th through the tear down work party on Monday the 19th. The weather lately has been too hot for most outdoor activities, but it looks like we are going to have a nice weekend, with temps topping out at around 84 every day. We pushed the date for this shoot back by two weeks a couple of years ago, for this very reason, and once again it looks like that was a great decision. Naturally, I will need a good crew on Saturday the 17th for setup and general cleanup. Melinda will need help to run the food concessions during the shoot on Sunday the 18th, and I will need another crew on Monday morning to do the tear down and put the animals away. My work parties always start at 8:30, and Melinda’s start earlier to get the breakfast ready. I do not require reservations, and I am happy for all of the help that I can get. Melinda does take RSVP’s (you can text her at: 949-274-0208) and she always needs a lot of help, so please contact her to reserve a spot on her crew. We are looking into some sort of activity on Saturday evening. One single activity. We have already managed to prove that trying to do more than one does not work out. Maybe a shooting event (clout for those of you who are new to archery terminology), or a game . I think that the one that Mark tried at his night shoot was a great idea, so I would actually like to give that a good try. We want to make it fun for you to come out and camp for the weekend. You will have all day to practice, and you will be here bright and early to sign up on Sunday morning at 7:00.
As always, if you have any Oranco issues, feel free to call or text me. If you call, leave a message, because I do not answer numbers that are not already in my phone.
That’s all for now folks.
Pete Whitworth
ob.vicepresident@orancobowmen.org
(909) 223-5822
| | |
Range Captian
By: Jim Teel - Range Captain
It Takes a Village
-Jim Teel/Range Captain
You’ve heard the expression before, but it’s usually within the context of raising kids. At Oranco, we rely upon the knowledge and expertise of individual club members to overcome the variety of obstacles and challenges that come up from time to time. Whether it’s mechanical know-how, electrical or carpentry experience or just good old fashioned hard work - all of it is necessary.
This week’s hero just so happened to be a veterinarian. Our two range kitties, Robin and Marion make sure that no mice or rats move into any of our buildings. In addition to keeping our buildings vermin-free, they also help to make our home away from home feel a little more like a real home, occasionally joining us for club meetings and socializing during tournaments.
| | | | |
Marion hasn’t been doing so hot lately, so I reached out to one of our club members, a licensed veterinarian, Dr. Jose Gonzalez. Marion didn’t get attacked by a wild animal or anything like that, but she did need some additional care - more than what our usual core group of can-openers like myself could give her.
I’ll probably pen a separate review for Country Animal Clinic in Chino, but if you need a caring, attentive staff to get your little fur ball back to their usual self, I think you’d be hard pressed to find a better team to do it. Thank you very much, Jose. We’re all extremely grateful you’re a part of our village. Especially me.
| | |
Membership Chairmen
By: Steven Baker - Club Membership
🏹 Oranco Jersey Pre-Orders Still Available
We're still accepting pre-orders for the new Oranco Jerseys! Sizing samples have arrived and are now hanging in the office, giving members the opportunity to try them on before placing an order.
There are two easy ways to submit your pre-order:
✅ Complete the order sheet available in the office
✅ Send an email with the following information:
- Name
- Phone Number
- Jersey Size
- Preferred Color
Please note: Jerseys must be paid for in full before the order is submitted to our vendor.
👕 Club Shirt & Tomahawk Shirt Pre-Orders
In addition to the jerseys, we are now taking pre-orders for:
- Black Club Shirts (Short Sleeve)
- Black Club Shirts (Long Sleeve)
- White Club Shirts (Short Sleeve)
- White Club Shirts (Long Sleeve)
- Green Tomahawk Shirts
Orders can be placed by completing the order form in the office or by sending an email with your:
- Name
- Phone Number
- Shirt Size
- Preferred Color
If you've been thinking about adding some Oranco apparel to your collection, now is a great time to place your order!
🙌 Volunteers Needed for Tomahawk
As always, the success of Tomahawk depends on the support of our amazing volunteers. We are currently looking for additional help and would greatly appreciate your involvement.
If you're interested in volunteering, please contact Melinda at ob.cookshack@orancobowmen.org.
Thank you to everyone who continues to support our club through your participation, purchases, and volunteer efforts. Your dedication helps keep Oranco Bowmen thriving and ensures our events remain successful year after year. 🏹
Steven Baker
ob.membership@orancobowmen.org
(951) 285-1550
| | |
League Chairman
By: Mark Van Patten - League Chairman
Calling all Oranco Members and PMs!
Now that our Flint League is done it's time to get ready!
Winter League is approaching fast, so if you're ready for some cooler temps and some Saturday morning 3D fun, come on out to our league shoots. Cost is $ 10.00 per archer per shoot and cubs shoot for free. Registration opens at 7:30am, briefing at 8:45am and the shoot begins at 9:00am.
Winter League will run for 5 weeks on the following dates:
October 24th, 31st, November 7th, 14th and 21st. (Barring any rain delays). You must shoot 4 of the 5 weeks to qualify for an award.
Visit the Orancobowmen.org website for more info.
Shoot straight and see you at the range!
Mark Van Patten
ob.leagues@orancobowmen.org
(909) 833-6450
| | |
A Big Thank You to Our NAFAC Cook Shack Volunteers!
Hi Oranco Members,
I want to give a big shout-out and extend my heartfelt thanks to all our Cook Shack volunteers who helped during the NAFAC Tournament!
A special thank-you to Adam B, Jesus B, Pat D, Virginia B, Danny N, Wiley, Reiichi E, and Dominick D.
These dedicated volunteers braved triple-digit temperatures to keep our shooters fed, hydrated, and taken care of throughout the event. Their hard work, commitment, and willingness to step up in such challenging conditions did not go unnoticed.
I truly cannot thank them enough for their time, effort, and dedication to Oranco Bowmen. Our events would not be possible without volunteers like these, and I am incredibly grateful for everything they do to support the club.
Thank you all for going above and beyond! You are greatly appreciated!
Melinda Donan, Cook Shack Coordinator
| | |
If you are looking for photos of previous shoots, check out Tony Nguyen's fantastic photography in the link below! He has an amazing gallery organized by shoots and dates he's participated in:
tcnguyen-Oranco
| |
Oranco Bowmen Archery Range
Occupying about 45 acres, Oranco Bowmen Archery Club is a NFAA certified 5-star range. This is the highest certification given by NFAA. We are the only range in Southern California with practice butts from 10-80 yards in 5-yard increments. If you need a place to "dial in" your bow, this is it!
Oranco also has two NFAA roving courses: Our Valley Course is a level 28-target course, consisting of 14 animal and 14 hunter paper targets. For those who desire a bit more of a physical challenge, our Mountain Course is a hilly 28-target course offering 14 Field targets and another set of 14 animal paper targets. The Layout changes occasionally.
| | Oranco Bowmen Archery Club - Range Map | | |
Oranco is not responsible for lost or stolen belongings.
Please remember to lock your vehicles when you are not present and always take your equipment home with you. We have received reports about stolen equipment, and want everyone to understand that you alone are responsible for your belongings. We advise you to put your identification information on your belongings and try not to leave anything unattended.
Remember: We are open to the public on Sundays and during shoots. During these events it is much more difficult to track who is on range property, especially if people do not sign in at the office.
Be safe and responsible everyone.
| | |
Announcements
Range Beautification Party: We would greatly appreciate your help and support to the upcoming Work Parties. Keep an eye out for the email blast. All Club Members and their families are invited. Per Al Wiscovitch, Club President there will be an “ALL YOU CAN EAT LUNCH” served for ALL of our Volunteers who come out and help.
Your assistance ensures that the Oranco Bowmen Archery Club remains the best in Southern California. There is a reason why people travel from all over California to shoot at our Archery Club. Get involved and help us out.
Cook Shack Workers Needed: Positions are still available for volunteers to help out during the upcoming shoots.
Please contact Steve Baker in order to reserve your spot at: Cell# (951) 285-1550. First Come, First Served.
Target Camping: This is NOT Allowed...Period. Your Membership will be terminated for doing this! The Practice Butts are for sighting in, improving your archery skills, and honing your accuracy. The Roving Range is just that, Roving. Shoot 4 arrows, Score them, then move on to the next target.
You have been warned. Don't do it. It is not worth it.
| | |
Mission Statement:
My Goal as Newsletter Editor is to help Members stay informed with the Operations and Activities that are going on in and around the Oranco Bowmen Archery Club. Your suggestions are welcome and appreciated. Check out our Club Website: Oranco Bowmen Archery Club Website
| | | | |
