CVA is indeed registered with the IRS as a 501c(3) organization. You can send your donations to the CVA Club Treasurer, which are tax deductible.

Another way to donate is through AmazonSmile, offered by Amazon to donate a portion of Amazon purchases to non-profit organizations. Click here for more information about donating via AmazonSmile.

CVA does not offer shooting facilities for crossbows, pellet guns, airsoft, or firearms.

Dogs are not allowed on any of our ranges, which includes the Public Session.

CVA is an archery club with the mission of promoting the sport of _archery_. Drone operation does not fit into that mission, so CVA does not permit the use of drones or other remote-controlled aircraft over the range unless there is express permission from the CVA Board of Directors for specific functions or events.

We have no idea what you are talking about. Okay, we do. There is a variety of wildlife on the CVA range, including rattlesnakes. These animals are beneficial to the environment that we share with them as we enjoy the sport of archery. Please click here for information about rattlesnakes, how to identify them, and how to best avoid them while on the CVA range. We also have cute snakes on the range, like this one.

Valley fever spoors exist at the CVA range and all over the state of California. CVA provides N95 rated face masks to volunteers working on the CVA range. For archers simply walking the range, the risk of Valley Fever is comparable to the risks encountered when walking in other outdoor recreation areas throughout California. More information about Valley Fever can be found in this article.

CVA does not offer maintenance or repair of equipment. There are shops in the Ventura area that can assist with equipment repair. Please search online and work with them to get your equipment serviced. However, CVA’s Coaching staff and members can help you out with some simple bow set-up tasks.

Purchasing your own equipment is a big step in the sport of archery and should not be made as an impulse buy, especially for children. We suggest that archers that are interested in progressing attend the Public Session for at least two months to be certain that archery is for them, and this is particularly important for minors, since the parents are usually the ones picking up the tab for equipment that could end up collecting dust in a closet or garage in short order.

We also suggest shooting a low poundage recurve bow for a minimum of six months under the guidance of a CVA Coach. This will build correct form and shot consistency. These skills will transfer to any bow type, so the investment in time and energy will pay off in the long term.

Once you are convinced that Archery is the sport for you, discuss your bow type interest with a CVA Coach. We'll provide guidance on choosing the right bow and arrows for you, taking into account your individual circumstances.

Bows can be categorized into three major types:

Compound Bow: A compound bow is a high-tech bow, used for both target shooting and hunting. These bows are made from composite and high-tech materials, and use a set of cams (often called “wheels” by archers) with cables to bend the limbs. This bend, along with the levering action of the cams, make these bows very fast and accurate.

The levering action of these bows also allows for a feature called “let-off,” where, at full draw, the archer is holding a small percentage of the bow’s full poundage.

These bows normally use sights (either pins or scopes), stabilization, mechanical releases, high tech arrow rests, peep sights, and other innovative technologies to maximize arrow speed and accuracy.

Traditional Bow: Traditional bows include both recurves and longbows, and are typically the bow that comes to mind due to popular movies such as the Hunger Games or Robin Hood.

Traditional bows do not use sights or stabilization, and are often shot “instinctively.” In many cases, these bows are made from natural materials. Traditional bows are also used for hunting as well as for target shooting.

FITA Recurve: FITA Recurve bows are high tech recurve bows that use sights and stabilizers and are typically made from aluminum or carbon fiber. A FITA Recurve bow is the only type of bow that is approved to shoot in the Olympic Games.

FITA Recurves consist of limbs that can be made out of carbon fiber, foam, wood, or a combination of those materials, attached to a center piece called the Riser or Handle. Risers can also be made from aluminum, carbon fiber, or both.

FITA Recurve bows are used exclusively for target shooting, with FITA (Federation Internationale de Tir a l'Arc (International Archery Federation)) governing the equipment requirements and rules for competition. If you have Olympic aspirations, this is the bow for you.

Risers typically come in 23", 25", and 27" lengths, and limbs come in three lengths; Short, Medium, and Long.

23" Riser -- Short: 64” Medium: 66” Long: 68”

25" Riser -- Short: 66” Medium: 68” Long: 70”

27" Riser -- Short: 68" Medium: 70" Long: 72"

There are a variety of reasons, based on your draw length and the type of shooting that you are interested in.

As an example, you’ll notice that a 66” bow can be made either by a Short Riser-Medium Limb or Long Riser-Short Limb combination. It is also possible to arrive at two different 68” bows in a similar manner. O.K., so what is the difference between the various combinations (other than the obvious one that short people need shorter bows than tall people)? It turns out that while the bow lengths may be identical, the shooting characteristics of the two are very different.

Longer Risers with Shorter Limbs: Faster, more tendency to stacking, less stable.

Shorter Riser, Longer Limbs: Slower, more stable, less stacking

Longer risers also provide a longer sight window for shooting making it easier to shoot at both close (18 meter) and long (90 meter) distances, and hence are more useful for outdoor season shooting. This is a matter of personal preference though, and needs to be taken into account along with the archers draw length when deciding on a bow.

There are a variety of bow styles in Field Archery based the archer’s age, the archer’s bow, and installed equipment. Please review this document to understand how the bow and shooting style that you will shoot is based on the equipment that you have, not the category you would like to choose.

You don't need your own equipment to join us during our Saturday Open Public Session.

For $5 we provide a bow, arrows and quiver, armguard, and a finger-tab for you to shoot with. And...we have a team of USA Archery Certified Coaches to instruct archers of all skill levels, from beginners to advanced level. Take a look at our Public Session Information for all the details.

CVA requires archers to be at least **8 years old** to participate in our Saturday Open Public Session. This requirement is intended to promote the safety of all participants and the Coaching team.

Absolutely! However, if you are bringing out grandpa’s old longbow that has been stored in the garage for years, please have a CVA Coach inspect the bow to verify it is safe to shoot. If you bring out a self-made bow (PVC or otherwise), also please have a CVA Coach inspect the bow to be sure it is safe to shoot.

If you are not a CVA Member and you have your own equipment, we ask that you pay the $5 fee to offset the cost of targets and bales.