Virginia Division of Wildlife Resources looks ahead to third annual archery event
November-December 2026
The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources 2027 Archery Open will take place Jan. 9 at Richmond Raceway Complex. (Courtesy Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources)
by Jack Cooksey, Staff Writer
You may not know an arrow’s fletching from its nock, but don’t worry: You’ll learn soon enough if you’re adventurous enough to attend the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources 2027 Archery Open.
In partnership with the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation, DWR will welcome youth and adult archery competitors to the annual event on Jan. 9, 2027, at the Richmond Raceway Complex. “For the competitors, we are beyond excited to bring the DWR Archery Open back for its third year,” says DWR Archery Education Coordinator Ben Fairbanks. “DWR is dedicated to growing the sport and supporting archers throughout the commonwealth.”
The statewide competition features six equipment divisions — barebow, bowhunter, compound, open, recurve and unlimited. The registration fee is $35 for youth competitors and $50 for adults. An adjunct competition, the Open Championship, allows experienced archers to vie for up to 75% of a registration pool in cash prizes, drawn from its $100 entry fees.
The full-day event is not only about competition, though. At the Try Archery Range, it will give anyone curious about the discipline the experience of drawing and releasing an arrow. Three breakout sessions will cover basics for new archers and will teach finer points to more advanced archers. Shoot with the Pros allows intermediate-level archers to learn from experts through coaching and a Q&A session. 3D Archery Instruction with Fellowship of the Arrow presents the experience of 3D archery — the outdoor target sport in natural settings such as in woods or on fields — and the passion that some shooters have for traditional archery. Adaptive Archery with Jacobs’ Chance presents the mission of the nonprofit dedicated to adaptive sports and empowering individuals with disabilities through inclusive programs fostering growth and connection.
Green Top Sporting Goods supports the event as its presenting sponsor. “The DWR Archery Open is a great example of how archery can create community, fellowship, education and a lifelong appreciation for conservation,” says Hunter Brooks, vice president and general manager of Green Top Sporting Goods.
Youth and adults can compete in various equipment divisions. An adjunct competition, the Open Championship, allows experienced archers to vie for cash prizes. (Courtesy Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources)