Article & Photos by Jeff Davis
Chris Meier didn’t start out to be a competitive archer, but that’s where he ended up.
Having started hunting when he was 12 years old, he says that his path to success on the tournament trail was a natural evolution as he matured as a hunter. “I just wanted to harvest something,” he said of his early passion for hunting. After some success, his goal evolved into more of a numbers game. “I’ve always been competitive, both with others and with myself. It became ‘how many can I shoot’ — how many ducks, how many fish.”
Meier said that before very long his outlook further matured, and quality became more important than quantity. “There is nothing like being on the side of a mountain, listening to an elk,” he said. “Being a part of nature became as important to me as taking an animal from it. I started understanding that if I don’t get something, that’s OK. I learned that if I want a trophy, then I needed to take time with research. You can put luck in your corner with education; you can position yourself to create luck.”
As Meier increased his chances of being “lucky,” he also increased his understanding of success. Sharing his outdoor experience with family and friends added immensely to his own enjoyment, even if he didn’t fill his tag on a particular day. “Having two children of my own, taking them out with me and just seeing deer, the experience is incredible. When my daughter was 4 years old, she called in a deer. That’s a success.”
Over the years Meier estimates he’s taken more than 40 deer with a rifle, and another 40 with a bow, hunting in a half-dozen states and Canada. For him, gun hunting is nice because there’s a lot of camaraderie with other hunters in a group, but, “The bow season is better.”
Year-Round Shooting
Even though the bow season is longer, there is a great deal of nonhunting time from the end of one season until the opening of the next, and Meier found that competition archery filled that time perfectly. When he was around 16 years old his dad saw a notice for an archery shoot near Horicon, Wisconsin, and Meier signed up. “I fell in love with it,” Meier said. The appeal wasn’t simply the direct competition with other archers, although that was fun. It also included the type of internal competition and skill development that drives many serious hunters.
“Learning to judge distances, situations, equipment use … it’s very precise and you need to be very picky. Shooting three-dimensional target competition, there’s a lot to learn. I read everything and learned as much as I could. There are a lot of rules and you have to understand them.” For about four years he shot informally at meets in the area and eventually started shooting in IBO (International Bowhunting Organization) sanctioned events.
That’s where Meier’s internal drive paid off, and he rapidly mastered IBO rules and competition basics, which quickly lead to success. He was good enough to attract PSE and then Hoyt bow companies as sponsors early in his career, before signing on with Forge Bow Company as a sponsor almost nine years ago. During a photoshoot at Forge Bow’s facility in New Berlin, Wisconsin, company President Steve Pagel fired a series of questions at Meier about how he liked some changes to a specific Forge bow and asked Meier to test fire some bows on a rack. To an observer, the exchange probably seemed insignificant, but Meier was quick with his opinion and sure of his evaluation, and Pagel took in everything Meier said. While archers benefit from having a corporate sponsor, the company also benefits from the exposure of winning archers using their products and providing expert feedback about product improvements and new products.
Lifelong Sport for the Family
Meier started his archery career before his working career and family, but the same skills and values intertwine all three areas. “Archery is a great family sport,” he said. There are rules, limits, and competitions that teach skills and values to children of any age. He started involving his kids, with proper supervision, when they were around 4 years old.
“It teaches responsibility, they adapt to it, and they are doing something a big person is doing — it means a lot to them. And you can start them (in archery) earlier than other shooting sports.”
Meier attends numerous competitions each year, and his wife, Wendy, and kids, Morgan and Easton, go along to many of the meets. “The sky’s the limit,” as far as how many competitions are available. Meier has participated in the statewide Badger Games in Wisconsin several times and advises checking the IBO website (www.ibo.net) for scheduled meets. Some larger meets need to be qualified for, while competitors can sign up on the day of the meet in other cases. Beyond the competitions, Meier and his family enjoy archery as a great activity just shooting in the backyard or hunting.
Describing someone as both relaxed and intense may seem like a contradiction, but that is the impression you get while sitting across from Chris Meier. Perhaps it is just confidence that comes across. Meier works as a sales representative for Royle Printing in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, and the life skills that enable him to be a top archer are the same skills he uses at work. Learn as much as possible, work hard, practice, and if you want to succeed, surround yourself with successful people. Meier never shies away from strong competition, believing that competing against the best will motivate him to do his best.
“There is a huge range of personalities” of competition archers, Meier said, “and they are there to win. It’s very competitive, in a healthy way, but top people are role models. It’s a tight-knit family.”
While the family is tight, there is room for more, according to Meier. “Everyone is welcome. I highly recommend a beginner go to a pro shop, where staff can match the gear to fit your needs. A lot of pro shops have shooting lessons, programs, lanes, and leagues, and they have knowledgeable people working there.”
“Archery is an activity you can share with family and friends. Whether it’s competition or hunting, it’s a great sport.”
Getting Started
Many local bow pro shops have ranges, both indoor and outdoor; and have lessons, leagues, meets, and competitions throughout the year. In addition, many local gun ranges and rod & gun clubs also offer archery practice ranges, contests, and festivals. Find the professional archery dealers in your area, along with shooting ranges, and ask about archery competitions. Like most people involved with an activity they love, they will be happy to talk to you, regardless of your skill level. The IBO has skill classes ranging from entry-level through professional, with dozens of meets each year. There are many different classifications and contests, including compound, recurve, longbow, crossbow, male, female, child, senior, master, physically challenged, non-competitive, with and without sights, with and without releases, amateur, semi-pro and professional, open class, and more. There are also a variety of distances and targets. Find a meet in your area, attend as a spectator, and ask questions — you’ll definitely obtain the information you need to get started.
