BLOOMVILLE - From hobby, to basement business, Weasner Archery now has grown to need a shop of its own.
Owner Ray Weasner opened the shop several months ago. He now has room to display all manner of things needed for the sport, and related items.
Following retirement from Hanson Aggregates after 37 years, Weasner decided to devote more time to the hobby he has loved since he was a young boy. Working with his wife's family in their sporting goods store helped him gain the business experience.
"I always loved archery, always shot a bow and arrow, since I was a little guy," Weasner said. "I will hunt everything, whitetail deer, turkey, elk and bear."
Eighteen years ago Weasner purchased stock from a store that was closing, and began carrying the Oneida Eagle bow brand. In time, he also became a dealer for Mathews Solo Cam, which became the biggest bow company in the world, Weasner said.
"We grew with it," he said.
The building was to be a garage originally, then the Weasner's decided moving the archery equipment from his basement to the new building was the best use of the space.
The additional space has allowed him to offer clothing for hunting, and some muzzle loading supplies, although the store does not sell firearms.
For area residents interested in wildlife management, Weasner stocks seed and other supplements to provide feed for deer and other wildlife.
"A lot of people are putting out food plots for the wildlife," he said. "It gives them a healthy food supply, rather than having to get everything out of the wild."
Weasner's sells everything else hunters need, from tree stands, to calls, to dehydrators and sausage making supplies to harvest the meat from the hunt. There are items to attract the wildlife, such as decoys, and to make the hunter less noticeable, such as deodorants and shampoos to mask human scent.
Yet his business is based on having the largest selection of bows in the area, and he carries the following bow lines: Mathews, Hoyt, Parker, Bear Archery, Elite, Darton, and Sims.
Weasner can repair bows, and sets them up for the customer who has purchased one.
"People come to a pro shop to get service," Weasner said. "The bow is a mechanical device, it needs to be tuned. I'm open every evening for retail sales, almost all of the time during the day I'm setting up bows and repairing bows."
Weasner also carries youth archery equipment, and has offered lessons for youth and ladies interested in learning more about the sport. He said there is a rise in interest among youth in archery, and it is being encouraged through school physical education programs.
A growing number of families interested in target shooting now engage in 3-D competition, where targets resembling an animal pop up along a trail, and scores are tallied.
Weasner also carries a few fishing supplies, surveillance cameras to observe wildlife, and wine making supplies, another of his hobbies.
Weasner Archery is located at 19 South Prospect in Bloomville, and is open evening hours and by appointment. He can be reached at (419)983-5743 and products can be viewed through his Web site at www.weasnerarchery.com.
