PHEGLEY'S OFFERS YEAR-ROUND ARCHERY

Although the archery game seasons are limited to a couple months in the fall, there is a place where bow enthusiasts can hunt year-round. Sort of.

Phegley's Shooters Supply, located at 2502 William St. in Cape Girardeau, recently added a video archery range which allows archers to hunt moving animals projected onto the video screen.

Using blunt arrows, the shooter takes aim at a variety of targets. Video graphics display where the arrow hit the animal in relation to the optimum kill zone on the beast. Points are awarded based on the shot's proximity to the bullseye.

To make using the range more competitive, Phegley's also offers leagues on the video range as well as its other, more conventional still-target archery range.

The store also boasts a pistol range. Barbara Piper, who co-owns the store along with brothers Rod and Jim Phegley, said a pistol league may be formed in the near future.

Fees for non-league shooting are $3.75 per half-hour for the pistol range and $2.50 per hour for the archery ranges. Rod Phegley said the ranges "are used quite a bit."

In December 1993, Phegley's moved its 10-year-old business from Enterprise Street to its combined quarters with JBR Outfitters, which opened in August 1991 and is also owned by the trio.

Piper said the old Phegley's location "was not conducive to what we wanted to be able to do" because the store had outgrown the site.

Previously, both stores stocked guns and supplies, which meant a duplication of inventory. Combining the two stores into one has proved a boon.

"It's worked out well and has increased traffic for both stores," Piper said.

She noted that people who come to JBR to shop for casual outdoor apparel are often pleasantly surprised to find the full range of hunting and fishing equipment available on the Phegley's side of the store. Phegley's customers often also make purchases from the JBR's side, she said.

"I don't know what the secret is, but people seem to have a preconceived notion of what we do," said Piper.

In addition to the product lines and shooting ranges, several classes are offered through Phegley's.

In February, a popular two-day handgun safety class was offered. Another is planned for the near future.

Also being offered is an eight-week fly-tying class for fishermen. The first class was launched in mid-February with the maximum eight students. Another is planned to begin in March.

In the first week of April, a fly-fishing school will be offered through the store by Orvis, the oldest mail-order catalog in the country specializing in fly-fishing. Phegley's is a dealer of Orvis products.

The intent of the school is to teach students how to fly-cast as well as how to read the water and generally become a better fisherman.