ND Archery an unknown hunting hot spot
As grass turns green and trees begin to leaf out, everybody will be itching to enjoy the warm weather. Especially hunters.
Everything needed for the upcoming archery season can be found at a one-stop shop right in Red Hook. Northern Dutchess Archery may be easy to miss when driving down Route 9, but it has been a staple on the outskirts of Dutchess County for nearly two decades. “When it comes to mom and pop stores, there are not a lot of these left,” owner Joe Varlaro said.
With roots of inventory strictly focused on archery, Varlaro was asked years ago if he was interested in buying the remaining stock of John’s Bait Shop in Staatsburg when the owner passed away. Accepting the deal thrust him into the fish and tackle business.
Offering an array of outdoorsman supply quickly benefited business by expanding outside a niche market. Shelves are fully stocked with fishing poles, lures, ammunition and even bear mace in case of an unexpected attack. Since crossbows became legal for hunting throughout New York in 2014, there is now a much wider customer base.
A major benefit ND Archery enjoys is a near monopoly in the Hudson Valley. “There are sporting goods stores around, like Dick’s and Kenco in Kingston, which have archery departments,” said Dan Steward, who has worked under Varlaro for almost 10 years. “But between Carmel and Hudson, we are the only dedicated supplier on the east side of the river.”
Unique to the shop is an indoor range with bullseye targets, animal decoys and a video screen that projects realistic hunting scenarios. Varlaro always wanted to implement a range, but the one story building he bought did not give him enough space. “When it was time for a new roof, instead of just replacing the flat ceiling, we put up four walls and a second floor dedicated to an archery range,” he said.
ND Archery will celebrate its 20th anniversary at the end of the month with a small ceremony. Even sooner, a banquet will be held once the season ends for the competitive league that meets weekly at the indoor range. Instructors also teach lessons in-house, and archers can test hunting bows or practice shooting with target bows.
Varlaro often sponsors 3-D archery tournaments, where participants compete by shooting targets at various distances throughout a course. “Hunting is very popular and there are competitions all over the place,” he said. “Outdoor leagues and clubs are growing fast in the area.”
The typical image related to archery is grown men trophy hunting for recreation, but most would be surprised that everyone seems to enjoy the sport. “We have seen a lot of kids become very interested at a young age and they are excited to practice at the indoor range,” Steward said. “However, from what I’ve seen in the Hudson Valley, women are the fastest-growing demographic for archery and bow hunting.”
In the midst of April, trout and striped bass season lures many to the Hudson River. Fishing licenses and bait fly off the shelves in a hurry when spring hits, but the peak of business will come when turkey season begins on the first of May. Until then, ND Archery continues to be somewhat of a local landmark for a region home to abundant hunting grounds.
