More than 3,600 Oklahoma school students gathered in February to let arrows fly, each taking aim at being named the best of the best and advancing to national competition. Four days of events comprised the 2017 State Shoot of the Oklahoma National Archery in the Schools Program (OKNASP), which has become a greatly successful component in the Wildlife Department's total educational effort.

"The OKNASP program continues to grow across the state," said program coordinator Jay Rouk, education specialist with the http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001zjz_EPAT7yQ8yU9nR7JZCJxGhtV5AO-95c7SzTqxMSA623Y7cd3mi47cQcUA1KKBmyeJlQM2mBrllGhslFTV9VHHTWCl3TLayzrOsHwJvAQs421P0VaUwYK_BxbjCsvVeWpgYyOyugFSLzhwLMpHgcpgIbZy8y0aACsCKAZpMGk=&c=vFktfNI89ymymQ2HaqtP_55sPIYlDUDuuLPsmFVaKIMrhR77rVso8w==&ch=bI73WxV3UbFP04Mrar67fuIzaypMwBNVOhPqv6EDwtyd0ih9B0Okag==" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f%3D001zjz_EPAT7yQ8yU9nR7JZCJxGhtV5AO-95c7SzTqxMSA623Y7cd3mi47cQcUA1KKBmyeJlQM2mBrllGhslFTV9VHHTWCl3TLayzrOsHwJvAQs421P0VaUwYK_BxbjCsvVeWpgYyOyugFSLzhwLMpHgcpgIbZy8y0aACsCKAZpMGk%3D%26c%3DvFktfNI89ymymQ2HaqtP_55sPIYlDUDuuLPsmFVaKIMrhR77rVso8w%3D%3D%26ch%3DbI73WxV3UbFP04Mrar67fuIzaypMwBNVOhPqv6EDwtyd0ih9B0Okag%3D%3D&source=gmail&ust=1490102750255000&usg=AFQjCNEp5zVmYwH58qPl60aPsJdkpg8Wyg">Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. "The ODWC continues to offer 50 grants per year to schools that are starting a new archery program."

The program's expansive popularity was the reason for splitting the state finals into four separate events, and this was the second year using that format. Student archers in the West Division squared off Feb. 15-16 at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City. The East Division matches were Feb. 22-23 at Expo Square in Tulsa.

This year, Chase Wolf of Stilwell High School and Alix Bryan of Wright City Public Schools bested 2,082 other male archers to tie for overall top male archer with scores of 297/300.

The top female archer out of 1,556 competitors was Rianne Tuthill of Chickasha High School with a score of 294/300. This is Tuthill's second individual state championship, and she hopes to continue her success beyond the state and national levels to eventually represent her country in archery in the Olympic Games.

The top-scoring individual archers and teams qualify to advance to the http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001zjz_EPAT7yQ8yU9nR7JZCJxGhtV5AO-95c7SzTqxMSA623Y7cd3mi3YExl4KbucIFgSHfOgGUgOmJ52lGh-6s3TyacJIEHJS9Jwg3jED0Isy-I2Fdxs9rLrKuEgIuq6x0MDAvV7Qf9QDi1ah1tKgtQ==&c=vFktfNI89ymymQ2HaqtP_55sPIYlDUDuuLPsmFVaKIMrhR77rVso8w==&ch=bI73WxV3UbFP04Mrar67fuIzaypMwBNVOhPqv6EDwtyd0ih9B0Okag==" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f%3D001zjz_EPAT7yQ8yU9nR7JZCJxGhtV5AO-95c7SzTqxMSA623Y7cd3mi3YExl4KbucIFgSHfOgGUgOmJ52lGh-6s3TyacJIEHJS9Jwg3jED0Isy-I2Fdxs9rLrKuEgIuq6x0MDAvV7Qf9QDi1ah1tKgtQ%3D%3D%26c%3DvFktfNI89ymymQ2HaqtP_55sPIYlDUDuuLPsmFVaKIMrhR77rVso8w%3D%3D%26ch%3DbI73WxV3UbFP04Mrar67fuIzaypMwBNVOhPqv6EDwtyd0ih9B0Okag%3D%3D&source=gmail&ust=1490102750255000&usg=AFQjCNFuREDCKsXJ_R-Jo1TVvKY73H_84g">National Archery in the Schools national tournament, which will be May 11-13 in Louisville, Ky.

After more than 146,000 arrows had flown at this year's State Shoot events, results were combined into overall results, which are used to determine national qualifiers. Sixty-one individuals and 55 teams earned the right to advance to the national level. State Shoot results and national qualifiers can be found at http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001zjz_EPAT7yQ8yU9nR7JZCJxGhtV5AO-95c7SzTqxMSA623Y7cd3mi3YExl4KbucICZSt7MVV_mluDc6R51vpfksaW2uKrgeyNH1ow3I5QNhGN8KtiqexeddqRC25r9Kx6wNoU996PHwNExAefRyTpDZo5hV3GfVwXfvr7YW5w16-8gHNbUl1HUefe1iKMeIgnuzXBBbuc5-GMoQBh2n-ui2z0DrxWAzM&c=vFktfNI89ymymQ2HaqtP_55sPIYlDUDuuLPsmFVaKIMrhR77rVso8w==&ch=bI73WxV3UbFP04Mrar67fuIzaypMwBNVOhPqv6EDwtyd0ih9B0Okag==" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f%3D001zjz_EPAT7yQ8yU9nR7JZCJxGhtV5AO-95c7SzTqxMSA623Y7cd3mi3YExl4KbucICZSt7MVV_mluDc6R51vpfksaW2uKrgeyNH1ow3I5QNhGN8KtiqexeddqRC25r9Kx6wNoU996PHwNExAefRyTpDZo5hV3GfVwXfvr7YW5w16-8gHNbUl1HUefe1iKMeIgnuzXBBbuc5-GMoQBh2n-ui2z0DrxWAzM%26c%3DvFktfNI89ymymQ2HaqtP_55sPIYlDUDuuLPsmFVaKIMrhR77rVso8w%3D%3D%26ch%3DbI73WxV3UbFP04Mrar67fuIzaypMwBNVOhPqv6EDwtyd0ih9B0Okag%3D%3D&source=gmail&ust=1490102750255000&usg=AFQjCNEpszJp_Oe7Yd7LnUBoOxPGUoheaw">www.wildlifedepartment.com/education/archery/archery-schools-program-oknasp.

Rouk said the State Shoot is made possible by volunteers from the http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001zjz_EPAT7yQ8yU9nR7JZCJxGhtV5AO-95c7SzTqxMSA623Y7cd3miwo6j1O3cHf8_SV1O2ny0hfDiWSpwrWXGsn8wtv9i3Gjc74-7GKTWyjeIwCozq5w0lYJ5QrH-Rc2ESqutSum0jsAOn1XPEg-Bg==&c=vFktfNI89ymymQ2HaqtP_55sPIYlDUDuuLPsmFVaKIMrhR77rVso8w==&ch=bI73WxV3UbFP04Mrar67fuIzaypMwBNVOhPqv6EDwtyd0ih9B0Okag==" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f%3D001zjz_EPAT7yQ8yU9nR7JZCJxGhtV5AO-95c7SzTqxMSA623Y7cd3miwo6j1O3cHf8_SV1O2ny0hfDiWSpwrWXGsn8wtv9i3Gjc74-7GKTWyjeIwCozq5w0lYJ5QrH-Rc2ESqutSum0jsAOn1XPEg-Bg%3D%3D%26c%3DvFktfNI89ymymQ2HaqtP_55sPIYlDUDuuLPsmFVaKIMrhR77rVso8w%3D%3D%26ch%3DbI73WxV3UbFP04Mrar67fuIzaypMwBNVOhPqv6EDwtyd0ih9B0Okag%3D%3D&source=gmail&ust=1490102750255000&usg=AFQjCNGL7lj4GuwTgpqX7MB9oJYxPiIrMA">U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service along with Wildlife Department helpers from various divisions. http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001zjz_EPAT7yQ8yU9nR7JZCJxGhtV5AO-95c7SzTqxMSA623Y7cd3mi3YExl4KbucIgL9BgjfBQNKxT4oMGCybVps-HOF9Jne-bcDpcW_VCOcNKoM1QFdTTOXg45BOk7hT0M-bJwwStDGvrK8tJHh66aMFDNcd_y1y&c=vFktfNI89ymymQ2HaqtP_55sPIYlDUDuuLPsmFVaKIMrhR77rVso8w==&ch=bI73WxV3UbFP04Mrar67fuIzaypMwBNVOhPqv6EDwtyd0ih9B0Okag==" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f%3D001zjz_EPAT7yQ8yU9nR7JZCJxGhtV5AO-95c7SzTqxMSA623Y7cd3mi3YExl4KbucIgL9BgjfBQNKxT4oMGCybVps-HOF9Jne-bcDpcW_VCOcNKoM1QFdTTOXg45BOk7hT0M-bJwwStDGvrK8tJHh66aMFDNcd_y1y%26c%3DvFktfNI89ymymQ2HaqtP_55sPIYlDUDuuLPsmFVaKIMrhR77rVso8w%3D%3D%26ch%3DbI73WxV3UbFP04Mrar67fuIzaypMwBNVOhPqv6EDwtyd0ih9B0Okag%3D%3D&source=gmail&ust=1490102750255000&usg=AFQjCNGWLx1dO27sl_tCiSj3zcv2zbsQ3w">Partners for Fish and Wildlife donated $15,000 for the State Shoot, and thehttp://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001zjz_EPAT7yQ8yU9nR7JZCJxGhtV5AO-95c7SzTqxMSA623Y7cd3mi3YExl4KbucI3JVhlpOGtXYh0qepQXaqmE_qOgx5Vpho8yEMc93weCH08uHJYcw500omkuDIZVgpufvagfWTxrA=&c=vFktfNI89ymymQ2HaqtP_55sPIYlDUDuuLPsmFVaKIMrhR77rVso8w==&ch=bI73WxV3UbFP04Mrar67fuIzaypMwBNVOhPqv6EDwtyd0ih9B0Okag==" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f%3D001zjz_EPAT7yQ8yU9nR7JZCJxGhtV5AO-95c7SzTqxMSA623Y7cd3mi3YExl4KbucI3JVhlpOGtXYh0qepQXaqmE_qOgx5Vpho8yEMc93weCH08uHJYcw500omkuDIZVgpufvagfWTxrA%3D%26c%3DvFktfNI89ymymQ2HaqtP_55sPIYlDUDuuLPsmFVaKIMrhR77rVso8w%3D%3D%26ch%3DbI73WxV3UbFP04Mrar67fuIzaypMwBNVOhPqv6EDwtyd0ih9B0Okag%3D%3D&source=gmail&ust=1490102750255000&usg=AFQjCNFHWoegN8QkTzRPjxjOIOrH9-qAcw">National Wild Turkey Federation donated $10,000 toward support of OKNASP.

The program began in 2004. Its popularity has surged in recent years, partly because archery is a sport dominated by practice and precision rather than size or strength, Rouk said. Archery appeals to students of all ages and abilities, and it creates an environment in which all students can compete at the same level for top honors.

About 600 schools participate in the program. Participating schools can receive partial grants to acquire all the equipment (bows, arrows, targets and safety nets), curriculum and training necessary to operate an OKNASP program in their communities at little cost.

OKNASP is part of the National Archery in the Schools program, which partners state wildlife agencies, schools and the nation's archery industry to introduce students to the sport of archery. The program curriculum is designed for students in grades 4-12 and covers archery history, safety, techniques, equipment, mental concentration and self-improvement.

In addition to OKNASP, the Wildlife Department offers a suite of other http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001zjz_EPAT7yQ8yU9nR7JZCJxGhtV5AO-95c7SzTqxMSA623Y7cd3mi3YExl4KbucIL3xmHbUH5Ec6HY_0H14uWU7Zm6oCdW-UbSkf8FmAcF5kIzPmfAx-Lilm7wwDrwgBqGlf3Ec8RxYWWU5u3E1kolRkqMr92EEyJpZjDI6PAMq6mJzRbNNjrw==&c=vFktfNI89ymymQ2HaqtP_55sPIYlDUDuuLPsmFVaKIMrhR77rVso8w==&ch=bI73WxV3UbFP04Mrar67fuIzaypMwBNVOhPqv6EDwtyd0ih9B0Okag==" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f%3D001zjz_EPAT7yQ8yU9nR7JZCJxGhtV5AO-95c7SzTqxMSA623Y7cd3mi3YExl4KbucIL3xmHbUH5Ec6HY_0H14uWU7Zm6oCdW-UbSkf8FmAcF5kIzPmfAx-Lilm7wwDrwgBqGlf3Ec8RxYWWU5u3E1kolRkqMr92EEyJpZjDI6PAMq6mJzRbNNjrw%3D%3D%26c%3DvFktfNI89ymymQ2HaqtP_55sPIYlDUDuuLPsmFVaKIMrhR77rVso8w%3D%3D%26ch%3DbI73WxV3UbFP04Mrar67fuIzaypMwBNVOhPqv6EDwtyd0ih9B0Okag%3D%3D&source=gmail&ust=1490102750256000&usg=AFQjCNGqvm90mqyBb_c8kY2UiXx3ZgD6XA">educational programs for students and adults throughout the state. Among them are the Oklahoma Scholastic Shooting Sports Program, Aquatic Resources Education Program, Explore Bowhunting, Fishing in the Schools, Shotgun Training and Education Program and Oklahoma Hunter Education.

Teachers interested in getting OKNASP in their schools can contact Rouk at (405) 919-1623 or e-mailjay.rouk@odwc.ok.gov">jay.rouk@odwc.ok.gov. For information on other Wildlife Department educational programs, go online tohttp://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001zjz_EPAT7yQ8yU9nR7JZCJxGhtV5AO-95c7SzTqxMSA623Y7cd3mi3YExl4KbucIseJdiYewDBqwsQteUgpHnGxGGnNdL1ahn1SBihWLYCxRwe73jZbIGL5rjdFIhyjj65iVSKCPGKZ0MsJEMULRlvDBXVxwk0IqAh3JzFQQjwc=&c=vFktfNI89ymymQ2HaqtP_55sPIYlDUDuuLPsmFVaKIMrhR77rVso8w==&ch=bI73WxV3UbFP04Mrar67fuIzaypMwBNVOhPqv6EDwtyd0ih9B0Okag==" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f%3D001zjz_EPAT7yQ8yU9nR7JZCJxGhtV5AO-95c7SzTqxMSA623Y7cd3mi3YExl4KbucIseJdiYewDBqwsQteUgpHnGxGGnNdL1ahn1SBihWLYCxRwe73jZbIGL5rjdFIhyjj65iVSKCPGKZ0MsJEMULRlvDBXVxwk0IqAh3JzFQQjwc%3D%26c%3DvFktfNI89ymymQ2HaqtP_55sPIYlDUDuuLPsmFVaKIMrhR77rVso8w%3D%3D%26ch%3DbI73WxV3UbFP04Mrar67fuIzaypMwBNVOhPqv6EDwtyd0ih9B0Okag%3D%3D&source=gmail&ust=1490102750256000&usg=AFQjCNEemqCg3yrB4ZwrnMERwMhdeZay-A">wildlifedepartment.com/education.