ARCHERS can experience the thrill of hunting without harming live animals at a shooting range.

Buttfield Bowmen is building a hunting range on farmland near Thirsk.

The Stonebow Field Archery Club will allow archers to hunt in a wooded area to find and shoot at animal-shaped targets.

They feel the site will draw in enthusiasts from as far away as Manchester.

Organiser Peter Supple, 67, said: "Field archery is the nearest thing to real hunting you can get.

"You hunt through a wood to find 3D targets that look like live animals and cut-out 2D targets of animals. There will be 20 targets there at first and the number will rise to 40 over time.

"We decided to set up a local club as the existing clubs are so far apart.

"There's one near Bradford, one in Penrith and others at Tow Law and Whitby.

"We've already had lots of interest from people, including one person from Manchester."

The Stonebow club has taken three months of planning and development.

Mr Supple, who has taken part in the pursuit for 35 years, added: "It's very difficult to get a club like this set up.

"But the area is great and there are two great big woods for people to hunt in and shoot arrows without hurting anything.

"We've had people walking through the woods to test out the set-up and they have all given it a positive rating."

The site, on the outskirts of Thirsk, opens its doors on September 1.

It will cost £10 to join and then a further £20 to be a member for the year.

The site is open daily by prior arrangement and entry costs £1 per person for each session. Guests can visit with members on Saturdays.

For more details on Buttfield Bowmen, contact Peter Supple on 01325-241390 or Paul Lawson on 01845-525928.