Totem
Archers
Shoot True.
We are a tribe of barebow, longbow and recurve shooters. No sights, no let-off, no shortcuts — just wood, string, instinct and forest. Field archery, 3D shoots, bowhunter education and fireside community.
Full Moon 3D Night Shoot
20 glowing elk, bear & turkey targets. Headlamps, cedar arrows, chili & stories till midnight.
Not a club.
A totem.
Totem Archers began in 1998 with three friends, five cedar arrows and a hand-painted elk target nailed to a ponderosa. Today we steward 40 acres of pine forest, a carving lodge, and one of the largest traditional-only ranges in the Pacific Northwest.
We shoot without sights or stabilizers — because instinct matters. Every new member carves their own totem mark, learns to tiller a bow, fletch arrows, read wind, track game, and leave the forest cleaner than they found it. Kids call us Fawns, elders call us Keepers, everyone calls it home.
Instinct First
Gap, split-vision & pure instinct. Form before distance.
Forest Keeper
1% for pines, clean-ups, no plastic nocks left behind.
Fire Circle
Monthly stories, bow building, meat sharing, music.
Every member burns their symbol into the lodge beam — 480 marks and counting.
Founded in Bend
Private forest range
Free loaner fleet
Events per year
Four paths, one string
Pick your obsession. All paths share Saturday form clinic, Sunday forest rove and Thursday carving night.
Longbow & Tradition
English longbow, American flatbow, selfbows from yew and Osage. Tillering classes, linen strings, cedar arrows you make yourself. Distances 10–60 yards.
Mon + Sat • All levels • Wood only
Barebow & Field
Modern recurve without sights. String-walking, gap shooting, NFAA field rounds, 900 rounds and indoor winter league in the lodge.
Tue + Sun • Intermediate • 18–80 yards
3D & Bowhunting
20-target forest course with elk, bear, turkey. Ethics, tracking, broadhead tuning, backcountry safety. Fair chase only, conservation first.
Wed + Monthly shoot • Ethics test required
Fawns — Youth Tribe
Foam animals, games, storytelling, safety badges from Squirrel to Eagle. Parents shoot free alongside kids. Bows provided.
Sat 10am • Family • No experience needed
Learn from lifers
No influencers. Just hunters, bowyers and field champions who have missed more than you've shot — and will teach you why.
Mara “Elk” Jensen
Head Coach • 22 yrs • Longbow
Former national longbow champion. Teaches instinctive gap and youth Fawns.
Sam Totem
Bowyer • Selfbows • Tillering
Built 400+ bows. If your bow breaks, Sam fixes it by firelight.
Ray Klamath
Field & Bowhunting Ethics
Tracker, backcountry guide. Ethics, blood-trailing, meat care.
Membership that pays in arrows
No initiation fee in October. All tiers include loaner bows, Saturday clinic, forest access 7am–dusk and fire circle Fridays.
Fawn
Youth + 1 parent. Perfect to start.
- Sat Fawns class
- Loaner gear included
- Foam 3D course
- Badge program
Totem
Full forest access + all clinics.
- Unlimited range + 3D course
- 4 clinics / month
- Bow building discount
- Night shoots + events
- Guest pass monthly
Keeper
For hunters & competitors.
- Everything in Totem
- 1:1 coaching monthly
- Broadhead tuning bay
- Priority hunt camp lottery
- Lodge locker
CANCEL ANYTIME • VETERANS -20% • FAMILY CAP $149 • WORK-TRADE: 4H/MONTH = FREE TOTEM
Upcoming shoots & rites
20 glowing targets • chili cook-off • 6pm–midnight • $15 members / $25 guests
2 days, stave to string. Take home your bow. Only 8 spots.
— Dana W., Totem since 2019
— Marcus L., Keeper
— Priya S., Barebow
Latest from the range
Tuning guides, ethics essays, build logs and shoot recaps. Click any story to read the full article.
How to choose your first longbow: 68" vs 64"
Draw length, poundage myths, why 35# beats 50# for your first year and how to test our loaner fleet.
Fair chase in 2026: what ethical bowhunting means
Distance limits, sharp broadheads, tracking duty and why we pass more shots than we take.
Before you knock
Do I need my own bow?
No. Start with our 32-bow loaner fleet — longbows 25–45#. After 4 sessions a coach helps you buy or build right, so you don't waste $600 on the wrong bow.
Is it safe for complete beginners?
Yes. First hour is safety, whistle commands, range etiquette. You shoot at 8 yards with a coach one lane away. Kids 8+ welcome with parent.
Do you allow compound bows or crossbows?
Our forest range is traditional-only (longbow, recurve, selfbow, no sights). Compounds welcome at Tuesday indoor paper night in town, but forest course stays instinctive.
Can I bowhunt after joining?
We run a 6-week ethics + proficiency course (broadhead tuning, 30-yard groups, tracking). Most members certify in one season, then join our mentored hunt camp.
What should I wear / bring?
Close-toed shoes, arm cover, no baggy sleeves. We provide armguards, tabs, arrows. Bring water, bug spray in summer, headlamp for night shoots.
Come loose an arrow
First Saturday try-out is free — 10am, gear included. 40 acres at 1877 Totem Pole Rd, Bend, OR. Dogs on leash welcome.