Bowhunting tournament comes to Lake Monroe near Bloomington

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) - Competitive bowhunting is returning to Indiana after an event that was in Bedford for three decades moved to West Virginia.

The (Bloomington) Herald-Times (http://bit.ly/1r9UlZm ) reports the International Bowhunting Organization's Second Leg National Championship Triple Crown tournament starts Friday at Fairfax State Recreation Area. It's the first time it will take place at Lake Monroe near Bloomington.

International Bowhunting Organization president Bryan Marcum said the organization reorganized the Triple Crown events, which include three championship meets, when a Bedford club decided it couldn't host any longer. The championship's first leg was in Bedford before it was moved.

"We wanted to keep one in the area," Marcum said.

Marcum was contacted about sponsoring a tournament by Corey Reiman, who works for the state Department of Natural Resources at Lake Monroe. The Fairfax area was checked out by Marcum and other officials with the bowhunting organization.

"We really like it," he said. "It's convenient. It's very close to where it was before. It's very close to the highway there."

Jim Roach, property manager at Lake Monroe, said that there have been improvements at the Fairfax area to make sure that tournament attendees have a good experience. The parking lot of the beach area now has 32 electrical posts for use by vendors during the tournament.

Roach said it's hoped that electrical access will also allow for use by other groups such as flea markets or car clubs.

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Information from: The Herald Times, http://www.heraldtimesonline.com