LENOX — Archery seems to be having a renaissance in the Berkshires. “We’ve gone from about 25 kids a year to more like 100,” said Mark Jester, an archery instructor at the Lenox Sportsmen's Club. “It’s more than just us — participation seems to have dramatically increased across the county.” That rise hasn’t gone unnoticed. As more people picked up bows, MassWildlife saw an opportunity. Last year, the department set up several small, temporary ranges in fields within its wilderness management areas. It was an experiment they hoped would tap into archery’s surging appeal and draw more people to the public lands they manage. So far, it's been an immense success. “We knew that archery was growing in popularity, but we were surprised at just how much interest we saw for these ranges,” said Andrew Madden, the department's Western District Manager. This year, the ranges are back, and the department is adding a new one — and its first in the Berkshires — at the George L. Darey Housatonic Valley Wilderness Management Area in Lenox. Tucked away in a mowed field a few hundred feet back from New Lenox Road, four targets, spaced from 10 to 40 yards away, stand against a vibrant green backdrop. “We wanted there to be a set of different target distances so that people of all abilities and skill levels can use it,” said Madden. The range, which opened on June 13, is self-service, free to use, and available to the public through Sept. 28. “We wanted to find a place that was centrally located in the Berkshires, so people from the surrounding towns might be able to get there, with ample parking, and that was pretty accessible,” Madden said. Lenox checked every box. So far, the range appears to have been only lightly used, but Jester thinks that will soon change. “The range is a great opportunity for sportsmen and archery enthusiasts here,” said Jester. “It provides people with another outdoor outlet in a beautiful area, and it's in this perfect, stunning spot, right along the Housatonic. I think people are going to really enjoy it.” Jester is particularly excited about the project because he sees it as a “win–win” for everyone involved. “It’s going to bring more people into the outdoors, more people into archery, and more people into the sportsmen’s clubs,” said Jester. Jester’s own introduction to archery happened around 45 years ago, when he was around 20, and he began competing early on. Back when he first started, archery was hugely popular, although its appeal began to decline gradually over the decades. Despite the pullback, Jester has continued to stay involved his whole life — and he said his ability to do that has been part of its appeal. “It’s a sport that can be done by almost anyone at any age,” said Jester. “So many sports like baseball or soccer, you age out of, but archery isn’t like that. The best person I have ever shot against was 85 at the time, and he was incredible.” These days, Jester can often be found teaching archery — to adults and children alike — and frequently shoots with his grandson. “He’s a tremendous archer, and archery is good for kids,” said Jester. “It brings them together, boosts self-confidence, and it's something they can do year-round.” Jester isn’t sure why archery is making a comeback right now, but he does have his guesses. “People want to get outside, and I think there's new appreciation for the fact that it can be done by anyone at any fitness level,” said Jester. He also mentioned that passable archery equipment, which has long been a steep investment, has grown cheaper — especially for kids. “They now make bows that can grow with you, so you don’t have to be making these substantial investments every few years,” said Jester. “You could theoretically have one bow for the rest of your life if you wanted.” “Archery has been around for a long time, it's just spent a lot of time being kind of in the background,” said Jester. “I think in many ways, though, that’s starting to change.”