Only one decent shop in Tuscaloosa and now we are loosing it! According to what I saw on their Facebook page. I know we have Shaw and thankful for that, but I like to have a place to go and slobber on the new models. Don't care to give Woods and Water my business because they are not serious about their archery department and it would be hard to trust them with my equipment. Plus they have no where to shoot.

When are they moving?

I believe one of the reasons for justifying their move is they will possibly be getting a Mathews dealership. I've heard they are making the move because they're not getting enough business at their current location. In my opinion moving to Fayette is a bad decision. If Woods & Water would build an indoor range and hire an EXPERIENCED bow tech or two, and keep them, they would triple their sales.

Being from Fayette County (Glen Allen), I welcome new business to the county. But, working in Tuscaloosa and driving by their current location 5 days a week, it'll be less convenient for me to visit them. I've never been a regular customer anyhow, so I'll probably visit them just as often in Fayette as I did in their current location. I'm a bit perplexed by the move, though. I can't see how they can expect to get more business by moving to Fayette. Maybe they're reducing recurring costs (rent?) with the move. And, perhaps the move does have something to do with getting a Mathews dealership. Who knows? Either way, good luck to them. I hope they do well.

I don't believe it will help them even if they do get a Mathews dealership. If someone had a set up in Tuscaloosa like Rick does down in Prattville with Archery Unlimited, they would make a killing.

I know the owner decently well and have talked with him a good bit over the past few weeks. The main reason for the move is the overhead in Northport. You would likely be shocked to know the amount rent costs in this area - especially rent that's off the 82 area.

I wonder if Woods & Water will become a Hoyt dealer for the Tuscaloosa area again? Where is the Worm Shack when you need them.... And yes, I know there is a "Worm Shack" down 69 S but I mean the real deal like the building off G'boro Ave.

I told Tony Laws this very same thing when he built the new Woods and Water, he just blew me off. I was working some for them then and was one of the ones that suggested they bring Mathews in. Well Shaw at least you can count on your business picking up!

Buy the bow at Woods & Water or off the internet and come see me. I'll set 'em up, for a small fee of course.

Bowfool, did you work for them back in the late 90's? I always liked Tony. If they would get rid of John Collins that place would do a lot better. I've never cared for him very much. He comes across as an arrogant ass. I shot for them for one year after the Worm Shack shut down due to the fire, and that was all I could take. After that year, I said to hell with it and decided I wouldn't fool with shooting for a shop. Then Rick down at Archery Unlimited offered me a deal and I signed with him. I don't have to worry any of that anymore, I've pretty much retired from competitive shooting. I might start back shooting Buckmasters in another year or two.

Shaw I worked there a couple of times just prior to bow season. It may have been mid 90s. Tony's was there and his son-in-law at the time, Doug I think. I think that was before John. Tony made his money I guess but he could have made more if he would have had a bow and pistol range at the new store. But what do I know? Right! I shot for Oneida Eagle for several years in Men's limited class, and like you it got to be too much of a hassle. I miss competitive shooting sometimes but I can't physically compete in the heat, at my age.

I've seen you before at the Worm Shack back around '04. If I'm not mistaken you set up a Reflex Extreme bow for me that I bought at Woods & Water back in '97 or '98 I believe. That was the second compound I ever owned and a couple of years before I learned to start doing everything myself.

I wouldn't mind if they moved out of the state the older guy up there is the only one that doesn't have the personality of a rock

You're talking about Rickey Pearson. He's a good guy and the only one that actually knows what the hell he is doing.

I saw Rickey a week or so ago and he didn't say anything about the Mathews deal. He said it was better for the owner. He talked like he wasn't gonna be a part of it any more. Didn't want to drive to Fayette. As far as that buiding they were in I think Torrey Cochrane(Contempoary Mitsubishi) owns it. They were probably getting bent over on the rent.

I've always preferred dealing with Jason... have had as much done by him as Ricky has done on my stuff. Never have had any issue with either though. As far as personality goes, I've found that most of the guys who are jam-up in the bow or gunsmith business don't always have the warmest personality. Of course, Shaw may be an exception - never met him.

Rick lives on up 43 past the northside bp so it wouldn't be that far to fayette would it?

I started shooting about the same time Ricky did. Some of the first shoots I shot in with him was at Elvis Pates and at Paul's sporting goods. Ricky has always been easy to get along with. Nice guy.

If Rickey ain't making the move to Fayette with them, it will last a year, maybe.

Yeah maybe so! I liked going to the Worm Shack to shoot. There's something about just being around other guys with the same interest, and the AC isn't bad either! I hated the fact they didn't get that back to going again. I don't know what it is about Tuscaloosa. In all the years I have been here there have been three indoor archery ranges and none lasted very long. There was one in Northport in the late 80's, Target One that didn't even last a year I don't believe, and The Worm Shack. IMO the Worm Shack had a viable business. Every time I saw Ed and asked him about re-opening he would say there were issues getting the insurance to pay on the fire. I used to spend a lot of time in Michigan. There were a lot of mom and pop archery shops and ALL of them had indoor ranges. Many even had the video shooting systems. I suppose as long as we have a 2-1/2 month long gun deer season here an archery only shop will be a hard thing to hold together.

Agreed!