It was the kind of January day when the sun shone brightly, the sky was cloudless and the cold was biting.

Inside the West Penn Archery Club, a stove churned out heat along with the faint smell of wood burning.

Archers took the line to practice their shots, unencumbered by the heavy jackets or clunky gloves they’d need to wear if they were outside.

“We heat it with wood, so when the stove is lit, it is nice and warm,” club member and instructor Amy Bachert said of the indoor range.

Spanning the length of the building, the range allows archers to shoot at targets from 20 yards.

It’s open year-round so archers can practice, compete or just enjoy the sport without having to deal with any kind of inclement weather.

Members can be found at the club every day of the week, but on Mondays when the younger set dominates.

“What they are doing now are indoor spots,” explained Bachert, who oversees a youth team - recently dubbed the West Penn Wolf Pack - with her father, Karl Bachert.

With quivers of arrows clinging from their waists, youths aimed at two types of targets.

The yellow, red and blue circles are “Vegas style,” Bachert said, while the blue and white rounds are the preferred style of the National Field Archery Association.

The latter compliments the West Penn club’s Scholastic 3D Archery program, which guides youth in the areas of 3D, indoor and outdoor target archery.

“There are adults that shoot it, but for the most part it is our kids,” Bachert said of the blue and white circles. “It’s just what you get used to.”

Last year, the club’s youth program had a successful season, racking up almost 50 individual medals and three state team titles in competitions held in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Illinois and Ohio.

“We did really well,” Bachert said. “Last year was our first competitive year. I’m excited for this year.”

Eva Melochick, 14, of New Ringgold, is one of the team’s members.

“Everyone who competes with you is basically like one big family,” she said. “So everyone is really close with each other and what not. We’re connected to this.”

Melochick said her father often suggested different sports to her, but when he introduced her to archery four years ago, she never looked back.

She also takes the sport to the outdoors, where she hunts for game.

Members’ children also show up on Wednesdays - appropriately coined “Kids’ Night” - to try their hand at the sport. Those who are learning shoot from shorter distances.

“Thursday is ‘trad’ night - when it’s pretty much just traditional shooting - longbow, recurve - anything without the ‘wheels’ on it, they say,” Bachert said.

West Penn Archery also has a senior team that competes in the Pennsylvania State Archery Association.

“Most of us just compete individually. We all go together though,” she said.

Last year, Bachert earned two third places at the International Bowhunting Organization’s World Championship at Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Somerset County.

While paper targets are usually in place at the club, it also sets up with its 3D targets.

“They are foam rubber and we have all kinds of deer, bear, fox, wolves - tons of stuff,” Bachert said.

There’s also an area for seating and meetings, along with a counter and kitchen.

The club has an outdoor range, and can set up 3D targets on its surrounding land.

“Some just prefer to stay inside and shoot,” Bachert said. “But we’re all over - weather dependent.”

The Club on 147 Archery Club Road. welcomes new members.

Most recently, the youth team participated in an indoor regional shoot at the Reading Archery Club, and took home two gold, two silver and two bronze medals. Four adult members participated in the Great American Outdoor Show in Harrisburg, and claimed three first places along with one second and one third place.