When Cook and DuPage County forest preserve officials aimed at increasing their archery programs, they hit the bull's-eye.

Whether the idea is still coming from Katniss Everdeen, the top archer and heroine in “The Hunger Games” trilogy, or from the recent Olympics, or from a family member who pulled the old bow and arrow from the attic, more and more people are finding fun in the ancient sport of archery.

Cook County will host a free Swallow Cliff Archery Day from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 5 at the Swallow Cliff Stairs in Palos Park.

DuPage County offers free introductory programs in mid-November and a free permanent range open seven days a week at Blackwell Forest Preserve on Butterfield Road in Warrenville.

“Although there are definitely a lot of young teens and young adults getting into it, it really appeals to all age groups,” said Justin Mercer, a program coordinator who manages all things related to archery for the Cook County preserves.

Mercer said on a nice day upward of 200 people will attend the archery program designed to build skills and also introduce the sport to first-timers, letting them try without having to invest in equipment.

Although Cook County doesn't have a permanent range to offer, it uses a mobile range that can be driven to various preserves throughout the area, Mercer said. Participants get three tries, then go back to the end of the line to try again. The county hopes that between shots, people will hike the trails or visit the new pavilion and concessions that opened there in 2015.

The Cook County program is designed for archers ages 10 and up because most children have the physical strength to use a regular bow by 10, Mercer said, adding that there will also be junior archery equipment on hand for those under the age requirements.

In the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, a permanent archery range was built in 2004.

“And we can't have enough archery programs,” said Jay Johnson, manager of site operations.

The range at Blackwell Forest Preserve is made up of three ranges: a beginner's range enclosed on three sides, with eight lanes and targets up to 25 yards; an advanced or Olympic-size range with 11 lanes and targets up to 90 meters; and an interactive range where portions of it are on mowed grass and portions are in the woods.

The interactive range, with nine lanes and 15 two-dimensional targets up to 60 yards, appeals to folks preparing for hunting season, but anybody can use it, Johnson said.

The targets are not animals or birds. They are the “Nasty Nine,” paper targets with characters representing invasive species. They include “The Silver Menace,” a carp; “The Banded Bandit,” a zebra mussel; and “The Hole in the Ash Gang,” or emerald ash borer.

The range is open from one hour after sunrise to sunset, with a delayed 10 a.m. opening Wednesday for maintenance. Some of the lanes in the beginner's and advanced ranges are made of decomposed granite, a gravel material that makes them stable enough for wheelchairs.

“People are rediscovering kayaking, canoeing and archery, reconnecting with the outdoors. And archery provides a positive experience,” Johnson said. “Archery takes good concentration, practice and a steady hand.”

To that, Mercer adds, “the ability to follow instruction.”

Johnson said the DuPage district serves about 1,000 people a year in nearly 70 archery programs and in the fall may have almost 300 people a week using the range.

“Movies and TV shows may have helped with the popularity of it. But people just want to be outdoors, especially in the fall,” he said.

In Cook County, Swallow Cliff Stairs are at 10267 Calumet Sag Road, Palos Park. For more information on the Nov. 5 program, call 312-533-5751 or go to experience.nature@cookcountyil.gov.

In DuPage County, there are November programs at various preserves, as well as the permanent range. For more information, call 630-933-7248 or go to www.dupageforest.com.

Joan Cary is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.