Any historical buffs have information about the monthly matches that we held around the turn of the Century at...
the Union Hill, NJ Schuetzen Park?

My general understanding is the Matches were very popular, attended by close to a thousand spectators with renowned shooters, including the exalted Harry M Pope!

Marlinguy ... there are still a few 'women' keeping the tradition alive:
The Brooklyn Schützen Damen
Founded 1932

THREE CLUB SHOOTS

In January, we began the competition at the range in the Schuetzen Park, New Jersey. We had many fine shooters, which helped us take first place that night. Then in February, at the range at the Plattdeutsche Park, we again took first place. And finally, at the last competition, in March, the BSC took first place again. The final scores were:

Brooklyn Schuetzen Corp - 3108
NY Schuetzen Corp - 2982
Union Hill - 2975

Congratulations to all the sharp shooters from all the clubs who participated. The Blow Out Party will be on Saturday, May 7th at the Plattdeutsche Park Restaurant. So come celebrate and honor the winners. Please make reservations as early as possible with John Wellenreuther (516-676-7758). 

DWS;

    I believe you are on the right track. In hindsight (and maybe it was apparent then), by the beginning of the Gtear War the shooting and firearms world was undergoing a "sea change". Popularity of the single shot rifle was waning or the cessation of their manufacture wouldn't have been happening. If the rifles themselves were declining in popularity then it follows that sports involving them must have been in decline also.
    The transcendency of the bolt action rifle was complete by the end of the war in Eyrope, it just took some years for it to sink in. With a whole generation of young men going off to be trained by the Army to shoot with high velocity bolt action rifles the transition was assured. What made this possible, I believe, was the rapid advances made in smokeless powders which really allowed the exploitation of the advantages (strength-wise) inherent in the bolt action. 
     Militarization of target shooting occured because of recognized necessity on the part of the military but also because it suited the rifles. The hunting world was changing as rapidly and not only in this country. In a generation the bolt action supplanted single shots and lever actions as the most popular hunting rifles. Except for the faithful few diehards,  even single shot shooters wanted their rifles to perform like high velocity bolt actions.
     I've rambled long enough but I believe the decline in schuetzen was all these things: anti-greman sentiment, technological advances, and cultural and generational changes (How you gonna keep "em down on the farm when they"ve seen Paree?). Also, before any hackles rise, the way I feel about single shots and schuetzen should be evident - I'm here ain't I?

FWIW
Don

In Highland, IL shuetzenpark became a city park (Lindendale)
In St Louis, MO one of the schuetzenparks was in or became a City park, Carondelet(sp?)
In New Glarus, WI Wm Tell Schuetzenpark became a city park.
In Chicago, one of the schuetzenparks was moved due to real estate pressure, but it was sold for profit and the verein moved the range.
In Davenport, IA schuetzenpark became a money loser, but the ground was sold (after being offered to the City for a park) and the range continued in use.  A large part of the grounds remains undeveloped today.  The Davenport Schuetzengezelleschaft is still active and doing very well today.
Of the 24 town vereins in Iowa, 20 were in towns that are the same size or smaller than they were when there was a schuetzen verein.

The real estate value theory does not fit this data.

Nevertheless, the data I have (admittedly limited, just the Davenport Schuetzengezelleshaft and the Central Sharpshooter’s Union) indicate that participation did begin to decline prior to World War I.  The decline appears to be steady, over many years, and unaffected by WW I.

There are many possible causes.  The number of competing activities was increasing.  There were many professional baseball teams for entertainment, and there were many amateur baseball teams for participation.  Golf was becoming more popular, as was tennis.  Movies were becoming more popular, starting around 1905.

In the shooting sports, shotgun appears to have been the most popular competitor.  Although the writers at the time discuss military style shooting as schuetzen’s most important competitor, I’m not yet convinced.

My thought is that the most important factor was that the new generation of German-Americans was less in need of a German cultural retreat than their elders.  There was at the same time a steady campaign against “hyphenated Americans.” They were then more ready to adopt other activities.

There's certainly room for a couple doctoral dissertations.