Archive for the ‘Archery’ Category

The history of archery goes back thousands upon thousands of years. There have been stone arrowheads discovered dating from as far back as over 25,000 years go. As time progressed, recent findings show feathers attached to arrows, the shafts of arrows and the bows themselves, still at least over ten thousand years old. Bows and arrows were originally used mainly for hunting purposes but as time passed they became a deadly and dominating force in warfare.

Archery was practiced in many different emerging civilizations. Notably, the ancient Egyptians were known to have practiced archery for both hunting and battle. The Egyptians widely practiced archery dating back over 5,000 years. The Egyptians are also believed to be the first known cultures to have made composite bows, although it’s now believed that they came upon this technology through the nomadic tribes who used the bows while on horseback.

Using bows on horseback would be a strong military tactic. The Huns, led by Attila, famously used archers on horseback to run rampant through the Roman armies who were themselves short on archers. This is despite the fact that that Alexander the Great had previously used archers to success and famous mythological characters such as Odysseus were said to have used a bow.

Other societies and armies throughout the east also used archery, including the Chinese, the Japanese, the Indians and the Persians. Some of the famous Terracotta soldiers are archers. Additionally, the Native American tribes were also very proficient in archery and used bows and arrows both for hunting and fighting.

While archery remained a powerful tool in eastern cultures, during the Middle Ages in Western Europe, archery was not as popular as is often described. At least not initially, at the start of the Middle Ages when archery as a tool for battle was downgraded and viewed as low class or insignificant. Archers were cheap to train and install into a battle group, because of the relatively inexpensive price of the weapons and the lack of armor needed for the archers at the rear of the battlefield.

One of the deciding factors in this view was the production of the English longbow which wrecked havoc upon the French military at the Battle of Agincourt. The crossbow, which has been known to have existed for at least 2,500 years, was used as well in Medieval warfare as well as by the Eastern cultures, specifically and most prevalently, the Chinese. The crossbow was more forceful and was superior for shorter ranges, while the longbow provided a huge advantage in the distance you could strike with.

As archery became a powerful military weapon, the art of archery was also practiced and celebrated in Medieval culture. However, by the end of the Middle Ages the importance of archery clearly fell off. This is due of course to the development and implementation of gun powder and more advanced and powerful weaponry.

Today, archery is an Olympic sport still practiced by many people. Additionally, some people who hunt opt to use bows and arrows as a way to practice a more natural and fair hunt, as opposed to the super weapons that’s available so easily.

Archery is a skill not easily mastered by many. It takes precision, a steady hand, and focus. Whether it’s out in the woods stalking deer or on the field taking aim at a target, archery, for all it’s advancements, is still primitive in nature and there’s something alluring about that.

Add on top of that the invention of the compound bow and you have a great arsenal of weaponry to choose from. Many cultures used compound bows for hunting as well as competition as the years went by.

When it comes to archery and the sport of bow hunting, the adage about something difficult being but well worth it can be a little doubtful. You have come to expect certain discomforts in many sports and activities. A mild case of frostbite while snow skiing, blisters when hiking or running and even sunburn from the beach. You will have to weigh the pros and cons in order to decide for yourself.

Most hunters start hunting with guns, until someone comes along and talks them into trying bow hunting. Many times deer season starts earlier than the more traditional hunting method using guns. That in itself is a big motivation for many hunters, as they will get more hunting time! Another advantage is that it is usually legal to take a doe during archery season. What hunter would not like getting to hunt the woods earlier and possibly take a trophy whitetail deer. They look at it as more time in the woods, more chances to get a deer. Simple really. Or is it?

In many locations, the start of bow hunting season for archery enthusiasts, is in September. This can be considered the equivalent of the dictionary’s meaning of masochism. You sit in 90-degree heat, sweating due to the 90% humidity in the air. This is also usually the rainy season so, add a swarm of mosquitoes into the mix and you are good to go.

Another important consideration is to make sure your gear is in tip top condition and make sure everything is as it should be. With bows, you need to check the string for wear and wax it while checking your nock points, etc. Be sure to lube all moving parts, dry graphite lube works well for lubricating moving sights. If you use a bow quiver be sure to check its mount, making sure it is tight and won’t vibrate or hum, when you shoot.

As an archery or bow hunter, what are you going to say the next time someone asks you if all of this preparation and pain is really worth the effort? Unless you want them questioning your sanity it would probably be a good thing to answer in the affirmative. No one has to know that the main reason you are saying yes is that you just finished sitting in the freezing rain, fighting frostbite and can’t wait for the sweaty bow-hunting season to start once again.

When it comes to the world of archery you will run into a lot of jargon which could become confusing if you’re new to the sport. Some of these terms are tillers, cams, risers and limbs are describing actual parts of the bow, other terms, such as draw length, IBO and draw weight refer to the performance of the bow. Let-off is one of those features that you should understand.

The design of the compound bow has been done so that the draw weight decreases at the end of the drawstroke allowing the shooter more time to aim and release the arrow. To explain further, as the bowstring is drawn back the weight increases steadily until you reach a certain point at which time the cam system takes over and it eases significantly so that by the end of the draw the shooter is only holding a fraction of the weight they were at the start of the draw.

In the past when you drew a bow, specially if you owned a longbow or a recurve bow you would have been struck by how heavy it was to draw the bowstring back and then hold it while aiming for any length of time. Traditional bows have the most draw weight at the end of the draw which means it is particularly tiring if you try to hold the bow drawn for any length of time.

The let-off rate of early compound bows was around 35-50% but nowadays the norm is more in the region of 75-80%, with some bows coming with an added feature of being adjustable. So a bow with a 70 lb draw weight and 80% let-off will converts to a draw weight of only 14 lbs.

It’s not always a good thing to have use a bow with super-high let-off at full draw because there is an increased likelihood to experience arrow movement whil in the shooting position. You need some resistance to maintain a good natural alignment.

The let-off is listed by bow manufacturers as a percentage in their literature, sometimes you might see two numbers advertised next to the Let-off statistic. They will be “Effective” and “Actual” let-off. Let’s take a look at the difference between effective let-off and actual let-off.

Quite often when a compound bow’s specifications are listed by a bow manufacturer you will see two figures next to the Let-Off heading. It may read something like Let-Off 65% Actual 70% Effective. What this is referring to is the disparity in draw weight change between drawing the bow as well as the change in weight when letting the bowstring back down.

To calculate let-off you need to be able to measure two things: the maximum draw weight and the minimum weight during draw. These numbers differ depending on whether you are drawing the bow or letting the bow back down. As complicated as the second figure sounds, it’s the actual let-off or the let-off experienced when drawing the bow that you will be most concerned with. The figure you’re most likely going to see, though is the effective let-off.

A potentially crucial time to remember the impact of effective let-off is after drawing the bow while letting it back down without an arrow fitted. There is a high incidence of accidental dry-firing taking place caused by the high effective let-off and the surprise with which it catches people unprepared. The sudden change in weight can rip the string out of unsuspecting fingers and you may be left with a shattered compound bow.

A final word on let-off comes with regard to the significance for those wanting their trophy listed in the Pope and Young Club’s record books. Only trophys taken with a bow that had a let-off lower than 65% were included until recently. This has since been changed in 2004 so that those taken with a higher let-off will be listed but an asterisk will be placed by the hunter’s name.

With any luck the previous explanation will help you when you go out to buy a compound bow and you see the let-off figure you will understand the significance of the numbers. In a nutshell the higher the number, the easier the draw. You’ll only know whether it will help or hinder your shooting accuracy through trialling the bow. Finding out about other pieces of equipment such as the bow stabilizer will also help.

An archery club can offer its members the chance to become better archers and sportsman. People who are in clubs can offers other members the chance to test out new products, talk about upcoming tournaments, and even find out where the best tournaments can be located. However, locating the right club or one that is close to a person and where they live can be hard to do. Thankfully, the internet is at one’s fingertips and can easily locate a club for archery and all who wish to be involved.

One of the best places to find an archery club in the United States is 3DShoots.com. Here a person can look their state up and find several clubs that focus on hunting and archery. Some of the clubs have direct links that one can go to in order to find out what the club offers their members and how one can join. There are plenty of clubs scattered across the US, all you have to do is actually take the time to look.

Another great directory for archers is one that is international. A person can locate this site by clicking on www.archeryinfo.info/archeryclubs.html for a great place to locate not only international clubs but also makers of international products. If one is looking for an Italian made bow for example, then this is the site to check out. Not only can one find links to special archery accessories makers but they can also locate clubs in countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom, and even Guatemala. This site also claims to be the “largest animal, hunting and archery information sites on the Internet”. This is definitely one site that anyone interested in international archery clubs should not ignore.

If one is looking to join an archery club to become a better sport, then they are living in the right times. Thanks to the world of the internet a person can find a great club that focuses on archery and helping to improve ones skills. After all, discussing one’s talents with others can only help to improve them and make the skills as sharp as one’s arrows. A good club can also help on their search for the best archery arrows. Learning how to be a better archer or just s sportsman has never been simpler than it is today with the help of modern technology.

When performing any type of archery a person must have the right archery equipment or their endeavor to become a great archer will be spoiled rather quickly. With so many types of archery accessories and main equipment on the market a person can become overwhelmed with what they should have and what they can have as frivolous accessories. No matter what sport a person plays, having the right equipment can be critical to ensuring the success of a person in their desired sport, and archery is no exception to this rule.

One of the first types of archery equipment that one must decide on is the bow that they will use. A person will have to choose from the compound bow, the longbow, the recurve bow, the crossbow, or even the KYUDO bow. Of all these various bows, the compound bow will more than likely be the easiest to find because of its popularity. The KYUDO bow is a Japanese bow that is very different than any other type of bow. This particular bow allows a very trained individual to shoot many arrows at one. Of course this is a Japanese archery skill that in the end is said to result in one having a better understanding of their own self.

After one chooses the right bow, they will then need to select arrows. Arrows are really the key to making sure that one shoots straighter and has greater distance in their shot. The types come in wood, fiberglass, aluminum, and aluminum carbon. Depending on how experienced an archer is will determine what type of arrows one invests. The aluminum carbon arrows, for example, are meant only for those who are serious tournament veterans simply because of their high cost.

Archery equipment is more than bows and arrows, however, this is a good place to start. Once the basic equipment has been figured out one can then get the right case, string, and guards if needed. Archery, as with any sport, can become an expensive habit if one allows it. The key is to understanding what is really needed in order to become the best archer that one hopes to become. Sometimes the best way to do that is to talk with other archers on what works best for them. Archery is a great sport as long as one has the right equipment to play it correctly.

The type of arrow you use will have a profound effect on the speed with which your bow will shoot. Even though you may have bought a bow with a high IBO speed such as 300 plus fps, it won’t be capable of reaching those speeds if you shoot a heavy fiberglass arrow. That being said, the arrow you need will change with your circumstances and you will have a need for each at some point or another.

The key to good archery shooting isn’t so much in the quality of the compound bow you use because they are all fitted with many of the same features. Where you will really find your edge is in a judicious selection of arrows, both in the materials they are made from and the quality of the manufacture. Make sure the arrows you buy suit the bow and the type of shooting you will be doing and are straight. The length of the arrow you require will also be influenced by your draw length.

Arrows are most commonly made from aluminum, wood, fiberglass and carbon. We will look at the advantages and disadvantages of each as well as the uses for each.

The original material used to make arrows was wood and it is still in use today. Wood is an easy medium to work with and is flexible and reasonably durable, they are also quite inexpensive. It has only been in more recent times that wooden arrows have been replaced with other materials. Wooden arrows can be used for indoor or outdoor shooting with equal performance. No matter how well made wooden arrows are they have flaws.

Carbon arrows are lightweight, strong and fast through the air. They are designed for modern bows that can handle the lighter weighted arrows. Although they are called carbon arrows, and there are pure carbon arrows available, the most common kind of carbon arrow is an aluminum/carbon mix that gives the arrow added durability and strength. Carbon arrows are not as long than aluminum arrows which give them their greater speed. They are for long distance shooting and maintain their shape well. The downside to using carbon arrows is in the price because they are indeed quite expensive.

Aluminum arrows are popular with indoor target archery with most archers preferring the thicker aluminum shafts to the thinner carbon arrows. They are also used for archery tournaments. Aluminum arrows are also suited to beginner archers because of their resilience if the target is missed. The aluminum arrows are not as expensive as other types and easily replaced if they are broken, damaged or lost. There is also a consistency in their manufacture so you are less likely to get a bent or warped shaft. It’s easy to replace the arrow tips in aluminum arrows allowing you to keep the arrows for a long time

Fiberglass arrows are mainly used as a training arrow due to their heavier size. Although they are more durable than wooden arrows and can be made to differing sizes to match the archer, they still tend to break quite easily and people tend to prefer aluminum arrows. You find, too that fiberglass arrows are more consistent from one arrow to the next making their flight more reliable.

There is no doubt that choosing a compound bow is crucial when taking up the sport of archery, but just as important are the arrows you use. Purchasing inferior or unsuitable arrows may negate many of the key features of your compound bow.

If your children are interested in learning and practicing a new sport, then why not let them try sports archery. This is a good idea especially if there is an archery range in your location or area. The sport of archery is relatively easy to learn, and there are few rules and regulations that govern the sport. It is a sport of practice, and the more you practice the better you get at it, in addition it is a great sport for children that have some problems with concentration since sports archery practices this aspect. Read on to discover more about sports archery.

Archery Equipment

If you don’t have the supplies you need for sports archery yet, you can also check out some online websites focused on archery equipment to get the best prices for hunting accessories, protective clothing that you may want to wear while you’re practicing, and arrows and bolts that you can use at each level of your training. Companies like Bow Tech and Elite Archery are featured on the site, so you can be sure you’re purchasing products that are of the best quality. The customer service team of most sites is also ready to help whenever you email or call, so you can have all your questions answered about the sports archery equipment you need before you buy.

Now that you’re prepared to go on the range and try a little shooting, you should get more familiar with the rules of the game. So, be sure to visit the website associated with the International Archery Federation, so that you can find out how people of all ages can compete in professional games. The federation rules for how far you should be from the target when you’re participating in sports archery indoors or outside are outlined on the site and you’ll find out more about the dress code that is associated with the sport. There are also certain rules of etiquette that you’ll want to pay special attention to, such as offering to pay for the damages to a player’s equipment if you are responsible for breaking a bow or arrow.

One of the best associations for those who are interested in archery is the National Field Archery Association. This group offers great amounts of information for those who interested in many types of archery. This is not an association that is meant for those who are looking for a hunting association. This group believes in game preservation and is committed to using the bow and arrow with its great history.

The National Field Archery Association is not just dedicated to those archers who wish to be field archers alone. The organization also has members from the bowhunting, freestyle, and other types of archery arenas. No matter what age one is they can still learn how to perform archery and how to hone their skills by checking out this association. The organization also has over one thousand chartered clubs as part of this nationwide association.

One way that the NFAA continues to expand is through competitions. They serve almost 3000 bowmen with their national championship tournaments for indoor, outdoor, and 3-D archery. They also play host to a total of sixteen indoor and outdoor championships nationwide that also see around three thousand bowmen of various skills competing. They continue on a yearly basis to increase their exposure by the places that they hold their tournaments. For example, in Las Vegas in 2008, the NFAA will host the world archery festival. The winnings in the men’s division alone are estimated at over $35000. This is serious competition and not to be sneezed at.

The world of field archery has become a little smaller thanks to the national association made just for this purpose. One can access a ton of great information on all types of archery if they only look at the website of this great association. Becoming a member is as simple as letting one’s fingers do the walking on this archery site. Archery clubs have made an impact on the world of archery and becoming a member is very simple with the technology of today. Membership has many benefits that one cannot afford to not have if they are a true archer or user of the bow.

Whether you are a bowman who goes big game hunting or freestyle shooting, The National Field Archery Association should have something for you.