Are you new to archery? Or are you thinking about getting a bow and trying out the sport? Archery is a great sport, lots of fun and it can even be really addicting!
However, a lot of would be archers get confused and overwhelmed with all of the gadgets and terminology and give up before they even start. If you’re just getting started with archery, this page will have all that you need to know to get you started shooting as soon as possible.
Ready? Good, let’s get going:
First you’ll need to figure out which type of archery you’re interested in. There are several main styles of archery, they are: Target archery, field archery, traditional archery, bow hunting and 3D archery.
Do a little research all each of them, and find out which one appeals to you the most. You’ll probably find, like most archers, that you’ll be interested in practicing more than one of them.
That’s just fine, as you could go bow hunting in the fall, while shooting in 3D archery tournaments in the off season. You may like indoor target archery shoots during the winter months, while you’re outdoors shooting field archery in the summer.
Let’s briefly cover each of these styles, and what types of bows you’ll want to use for each.
Target Archery
Target archery is probably the most recognized type of archery, and is even taught in many high schools. It’s practiced both indoors and out, and uses the traditional looking, ten ringed circular archery target.
If you’re interested in target archery you’ll want to pick up either a recurve bow or a compound bow, as these are the only two types of bows shot in the sport. While target archery does use both types of bows, only recurve bows may be shot in the Olympic games target archery competitions.
Field Archery
While similar to target archery, field archery has a few of it’s own unique differences. Target and field archery have different rules and are each scored differently. Outdoor field archery is usually done on a outdoor walking course, where archers shoot together in small groups as they walk the course.
The targets are at distances that can range from under ten yards to upwards of eighty yards. Field archery uses different types of targets than target archery, normally three types of targets.
The three types of field archery are typically referred to as ‘courses’. The three courses are animal, field and hunter, respectively. Recurve bows, compound bows and traditional / longbows are all used in field archery.
3D Archery
My personal favorite style of archery, 3D archery is similar to field archery in that archers normally walk in small groups around an outdoor archery course or trail. One at a time they’ll shoot at different 3D targets, all placed at different distances from the group.
The main difference in 3D archery is that you’ll be shooting at real life sized 3D animal targets. They’ll be uphill, downhill, and sometimes partially obscured by trees – just like real life bow hunting.
You’ll aim at removable vital area sections on the targets, which have their own scoring system unique to 3D archery. You can check out this page for everything you need to know about getting into 3D archery and this one for the best bows for 3D archery.
Traditional Archery
Traditional archers normally shoot wooden recurve bow or longbows – you know those six foot tall Robin Hood type bows. Traditional bows can be shot in most other types of archery and there’s no set of rules (that I’m aware of) in traditional archery.
The phrase “traditional archery” is simply used to denote using traditional, historical type bows – rather than a specific sport or set of rules. It’s mainly about getting back to those historical, long lost techniques and tools of archery – and away from all of the modern, space age gear.
For this reason, traditional archers tend to be the complete opposite of target archery shooters, as target archery usually involves all of those extra gadgets and modern archery gear.
Most of the bows used in traditional archery are from medieval Europe, the ancient Mediterranean countries and ancient Asian bows.
Wooden recurve bows, horse back bows and longbows are the go to bows for most traditional archery enthusiasts.
Bow Hunting
Bow hunting can generally be done with any type of bow, with some types being more ideal than others. Recurve bows and compound bows are the most commonly used, and quite possibly the best bows for bow hunting.
Traditional bows and longbows can be used as well, just be sure that their draw weight is at least forty pounds or better.
Archery Basics You Need to Know
In archery, safety is priority number one. Never aim a bow at another person, period. Always make sure that your arrow is properly ‘nocked’ (clicked or hooked on the bowstring so that the arrow is holding on to the string) before you shoot.
You need to be sure that you’re shooting the right size arrows for your bow. Your arrow should always be a little longer than the edge of your bow when you’re at full draw.
Shooting arrows that are too short for your bow could cause you to accidentally shoot the arrow through your bow hand – seriously. Never shoot arrows that are too short for your bow.
When shooting your bow, never hold the arrow itself. The arrow should nock (hook on to) the bowstring so that it holds itself on the string. The other end (point) of the arrow should be held up by the arrow rest of your bow – you should never touch the arrow when you’re shooting a bow.
Never dry fire a bow. Dry firing is when you draw the bowstring back and then let it go – without an arrow. Dry firing not only weakens and damages the bow, it could also be dangerous to the archer. Some bows could snap and break altogether from dry firing.
Shoot the Right Size Bow for You
In archery, you should be more in tune with your gear than in any other sport – you and your bow should almost feel like one. It’s important to shoot the right bow for you an your current level of experience.
You need to shoot a bow that’s not only the right size for your height, but also the correct draw weight for you. Draw weight is a measurement of how many pounds you’re holding onto when the bow is drawn all the way back.
Shooting a bow that’s too heavy for you would cause you to develop bad form, and form is very important in all types of archery. It’s a good idea to start on the low end of draw weight and work yourself up as you improve over time.
Use the Right Accessories
You’ll need a few things other than your bow to get started shooting. Once you’ve decided on the types of archery that you’re interested in, and figured out the type of bow that you want, do a little research on what accessories you’ll need.
Some of these will vary depending upon the type of bow that you’re planning to shoot. Arm guards are made to protect your bow arm from getting slapped by the bowstring, a great choice for most new archers.
Are you planning to release the string with your bare fingers? You may want to look into shooting gloves and finger tabs. Both of these help to protect the fingers of your bow hand while you’re shooting.
The longer you shoot, the more irritated your finger can get over time. A shooting glove or finger tab will stop that problem – allowing you to keep shooting your bow for longer periods of time.
You may not even want to hold the bowstring with your fingers at all, you could use a release aid. Release aids simply hold the bowstring for you, and you just press a trigger button to have the release let go of the string.
There are quite a few other accessories that you may want to use, depending on your bow style. Check out this page to find out what gear you’ll need to get started in archery.
Shoot the Right Targets for Your Bow
There are as many different types, styles and brands of targets out there today as there are archers, well almost as many. Seriously, there are lots of different archery targets on the market today – you need to pick the targets that are right for your bow and the type of archery you plan on shooting.
Note: Always check that a target is made for use with your type of bow. Some targets are made for recurve bows and compound bows, but would be ruined by crossbows.
Most bag and box style targets are made for use with recurve bows, compound bows and traditional / longbows alike. That’s a good thing because these kinds of targets are normally pretty affordable.
If you’re thinking of getting into 3D archery, have a look at a few of the 3D targets on the market today. Many of them are a bit pricey, but there are a few, more affordable options.
If target or field archery appeal to you, you could just shoot paper targets. Paper targets are commonly used in both target and field archery, and are usually pretty cheap. You can get some great deals on them online if you look around a little.
Find a Safe Place to Practice
You’re going to need somewhere to practice shooting your bow. If you have a backyard that’s big enough to safely shoot in, great! If not, you’ll need to find a place that you can shoot within the local regulations.
First, search online for any indoor or outdoor archery ranges in your area. You may find a local range you never even knew existed, right around the corner. Also check to see if there are any archery clubs around you. Many states have several 3D archery clubs that have land and all the targets you’ll need to get started shooting.
If you can’t seem to find any local archery ranges or clubs, try calling local colleges and universities. Many colleges have archery teams and both indoor and outdoor archery ranges. If you find these near you, find out who’s the person in charge that can give you permission to use their facilities.
The next option is to check with any high schools nearby. Lots of high schools incorporate archery into their fitness programs these days. They may let you use their fields during the off hours – plan on shooting during nights and weekends.
Watch Some Videos
There are lots of great archery videos and channels on Youtube, consider watching a few of them from time to time. I’ve seen videos on how to use bow sights, gap shooting, improving your accuracy – just to name a few.
There are literally thousands of archery videos on Youtube, covering all sorts of different topics and subjects. Check out some videos on your favorite types of archery.
If you’re brand new to archery, you should really be absorbing all of the guidance you can. There’s plenty of good lessons on Youtube – that’s a lot of archery training, and it’s all completely free.
I hope I’ve answered most (if not all) of your questions about getting into archery. There’s a lot of different aspects of archery, and there are more for each individual style. That can be a lot of information for new potential archers to take in.
As a new, inexperienced archer, it’s important that you realize that you’re not going to learn all of this overnight. So don’t try to, you’ll pick it all up in time, as you progress on your journey as an archer.
Just focus on what you’re trying to get better at currently for now. Once you’ve improved in one area of your archery, the next challenge will present itself. Then focus on that one for a while. Doing this over time will make you a much better archer.