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How to Get into Archery

By Larry McCoy |
Archer with a bow and quiver

Archery is a fun sport that is accessible to people regardless of fitness level and ability. When you’re first learning about archery, it can be easy to get overwhelmed by the gear options and decisions about training. Don’t worry: there are a few steps you can take to help you narrow down what you’re interested in, and how to get started.

Benefits of Archery

Archery is a low-impact sport that anyone can participate in. It still requires upper-body and core strength, making it a good workout. There are many archery associations for people with disabilities who are interested in the sport.

Archery can also be practiced indoors or outdoors, making it a year-round recreation where you can meet others who share your interests. There are many archery clubs that provide training and equipment that can help get you started or get you ready for more serious archery competitions.

There are also family archery events, and many areas have programming for youth who are interested in archery. It can help teach children discipline and self-control while providing a workout.

Bow hunting has become increasingly popular in recent years, as it often has a longer hunting season than rifle hunting, and offers hunters a different way of taking down game.

Types of Archery

Archery is a low-impact sport that anyone can participate in. It still requires upper-body and core strength, making it a good workout. There are many archery associations for people with disabilities who are interested in the sport.

Archery can also be practiced indoors or outdoors, making it a year-round recreation where you can meet others who share your interests. There are many archery clubs that provide training and equipment that can help get you started or get you ready for more serious archery competitions.

target for 3d archery

Archery is a low-impact sport that anyone can participate in. It still requires upper-body and core strength, making it a good workout. There are many archery associations for people with disabilities who are interested in the sport.

Archery can also be practiced indoors or outdoors, making it a year-round recreation where you can meet others who share your interests. There are many archery clubs that provide training and equipment that can help get you started or get you ready for more serious archery competitions.

Image – traditional bow

Traditional archery does not refer to a specific set of rules, but rather to any type of archery using traditional, historical bows. They can be used in most other types of archery. The focus here is to return to the historical techniques and traditions of archery, rather than utilizing modern gear.

Bow hunting can be done with any type of bow, though recurve bows and compound bows are the most common.

Choosing Your Gear

Image – compound bow

Archery gear can be an investment, so determine how much you are willing to spend. You might consider renting gear from a local club while you are deciding what type of archery you are interested in, as this may impact the type of bow you want.

Traditional archery is a budget-friendly way to practice, while modern bows are more expensive as they come with more accessories.

As you’re starting out, use some of your budget for archery lessons and fees for shooting ranges. You can take lessons with a group to minimize cost, and find public archery ranges that don’t charge a fee.

Remember, safety comes first! Make sure to never shoot arrows that are too short for your bow, and find a bow that is the correct size for you.

For a complete guide, check out our article on Essential Archery Gear for Beginners.

Finding a Place to Practice

Image – archery range

When you’re just starting out, you may want to take some archery lessons. It’s possible to learn from videos on YouTube and articles, but lessons can really help you get feedback on your stance and shooting technique. You can find recommendations at your local archery shop.

Once you are confident in your technique, if you have a big enough backyard, you can set up targets right at home. Make sure you are getting the correct target for your bow. If your backyard is not large enough to safely shoot in, you can take advantage of public archery ranges, indoor ranges, and archery clubs. This is also a great way to meet people who are also interested in archery!

In the warmer months, you may want to practice “stump shooting,” or using tree stumps as targets as you walk or hike outdoors. This can be a fun and relaxing way to practice. In the colder months, practice archery at indoor ranges – you can even join an indoor league.

In Conclusion

You won’t be able to learn everything about archery overnight. That’s okay! You are starting to learn a fun, age-old sport that can bring joy to the entire family. Learn a little at a time, and if you keep at it, you’ll be seeing progress before long.