Archery

[Jamie]

I spent most of the last weekend at the meetup playing with bows and arrows thanks to the lovely trio of Mel, Rob and Wayne (yes I did use the word lovely in the same sentence as Wayne! ) and had the most amazing time and have found a new hobby which is absorbing, fun and requires a degree of skill. I have had a big grin on my face whenever I think of archery now!!

Seeing the level of interest at the moot (both for the actual shooting as well as the making), I was just wanting to start a thread to guage the level of interest from both beginners (such as I) and experienced people to see how many Robin Hoods are out there.

Perhaps we can organise something for the July moot as well if anyone is interested.

P.S Mel, Rob and Wayne - my other half is gunning for you now!!! Thank you so much for the introduction to the sport.
P.P.S. Bardster - thank you mate, love the bow

 

[Wayland]

I'm up for some archery too, used to hold a GNAS leaders certificate (expired now )

How about a BCUK field archery team?

 

[Womble]

I 'd also like to say thanks and raise a glass to Wayne, Mel, Val and Rob for the really great archery at the event. I got an introduction to Field Archery at the Wild Life Hunter course last year, and for me archery hasn't been the same since - there's something special about stalking through the woods, bow in hand looking for the target! In many ways it brings together a lot of the elements of tracking & awareness of your environment and gives them a focus. I found my self thinking in hushed tones as I went around the course (except when Jamie was ticking my leg with some holly - obviously (grrrr ), and there was a real incentive to get a good clean shot.

Brilliant.

 

[Jamie]

I found my self thinking in hushed tones as I went around the course (except when Jamie was ticking my leg with some holly - obviously (grrrr )

Well I had to get an advantage somehow mate

 

[Bardster]

Goes without saying that I am up for it
Glad you are enjoying it Jamie

 

[Ogri the trog]

I've yet to confirm on my shift pattern,
But if I can make it, I'll bring my longbows and the compound for a point of interest. I used to shoot for a club in Hampshire and the BLBS (British Long Bow Society) but it's all lapsed now.
Conversations on saturday have rekindled a bit of a flame for bow making for me as well.

ATB

Ogri the trog

 

[Spacemonkey]

I used to use my old compound bow at college, but that was many moons ago. Would love to get back into it, and am doing the Woodcraft school bowmaking course in August.

 

[Rhapsody]

Archery has always been one of those things that I've always wanted to get good at, but have never had the opportunity to do so. I'm planning to see what clubs are available once I go to university, though, so hopefully I can join the ranks of the archers soon enough!

 

[Womble]

Are you in or connected with Scouts Rhapsody? If so we have a target Archery club at the Aldershot/Farnborough District HQ on Monday Evenings.

 

[Tony]

But if I can make it, I'll bring my longbows and the compound for a point of interest. I used to shoot for a club in Hampshire and the BLBS (British Long Bow Society) but it's all lapsed now.
Conversations on saturday have rekindled a bit of a flame for bow making for me as well.

ATB

Ogri the trog

Mate, I can picture you with a great big Long Bow
It was great to meet you

As for the archery in general.....what a fantastic time was had by all and there's been some true converts to Archery, it was wonderful to see how many thoroughly enjoyed it and it's a credit all that set it up and ran it over the weekend, my boy's hooked! He needs to get his bow finished!

Thanks again and I hope that this thread keeps it alive for people and helps them on with the new interest, or the rediscovered interest of some

Thanks Mel, Val, Wayne and Rob.....Stars

 

[Lithril]

I'm up for it, had a fantastic time, working on getting my own bow now, although I'm not most popular with Sam, thought I'd try the age old kids routine, "Can I have one?" "NO" "Can I have one" "NO" "Can I have one" SLAP!

Didn't work too well ;-)

 

[Jamie]

so does anyone have ideas on equipment websites, practice sites etc and of course courses (making and shooting)

 

[jdlenton]

Hi Jamie

I think www.quiks.com was mentioned at the weekend I’d be up for some shooting too when I get some kit, going to have a word with Chris C about a bow .

Oh and my finger hasn’t dropped of yet either ; )

 

[HuBBa]

And while we're on the subject of Archery, what do you prefere?

I am a traditional archer myself and prefere longbows and horsebows to any of the modern mumbojumbo

Some info on making bows:

http://www.stickbow.com/ (check Self Bows)
http://www.traditional-archery-supply.com/ (For the US people, good supply for bowyers)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...pd_sxp_f/102-2344121-6266551?v=glance&s=books <- the "bibles" of Bowyers.
http://www.buildabow.com/ (another supplier)
http://www.xsorbit4.com/users/buildabow/index.cgi (Bowyer forum)

Hope it helps

 

[Adge]

Trad archer here too.

I shoot a 70 Lb Yew longbow, and fletch my own arrows to the medieval "Mary Rose" pattern, without using jigs or any other modern nastiness!

I'm also fortunate to have access to a not-publicly-accessible fort to do my shooting in, so I can play silly buggers with my archery if I want

I get most of my fletching sundries from this man here:

http://www.english-longbow.co.uk/

 

[RovingArcher]

It's good to see so many finding interest in an activity that has been a part of my life for many decades.

Robin Hood? I've been known to split an arrow now and then.

 

[Rob]

so does anyone have ideas on equipment websites, practice sites etc and of course courses (making and shooting)

Dont forget the little guys if you are looking for field kit. Some of these people put themselves out a lot to travel to field events, whereas some of the bigger names do seem to concentrate on target archery.

Always good to shop around, but compare the prices from these guys too, and support things at ground level. Oh - and dont forget to say I sent you

www.carolarchery.com
www.thearcherycompany.com

Feel free to ask any advice from me before you buy any kit - as you will quickly outgrow your first bow and want something with a bit more thump. Better to buy something that will settle you in to things nicely, without being over the top or too light.

So far as practice sites go, best to try and find your local club. Have a look at www.nfas.net and look at the club listings. Failing that, PM me and I will see what I can dig out.

To give you an idea about cost (excluding equipment), membership of the National Field Archery Society costs £10 per year and a day at an open shoot costs about £5.

We will try and get to the Summer Moot (we still need to change that name Tone )

I have been talking with Wayne about a bit of a weekender in Sussex towards the end of the summer, after the weekend shoot that my club are putting on in August. If it goes on, it will be BCUK only and we will have to limit the numbers in order for people to get the most out of it - but hey, it is another excuse to sit around the campfire

Plenty of suitable hammock trees in my wood too

 

[Rob]

One more thing - on a serious note.

Please dont join the NFAS and then turn up to open shoots without going through some training first. Best to be aware of the H&S and the etiquette before you go, so everyone has a good safe days shooting.

 

[Bardster]

so does anyone have ideas on equipment websites, practice sites etc and of course courses (making and shooting)

Depends what you mean by equipement...
The UK's premier supplier of all things archery is quicks
www.quicks.com
then for the traditionalist there is Eagle Classic http://www.eagleclassicarchery.co.uk/
For field archery there is the Archery Centre
http://www.archery-centre.co.uk/
and for general cheap supplies I use JJ Traditional archery
http://www.jjtraditionalarchery.co.uk/

and I have lots more links too

For courses you are best off looking for a local club - they generally run introductory days. A list of clubs can be found on the respective websites of the varios disciplines.
GNAS - www.gnas.org for target archery
NFAS - http://www.nfas.net/ for field archery
the BLBS http://www.askarts.co.uk/longbow.html although they dont have clubs as such

Any more info needed please let me know

 

[Yggdrasil]

I would also like to thank the guys who did the archery at the meet, i had a really good time. I am looking around for ash staves to start carving a bow and might be joining a club locally Therefore any archery thats going on in july im deffinatly up for.
Cheer.

~rob~