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Archery, Been Around Awhile!

Archery. Probably the oldest sport known to man. Since the first bow was made, who knows how long ago, man has endeavored to make it shoot more accurately, farther and faster. And of course, because he’s man, has wanted to know who could shoot it the best.

The first bows were invented as a means to harvest food and also for defense. Probably from predators at first and then from man himself when he began to war with himself.

Today bows are used for some of the same things. Lots of bowhunters hit the woods every year armed with their favorite shooting bow to harvest that big Whitetail Buck, Turkey or Bull Elk. They are also used for fishing as well. During the Viet Nam war, crossbows were actually used to quietly take out key enemy targets.

And of course there is the competitive arena. Many forms of competitive archery exist today. We have all seen the Olympic shooters that represent many countries in the Summer Olympic Games every four years. These guy’s and gals are probably the best archers in the world, considering the equipment that they use. And to take that a step farther, Korea is at the top of the heap. There are also Indoor Archery Leagues run by most archery shops in this country. Every state in the U.S.A. has an affiliate membership with the N.F.A.A. (National Field Archery Association). Each state has an N.F.A.A. sanctioned indoor and outdoor state championship shoot once a year. The indoor shoots are held at twenty yards, and the outdoor “Field Shoots” are shot at varying distances ranging from 35 feet to 80 yards, and also use three different target faces.

Then there are 3-D shoots. These are shoots put on by clubs and organizations throughout the country. The targets are full life size three dimensional targets of animals, ranging in size from squirrels to Buffalo. The yardage’s, unlike field shoots, are not marked. The shooter has to estimate the yardage. It is an excellent method to practice and hone skills for hunting.

Archery has never attained the notoriety nor popularity of some of the other sports. There are “Professional” archers, but they don’t make the kind of money that Tiger Woods and Phil Mikleson make. However it is getting better. The winner of, probably the biggest shoot in the world these days (The Las Vegas Shoot), took home close to if not a little more than $40,000.00 this year.

Archery is a great sport and has something for everyone. It is really a great family sport as well. It can be as simple as a stress relieving activity that one can use to get away from it all for a few hours, or it can totally consume you as it has done to me for the past 48 years. If you have an archery shop in your area, you owe it to yourself to drop in and watch some of the shooters. You’ll be impressed. I guarantee it.

Jimhs,,,JMJ Member.

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