Any "real" archers on IWs?

[Larry_OHF]

Aside from the gaming perspective, are there any archers here on IW that uses a bow for hunting or sport? I have an interest in taking up archery as something to try, and would like to buy a good bow. I don't think I want some fiberglass thing. Real wood is my preference. I know that the string "weight" and height of the bow are factors, but I have no idea what I should go for. Something that I can handle and can be considered more than a mere toy.

Any help?

[burnzey boi]

I was actually thinking about taking this as a sport after a camp i had been to.

But i know nothing about bows... Ebay?

[ElfBane]

Do you want to be authentic? As in no mechanical advantage(compound) bows? Anyway, go to your local archery shop and buy a training bow and target arrows. The purpose of the training bow is to build up your arm strength to where you can do a full draw,,AND hold it comfortably. Once you can do this,, and haven't grown bored with it..then think about getting a real bow,,and perhaps some hunting tipped arrows. This is the time when you can decide what style of bow to go with, recurved, compound, longbow,,etc.
Doing this the "training bow" way also will minimize your investment should you decide to not pursue the sport.
BTW,, don't buy the standard target,,,just get a bale of hay as your target. When starting out your goal should be to consistently hit the bale. Start at about 20 yards, and increase distance as you get better. Hope this helps.

[Variol (Farseer) Elmwood]

If there are any Archery ranges in your area, I would recommend a visit. Talk to the people there and get a feel for what they like.
It's something I've always had an interest in as well. I would never hunt anything though.

[Dragonshadow]

I have a wooden bow and am an okay shot with it (although not great, but I can always hit the target somewhere), but don't do it often.

[NagaSaki]

I do alot of archery, not competitions but actual hunting. And i've got my baby, handmade 6 foot longbow . I'm so right handed now you can notice my right shoulder is bigger than my left. I've hunted everything from p(h)easants to boar and deer, up close nothing can stand the power of a long bow coupled with modern day hunting arrows.
But ye get practising, once you have the strength to hold your draw then the accuracy comes. So go with a practise bow for the practise but get your self an olde style wood bow so you can try it occasionally to see how your trainings going.

[Elif Godson]

I use an old recurve bow, sits at 110lb draw I think it is, could be wrong, Ive had it since I was 15. Hunted boar and such with it, makes for a good time. The advice already given pretty much sums it up! Practice makes perfect when it comes to the bow, wind and terrain are always a factor as well as target speed, no point and click here. hehe

[Larry_OHF]

I have no idea if I have a archery range anywhere near here, nor do I think I have an archery store...I was looking at some online at century martial arts website that has all kinds of weapons. I am not into hunting, but merely wanted to have a bow for learning how to use it for sport at a non-living target...unless that target happens to have pissed me off enough to wanna load his ....with an arrow or two...well...nevermind all that.

Thanks for the mention of a "training" bow.

[ElfBane]

Originally Posted by Larry_OHF I have no idea if I have a archery range anywhere near here, nor do I think I have an archery store...I was looking at some online at century martial arts website that has all kinds of weapons. I am not into hunting, but merely wanted to have a bow for learning how to use it for sport at a non-living target...unless that target happens to have pissed me off enough to wanna load his ....with an arrow or two...well...nevermind all that. Thanks for the mention of a "training" bow.

Sounds like you may want to go the target shooting route. Many people are not hunters, and trust me,,,,hunting with a bow is quite difficult.

Do you have a "Dick's Sporting Goods" franchise in your area? I think they have archery. I don't know about the web site you visited....but I recommend you buy things like a training bow and the target arrows in person, at least the first time. The salesman may even be able to gives leads to archery clubs.

Another 'benefit' of using a hay bale as your target,,,is when placed upright it is almost a perfect simulation of a human torso.

Not to scare you off, but bow shooting is not 'easy'. You will need to be fairly strong to do it(NOT weightlifter strong, though). That's the purpose of the training bow, to build up the muscles used in archery. Hope this helps.

[Variol (Farseer) Elmwood]

Here are some links for your area:
North Carolina Field Archery Association
http://www.ncfaa-archery.org/

Archery Clubs in NC: top 10 of 23
http://www.3dshoots.com/archery/resu...hp?mnuState=NC



Club Name
Telephone Contact ST Town Email/Website
BIG BUCK ARCHERY CLUB 336-573-1941 ALLEN HARRIS
NC
STONEVILLE deerslayer1_2@netzero.com
Big Oak Archery Club 704-209-3600 David Talley
NC
Gold Hill ncpaladin383@yahoo.com
ncpaladin383@yahoo.com
Blue Ridge Bowhunters 828-683-9545 Ken Penley
NC
Leicester (near Asheville) webmaster@blueridgebowhunters.org
www.blueridgebowhunters.org
Brushy Mt. 828-635-0001 Greg Riddle
NC
Taylorsville trapperofcoon@hotmail.com
BUCKHORN FARMS ARCHERY CLUB 919 -795-4811 JOHNNY CARROLL
NC
HOLLY SPRINGS BUCKHORNFARMS@AOL.COM
Durham County Wildlife Club (919)468-7115 Joe Rozmus
NC
Morrisville justxsroz@aol.com
www.dcwc.net
Falls Lake Archery Association 919.682.8110 Jeff Murray
NC
Durham j8377@aol.com
centralcarolinaarchery.com
Foggy Mtn Archery 828-688-5902 Chris Honeycutt
NC
Bakersville FoggyMtn Archery
Goochs Mill Archery Club 336.364.9788 Ronald Hayes
NC
Oxford gvdhodges@aol.com
centralcarolinaarchery.com
Harnett County Bowhunters 919-718-0500 Jeff McMillian
NC
Broadway llmcmillian@alltel.net