Traditional Archery
Traditional archery is the use of longbow, recurve or reflex bows without the use of sites or gadgets, relying instead on training eyes and hands to shoot. Traditional archers shoot for fun or as practise with 3D targets or roving to simulate hunting conditions as closely as possible. Traditional archers use fiberglass, laminate, composite bows or selfbows. Many prefer to use arrows with wooden shafts but some will use aluminium.
Traditional archery has distinct advantages over archery using compound bows with gadgets and sites. A traditional bow is less likely to fail in adverse weather conditions, for instance snow, rain or cold, is quieter, easier to repair and less likely to catch on branches. A traditional archer is not limited to shooting in a vertical position and give a quicker shot. However, it takes more practise and the archer must get closer to the target.
Some people may choose traditional archery because of their interest in history and their desire to recreate the bows and conditions of archers of the past. They may prefer the long bows used in Britain in the past, or the composite bows used by the Chinese or Japanese. for those who have mastered compound bows they choose a traditional bow as a new challenge, one that needs more skill and practice. Some traditional archers enjoy crafting their own selfbows and arrows, searching in the woods for the perfect piece of yew or making a quiver or arm guards from a piece of animal hide. Others prefer the simplicity of a low-tech sport as a way to escape the high tech society we live in today.
To get started in traditional archery consider joining a local club. You can find a list of clubs in the US at Traditional Archery Supply or in the UK at GBG Guide UK Archery
It is fairly low cost to get started. A long bow, arrows, quiver, finger tab and brace will cost about 220 pounds or about $US400 new. Membership of the British Longbow Society is 6 pounds a year.
It is also a sport for everyone. Children can begin at 5 years old and the physically challenged
can compete on equal terms.