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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 :D
I'm up for some archery too, used to hold a GNAS leaders certificate (expired now :( )
How about a BCUK field archery team?
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.
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
01-06-2005, 18:28
Goes without saying that I am up for it :D
Glad you are enjoying it Jamie :D
Ogri the trog
01-06-2005, 20:39
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
01-06-2005, 23:49
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
02-06-2005, 00:33
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!
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.
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 :D
It was great to meet you :D
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 :D
Thanks Mel, Val, Wayne and Rob.....Stars ;)
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 ;-)
so does anyone have ideas on equipment websites, practice sites etc and of course courses (making and shooting)
jdlenton
02-06-2005, 11:39
Hi Jamie
I think www.quiks.com (http://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 ; )
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 :D
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/tg/detail/-/1585740853/ref=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 :)
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 :D
I get most of my fletching sundries from this man here:
http://www.english-longbow.co.uk/
RovingArcher
02-06-2005, 16:15
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. :D
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 :rolleyes: )
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 :D
Plenty of suitable hammock trees in my wood too :)
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
02-06-2005, 19:57
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
02-06-2005, 20:26
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. :D
Cheer.
~rob~
If there are any archers out there that fancy attending our club's weekend shoot on 13th/14th August, near Henfield in W.Sx., please email me at holmbushfa@aol.com for some details.
NFAS Membership is required. Any archers crossing over from the dreaded target archery who are also interested, let me know and I will arrange to put you with an experienced group.
No crossbows or Crabon arrows ('cause they upset the landowner).
Any questions, please PM me.
Hope to see some of you there :)
Roving Rich
05-06-2005, 20:43
Wow look what you've started Rob ! Your gonna have a whole new field of er field archers to compete with !
I can't wait, a few of us had a "clout" session after majority had left the meetup. First time i'd ever tried it shooting arrows Agincourt stylee hundreds of yards up the field, great fun
Cheers
Rich
Well, thanks to Rob's help, I have touched base with my local club who seem to be a nice bunch. Have been invited to a club evening in a couple of weeks time but, sensibly, they require newbies to go through a course before being allowed to shoot generally.
Really looking forward to it, and a great opportunity to meet more interesting people.
Will definitely be bringing my bow to MM and hope that others will too so that we can have a play (in safety of course!).
If theres anyone in the Wincanton area interested in hooking up as well please feel free to PM me.
Also, big thanks to Rob for the open invite - hope to see you there!
Jamie glad your joining a club they might even get you to shoot straight.
Seriously though I would advise everyone planning to harness their enthusiasm after the meet to seek further instruction.
If You can get to the Holmbush shoot with Rob your going to love it. I'm hoping to have a hand in setting the course so its not going to be simple.
great is'nt it - moved up here over 5 years ago from bewbush crawley to extend my hiking and interest in bows and now, while there is hardly any one up here who shares my interests (in bows), there is now a whole bunch of you right in my old back yard - just typical that is!
I wonder if my old camps still exist in buchan and tilgate forest?
Cheers for the supplies links - needed some more feathers.
Rhapsody
06-06-2005, 01:46
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.
I... errr.... used to be in the Beavers, haha. Either way, there'd be no real point in starting anything like that at this moment in time, what with the exam period and lack of money due to quitting work for said exam period... ah well.
Makes me realise how fortunate I am to have access to private land for my shooting.... Guy who lives there is a champion Longbow archer too. Though I would rather have more people to pick up tips from, at least I can shoot my collection of plate armour, car doors and chainmail without causing any offence.
Also quite useful for testing my homemade bows [not very good atm :(] without any danger to other archers.
great is'nt it - moved up here over 5 years ago from bewbush crawley to extend my hiking and interest in bows and now, while there is hardly any one up here who shares my interests (in bows), there is now a whole bunch of you right in my old back yard - just typical that is!
I wonder if my old camps still exist in buchan and tilgate forest?
Cheers for the supplies links - needed some more feathers.
He he, tell me where they are and I will go and have a look :D
right, well I had a fun evening yesterday in a field near Mere. Spent the evening with Ballands Bowmen (my local FA club) shooting at 3d targets et al. Was great fun and have been invited back (so obviously didnt shame my family) with a view to doing some training come october.
highly recommend anyone thinking of doing it to just get out there and do it, find your local club and if they're anything like the lot i was with, they will be as welcoming and helpful as anything.
right, well I had a fun evening yesterday in a field near Mere. Spent the evening with Ballands Bowmen (my local FA club) shooting at 3d targets et al. Was great fun and have been invited back (so obviously didnt shame my family) with a view to doing some training come october.
highly recommend anyone thinking of doing it to just get out there and do it, find your local club and if they're anything like the lot i was with, they will be as welcoming and helpful as anything.
Glad you had good time Jamie. Field Archers are a friendly bunch :D
If anyone is planning to start shooting find a club like Jamie and seek some tutition.
Excellent stuff mate, Jamie of the merry men! :D
Excellent stuff mate, Jamie of the merry men! :D
just wondering when they're turning up and do they bring the party kit? also, wheres maid marion??????????
maverick
27-06-2005, 20:26
If any of you guys are taking your bows to the m,m moot then you might want to stop of in the wye valley field archery center its near Crick just on the welsh side of the seven bridge.
It is set in 36 acres with 31 3d and picture targets with various stages of dificulty as you go round. It is not a members club you can pay and play :D
However you must spend a short spell on the practise range first to show the owner that you can shot or if you cant you will recieve some tuition and you will only be allowed on the course if you are deemed cabable. This is not a problem for first timers as the owner say's he can teach kids to hit 60% of the targets within half an hour( he even does kids parties)
The price is £7.50 if you have your own gear and £15 extra if you want to hire the equipment. The round takes about 4 hours to get around.However there is nothing stopping you going around again as long as you inform the owner.
Now for the good bit!
I spoke to the owner and asked him if he would mind me doing a bit of wild camping and he could see no reason why not as long as I kept of the range (makes sense lol) I told him that there might be other bushcrafty like people interested and "bring them along" came the reply :D
To be Honest I have not looked around outside of the course so I do not know what land is available and thinking about it I did not see any water supply, but the thought of waking up, having breakfast and stalking 3d deer at natures pace,
out weighs any problems that I can think of :D
I Have a recurve bow about 15 years old but still good and a replica 60lb scythian bow nice and small and very fast.
I might bring it to the moot if there are going to be other archers around :D
That sounds magnificent :D
Just borrowed a 90 pound Yew longbow from a friend who can't manage it anymore, and thats exactly the kind of shooting I want to try with it.
Graham_S
18-07-2005, 11:32
after having a go with Docs' bow at the north scottish meet i've bought a bow set. so i'll bring it along to the moot at M.M. see if i can do any better. and hopefully get some tuition.
I haven't used a bow since teens, when I used to hunt rabbit and pigeon with it, but have recently (age now 39) inherited competition kit, three boxed bows with varying power interchangeable limbs, hundreds of arrows, a butt, targets, bracers, bow stringers, etc. What is the current legal position with me using them to kill stuff, anyone, please? :confused:
Ogri the trog
29-07-2005, 01:04
Madman,
No way, no how, I'm afraid - it's been illegal for a long time to kill anything with a bow and arrow.
Adge,
I'm jealous, a decent war bow just given to you :eek: You are very lucky.
Ogri the trog