The Joys of Field Archery

When it comes to Archery in the UK, there are two main forms of the sport. There is the common Target archery (as shot in the Olympics), but there is the less well know Field Archery which takes place in the woods. In this article we will explore Field Archery.With Field Archery, there is distinct differences compared to Target Archery. The main difference is the location! Field Archery is based in the woods. (Even though the name suggests a Field). Whilst shooting in the woods, a group of archers follows a predefined route through the wood, shooting at inanimate objects resembling animals. These can range from 3D targets, to printed pictures (Called target faces). It is illegal to shoot real animals in the countryside in the UK.Field Archery is at multiple different targets, of different shapes and sizes. These targets are placed at unknown distances, with natural obstacles, such as trees and bushes in the way. It is quite common that archers need to twist, turn, lean, or even duck in order to place themselves in the position to take the best shot. Target Archery focuses on a large number of arrows shot at a set distance.After each arrow, an archer moves to a different location to shoot at the target again. This location may be closer to the target, or to a place which is less obstructed. 3 arrows are usually shot at each target. Only one arrow may score, the scoring is designed so that the more difficult shots (regardless of the area hit), score more than a more accurate shot from a shorter distance. Therefore some archers may “claim” the first arrow (if it is an obvious hit), or shoot more arrows to ensure they have definitely hit the target. This is common with paper face targets, as “Fur and Feathers” normally are not eligible for scoring. For example, a Turkey has a large amount of feathers, which are none scoring – the resemble hunting, as in the real world, such a shot would not wound the animal.There are many different classifications which people can shoot in, for example, Hunting Tackle, Compound Limited, Unlimited, Crossbow etc. During a competition, archers shoot within their own classifications. This allows archers to compete amongst similar bows.Due to the nature of the sport, Field Archery is very varied compared to Target Archery, it adds extra challenges and variety to the sport.