Archery Safety Tips

  • Before you start to shoot, always check the bow to make sure there isn’t any damage on the limbs
  • NEVER wear any sort of jewelry while shooting, even watches and rings
  • While you are knocking your bow, keep the arrow aimed towards the ground the entire time
  • When stringing your bow, ALWAYS use a bow stringer
  • Don’t draw an arrow until there aren’t any people between the target and yourself
  • When retrieving shot arrows, walk slowly and carefully. Never run or speed walk while holding an arrow.
  • One person at a time should collect their arrows from the target

Understand the difference in bows:
In archery there are two basic types of bows.

  1. The Longbow and the Recurve Bow: The Recurve Bow has more than one curve, which creates a springy quality when the bull is pulled which creates power when shooting. The Longbow is straight with one curve from end to end, which resembles the shape of the letter “D”.
  2. Compound Bow: The compound bow is most commonly used in the US for hunting. The advantages of a compound bow:
  • Faster – Get better penetration on animals.
  • Accurate – Allows you to hit where you want. If you target shoot, they can be extremely accurate with the right set up.
  • Distance – Effectively increase your distance.
  • Cams – When you draw the bow back, the cams will let off and release the majority of pressure, thus allowing you to sit back and take aim. So if your hunting and the deer hasn’t quite stepped out yet, you can keep the bow full draw before your ready to release.

Cheat Sheet: 
Draw- This is when you pull the bowstring back, getting ready to shoot
Pre-Draw- This means displacing the string from rest to pull the bow in to the bow hand.
Set- A set is hooking the string and getting ready to shoot.
Nock- A nock is what the notch at the end of the arrow is called. The nock clips onto the bowstring
Stance- A stance is the position that you shoot

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