TRADITIONAL | RECURVE | COMPOUND

Contact our Secretary

JOIN US

THE HOME OF ALL FORMS OF ARCHERY

If You are a beginner archer

As a member of Bowmen of Melville, you are able to use our facilities 24/7.

Please note: if you are a beginner, we suggest shooting at our Come and Try sessions a few times before joining. Club equipment is not available outside of Saturdays, so members are required to have their own equipment.

To learn more about becoming a member, get in touch with our Membership Committee Member.

Our Main club shoots are scheduled for Saturday afternoons throughout the year, and starts at 1pm, unless stated otherwise on the calendar. Traditional, Recurve and Compound bows compete together in their respective category. Shoots alternates between, Target, Field and Clout.

The Club also provide a Mid-Week Twilight Shoot every Tuesday starting at 5:30pm, throughout the year, including winter.

In addition to these shoots, the club also provides the occasional 3D shoot on selected Sunday mornings, starting at 7:30am.

Come 'n' Try

Come ‘n’ Try is simply the BEST way to try and get started with Archery!

Archery is a sport for everyone no matter your age, ability or skill level!

We encourage everyone to come along and try archery and have some fun. It’s a fantastic sport and you’ll make lots of friends along the way and become part of a great community. We’ll also let you in on a secret, nothing beats hitting your very first gold. But you’ll have to come and try it for yourself.

Our Come ‘N’ Try sessions run most Saturday mornings. Registration starts at 9am and shooting is between 9:30 and 11am, but please arrive between 8:45 and 9am to ensure you can secure a place as we are ‘first come first serve’. (Maximum of 30 shooters)

Traditional Archery

The traditional bow is the Longbows, and are a self bow made of a single piece of wood, but modern longbows may also be made from modern materials (including carbon) or by gluing different timbers together. Longbows take you back to the sport’s roots, when all you needed was a bow and a full quiver. The challenge of shooting bull’s-eyes with them is extremely rewarding. They’re simple bows, but capable of incredible accuracy. You’ll find endless bow styles, but traditional archery’s three main categories are longbow, recurve and barebow.

A recurve bow’s swept tips curve away from the archer, and it shoots arrows at faster speeds than what straight-limbed longbows can deliver. The longbow lacks the recurve’s curved tips, but it’s steeped in history and bends gracefully in classic design when strung.

Barebow Archery

In the dynamic world of archery, a significant and exhilarating trend is taking centre stage – the meteoric rise of barebow, a bowstyle that foregoes the use of sights or stabilisers. A typical barebow resembles an Olympic recurve, but without sights, stabilizers or other accuracy-enhancing gear. The barebow division is growing in competitive archery because it draws people to the bow’s challenge and simplicity. Today, it is clear that the enthusiasm for this bow style has become a powerful force within the archery community.

Olympic Recurves

The crowd’s roar fades as your national anthem plays. The medal around your neck represents years of hard work and sacrifice, but earning this amazing moment was worth it. If that’s your dream, an Olympic recurve might be in your future. That’s the type of bow Olympians use, and it’s also the bow thousands of recreational archers prefer. Recurve shooting is a fantastic, challenging discipline, and Olympic archery combines exercise and mental discipline.

These bows can be used for 3D, target, indoor and field archery. In outdoor target tournaments, including the Olympics, adults shoot targets at 70 meters. To shoot that far accurately, your Olympic bow needs different accessories than those used on other recurves.

Olympic recurves have three main pieces: a riser and two limbs. The bow disassembles for customization and transportation. You grip the bow’s riser, which is also where its sight and arrow rest attach. The bow’s limbs create its power, and bend in unison when drawn. When archers release the bowstring, the limbs snap forward, propelling the arrow to the target.

Long rods jut from an Olympic bow’s riser. These stabilizers help archers steady the bow for precise aiming. Its other accessories are a sight, clicker and arrow rest.

Compound Bows

Your target is 50 meters away. You dial your sight to the exact distance and prepare to shoot. At full draw, you can see the target in crisp detail through your magnified scope. You apply steady pressure to your release-aid until it “breaks” and releases the bowstring, launching your arrow into the 10-ring.

If you love precision marksmanship, consider a compound bow. These bows can be incredibly accurate. With lessons, you’ll consistently hit the center. You can shoot compounds for recreation, competition or bowhunting.

Different compound bows have different uses. Target compound bows have one job: accuracy. They provide excellent shooting experiences. You can trick them out and accessorize them for maximum accuracy. Their target accessories include long stabilizers and finely adjustable magnified sights.

Hunting compounds must be accurate and portable, so they’re smaller and lighter than target bows. Their accessories are usually more durable to withstand outdoor hazards. That doesn’t mean you can’t compete or shoot targets with hunting bows. In fact, you’ll find competitive divisions for them, or you can change a few accessories and compete with target archers.

If you like recreational archery, you have your choice of compounds. You can even custom-design your bow. If you like a target sight’s adjustability and the portability of a hunting bow, you can choose a compound that meets your preferences.

Before You Buy Your First Bow

I know, you just discovered how much fun archery is, and you want to get started straight away. You have done your research on the Net, and are now ready to press the BUY button.

DON’T PRESS THAT BUTTON, just yet!

First, please talk to our coaches. It is worth it, as we all have done the same mistakes when we started, please do not make the repeat them!

Talk to us; we will guide you, and save you a lot of money, disappointment, and heartache.

If You are an experienced archer

Access To Our Range

As a member of Bowmen of Melville, you are able to use our facilities 24/7. Please note: if you are a beginner, we suggest shooting at our Come and Try sessions a few times before joining. Club equipment is not available outside of Saturdays, so members are required to have their own equipment. To learn more about becoming a member, get in touch with our Membership Committee Member. Our Main club shoots are scheduled for Saturday afternoons throughout the year, and starts at 1pm, unless stated otherwise on the calendar. Traditional, Recurve and Compound bows compete together in their respective category. Shoots alternates between, Target, Field and Clout (Please note: Clout shoots are suspended until further notice). The Club also provide a Mid-Week Twilight Shoot every Tuesday starting at 5:30pm, throughout the year, including winter. In addition to these shoots, the club also provides the occasional 3D shoot on selected Sunday mornings, starting at 7:30am.

Saturday Club Shoot

Our Saturday Club Shoot run on Saturdays with a 1pm start and usually finishes around 3:30-4:00pm. You can come and practice beforehand from 11am onward.

The first time you attend the Saturday Club Shoot, it is advisable to talk to any of our Members to explain to you the shooting procedures; it is simple, but it might be a little confusing to pick a Target Bay to shoot from, get a Target Butt out of the shed, and select a group to shoot with that would suit you.

Alternatively, contact us beforehand to discuss any issue.

Archery Awards

Traditional FITA archery awards, now under the umbrella of World Archery, include Star Awards (1000-1400), Target Awards (White, Gold, Silver), and Arrowhead Badges, along with awards for specific achievements like Six Gold, Three Gold, and Six Clout

Our Club's Membership

Benefits, Fees, Constitution, By-Laws, etc...

We are always looking for new members. Talk to one of our committee members or coaches – they will be happy to provide you with all the information required, and to assist you to join our Club.

Being a member of the Bowmen of Melville provides many benefits:

You become affiliated with Archery Australia, as well as World Archery.
You will be insured.
You may shoot at our Club grounds at any time (7 days a week if you wish).
You may shoot at any other World Archery affiliated Club (anywhere in the world).
You gain access to Local, State, and National Tournaments.
We also have an active Social calendar, including 3D shoots and fun shoots.
You can receive free coaching session, if you wish.
You can receive advice on anything archery related; purchasing your gear, setting-up your bow and/or arrows, correct shooting technique, mental management coaching, Competition Archery development and preparation, etc…

MEMBERSHIP FEES: Bowmen of Melville is a family-friendly and socially oriented club. We are affiliated with Archery Australia and are always welcoming new members. Our members range from learners to (before-they-were-famous) Olympians. Please download our Membership FAQs and Membership Form for more information on joining our Club. Should you need to know more, you can either email our Membership officer, see the membership officer at the Club (most Saturdays), or talk to our Come’N’Try club coaches that run the Come’N’Try on Saturday mornings.

OUR INFORMATION BOOKLET:

Ideal if you are a beginner, our Information Pack will give you the lay of the land…

SAFETY RULES:

Archery is a very safe sport, provided all members adhere to the code of conduct outlined below.
There is no substitute for common sense.
Any time you are going to shoot, strictly abide by our Director Of Shooting’s directions. He will signal when it is safe to shoot, and when to retrieve your arrows from the target butt. NEVER WALK AROUND THE SHOOTING GROUNDS WITHOUT CHECKING FIRST IF IT IS SAFE TO DO SO WITH A CLUB OFFICIAL. It safeguards both you and the club.

CLUB CONSTITUTION & BY-LAWS: Please click on the links below to download our Club Constitution and By-Laws. Any other questions regarding Club Meetings’ minutes and Financials, please contact our Club Secretary

BUYING YOUR OWN EQUIPMENT: Sooner or later you’ll want to buy your own equipment. Our initial recommendation – don’t buy anything until you have been shooting for at least four weeks. When you have decided that you’re ready to buy your own gear (and join a club), talk to our Club Coach Kevin – they are equipped to provide the best advice on what equipment will best suit you and fit in with your budget. Broadhead Arrows and Crossbows: The use of broadhead arrows or crossbows is prohibited on our grounds. Broadheads completely destroy our target butts; the foam we use and shoot at is not design to take the impact of a broadhead. Crossbows are classified as a weapon and are illegal in the state of Western Australia.

Do You Have a Question About the Running of Our Club?

Being a member of the Bowmen of Melville you can request to consult our Club Policies, Minutes, Constitution, and AGM transcripts. Simply contact our Club Secretary to request to be emailed any documentation you might require.