A LITTLE HISTORY OF THE bowmen of melville

Target Archery is the discipline of shooting at stationary circular targets set at specific distances.

Archers shoot over distances of between 5 and 60 metres at yellow and black targets. The distances of the targets can be marked (known by the archer) or unmarked (unknown by the archer), making the ability to judge the range of the target valuable.

The additional skills required to succeed in field archery – including distance judging, shooting uphill and downhill, dealing with changing light conditions and challenging terrain – are collectively known as fieldcraft.

World Archery organises a field archery world championships, which is called the World Archery Field Championships, every two years. It was first held in 1969.

Field archery is the discipline used for the recurve and barebow competitions at the World Games.

Clout Archery is a form of archery in which archers shoot arrows at a flag (known as “the Clout”) from a relatively long distance and score points depending on how close each arrow lands to the flag.

Scoring zones are defined by maximum radii from the flag pole. Each arrow scores points depending on which scoring zone it enters the ground in. An arrow embedded in the flag pole is counted as being in the highest scoring zone. If an arrow is lying on the ground, it is considered to be in the scoring zone in which its point lies.

The scoring zones may be marked on the ground. Where this is not practical, a non-stretch rope or chain marked with the radii of the scoring zones is attached to the flag pole and swept around it to determine which arrows are in which zones.

A designated person collects the arrows in each zone, sorts them into sets, and lays them on the ground. Each archer in turn points to his or her arrows and calls out the scores in descending order.

A single clout round consists of three dozen arrows, shot in ends of 6 arrows. Tournaments typically consist of a double clout round, in which a total of six dozen arrows is shot.

3D Archery is like field archery, in that it is set out on a course of 24 targets in similar settings. Instead of shooting at paper targets, each archer shoots at foam 3D animal shaped targets. The distances are not specified but sighted bows will shoot up to 45m and unsighted bows up to 30m.

Twilight Shoots Is Target Archery but limited to shorter distances (typically 20 and 30 metres) to maximise the sunlight available when the shoot starts at 5:30pm. Twilight Shoots run right through winter, and when too dark, we shoot with lights. Besides providing our archers with an extra practice opportunity to hone their skills, Twilight Shoot is also somewhat more relaxed, and fun, and really nothing beats shooting a few arrows in good company, on a warm summer evening, in the beautiful golden light setting over the surrounding trees!