Have a really great friend who shoots traditional archery. Honestly, that is how to start. Anyone that shoots traditional archery loves it to the point of obsession. It is difficult to get into it and do it half-heartedly. So this is a warning to all of you thinking about starting traditional archery. Traditional archery isn’t a drug, but it might as well be.
The reason I recommend starting traditional archery with a friend is that there are so many ways to do it. When starting traditional archery it is best to copy someone’s arrow and bow set up. Once you have their style figured out you can try different things. The other benefit is you won’t have to spend a ton of money upfront. But I’m getting ahead of myself, let’s take a look at how to start shooting traditional archery without a friend giving you guidance. For now, I’ll be your traditional archery friend.
Quick Tip: Whatever you do, do not pull back a bowstring and fire it without an arrow in it. Just don’t do it. You can break the bow.
Just a note, this article is a broad summary. I will be providing in-depth articles on each of these topics. This article topic has been written into full-length chapter books. What I aim to do is provide a large amount of overview so you know what you need to learn each step of becoming a traditional archer.
Starting Out In Traditional Archery
The best place to start your traditional archery journey is by doing research. And right now you are saying, “Well yea, that’s what I’m doing here!” Great! In researching traditional archery you should read up on different types of bows and the positives and negatives of each. For me, I personally recommend a recurve at 45 pounds for all new archers. But I’ll write another article on what bow you should start with when starting traditional archery so you can get more context and details.
In truth, you need to feel and shoot the bow you are going to shoot. A lot of traditional archery shops have a range set up that you can practice at and get advice on. If they don’t, just start simple and get their input. Whatever you do, do not skimp on the arrows. They play a huge role on the accuracy and consistency of your shooting. Of course, figuring out your arrow set up is probably the most difficult part.
But don’t get stressed. We are going to walk through your set up and I will be providing more and more articles to help guide you through starting traditional archery. But don’t just read what I have to say about traditional archery. There are many more experienced and knowledgeable archers from so many different walks of life.
What You Will Need To Start Shooting Traditional Archery
Money and time. Traditional archery takes a lot of practice so plan on shooting a minimum of 3 times a week. The best part is practicing archery. You will get so much satisfaction and relaxation from shooting traditional archery. I look forward to my time with my bow all week. Sometimes it’s with friends shooting arrows and the breeze, sometimes it is just me and my Assenheimer bow. So practice time does not become a problem, everything else in life does.
The cost comes with materials. You’ll need (at a minimum) a bow, arrows and a target. You might also want a quiver or finger tabs. A cheap archery target costs about $20-$50. A bow costs anywhere from $100-$1000. I wouldn’t recommend starting with the $1000 bow. The arrows will cost anywhere from $80-$150. It depends on your setup and the quality of the arrows. With all of this the quality shows.
Quick Tip: Please for the love of all that is good, don’t buy it from wish.com. I’ve given them a chance with too many things. While the stuff looks nice, it is cheap.
Your Quick Traditional Archery Setup
I am not going to tell you specific brands here or try to give you a sales pitch on the best traditional archery setup. The truth is, there isn’t one. In my other blog posts I’ll go over my personal arrow set up and bow preferences, but they are not right, they are simply what works for me. Here is what you should buy to start shooting traditional archery:
- A cheaper recurve bow that is 45#. Check that you can pull the bowstring back before purchasing it. Don’t get anything fancy. Simple is good when you start.
- When you get your first batch of arrows I recommend carbon arrows because they will not bend. Also, get the brightest arrows you can find because you are going to miss the target. Get larger/longer fletchings (this helps correct the arrow more) and simple field tips. When purchasing arrows, be sure to reference field guides and guidance on the arrows you purchase.
- If you don’t want to buy a target, get a bale of hay. If you get a target, maybe get a few bales of hay to put behind the target so you don’t lose as many arrows.
The First Time You Shoot Your Bow and Arrow
You are going to miss. Arrows might be lost. You might also think it was a bad idea to start shooting traditional archery, then, out of nowhere you will hit the target and all those doubts will go away. And the goal becomes hitting the target again. There are multiple things that affect how your arrows fly and your aim. One of the major factors in shooting traditional archery is your shooting form.
Keeping a consistent form means you want your body to do the same thing every time. This is essentially lining up the sites of a gun. You need to line up your body with the bow. You do this by having a knock point, your forearm aligned with your arrow, your shoulder blades pulling the weight, your legs spread slightly with your left foot forward (if shooting right-handed), and your eyes on the target. Learning a correct archery form is an ongoing task that can continually be improved. When you first start, you will do things wrong. When you shoot for 5 years, you will do things that are wrong as well. That is why you practice.
For now, try to figure out a nock point. A nock point is where you place your hand when you fully pull back the string of the bow. My nock point is forward a little bit because I wear glasses. So I actually hook my thumbnail on a tooth. A lot of people hook their thumb under their jawline. It is best to align with bone since that won’t change. I used to place my thumb in the corner of my mouth but my mouth moves and depending on if I’m smiling or frowning I can throw off my arrow’s trajectory by 2 foot or more. If you start with a solid nock point you will slowly be able to work out the details of your shooting.
Subscribe to get Tips on Traditional Archery
We barely scratched the surface in how to start shooting traditional archery with this single article. If you want to learn more (of course you do!) in how to shoot with the appropriate form or learn about different arrow setups or how to make your own string and arrows subscribe to Huntsman!
I’d love to hear about your traditional archery experience. Especially if you are new to traditional archery. Contact me, leave a comment, and find me on social media. I like to think I’m fun to talk to.