Guezille
Programs
The Sport of Archery
in the Lower Arroyo Seco
About the sport
In Archery events a number of arrows are shot at different sized
targets and at various distances to produce a score. The type of round
shot determines the number of arrows distances and target sizes used.
There are three different disciplines with specific rules for both
indoor and outdoor competition rounds. The disciplines are: Field, 3-D,
and Target. There are also different equipment styles or classes for
each discipline.
Archery Disciplines
A typical "hunter round" target
Field Archery
Field Archery is the main focus of activities at the Pasadena Roving
Archers range. Field archery is shot in both wooded and open terrain.
Archers shoot in groups of three to five and proceed on a course of 28
targets, from one target to the next, much the same way as golfers
proceed from one hole to the next. Each target is set at a different
distance and is a different size. Depending on the target, some shots
may be uphill and others downhill. Our course has been laid out to make
the shots as interesting and as challenging as possible. Our field
archery program follows the rules established by the National Field
Archery Association (NFAA).
More in-depth information about field archery at the Pasadena Roving Archers is available here
The Elk Herd
3-D/Bowhunting
Hunting with the bow and arrow is one of the most widely practiced
archery activities. Although hunting is prohibited on the PRA range,
bowhunters in Southern California are fortunate in that the archery
hunting seasons are extensive, with a variety and abundance of legal
game. Throughout the year bowhunters and field archers alike
participate in our 3-D shoots and compete in our Bowhunter League
Program. A 3-D round consists of shooting at 3-dimensional
models of legal game, set at varying unmarked distances on the range.
The 3D targets are set in a wooded area to simulate hunting conditions.
A typical target (Olympic) archery field
Target Archery (Olympic Archery)
Outdoor target archery is shot at four distances on a flat field. Men
shoot at up to 90 meters and women at up to 70 meters. Young archers
shoot at shorter distances. Archers shoot 36 arrows at each distance,
in ends (groups) of 6 arrows each. Target sizes vary with the distance
shot. While PRA does not have an Olympic range, we do have two lanes
set up with the official metric distances for archers wishing to
practice this discipline. Two such ranges in the area are El
Dorado Park in Long Beach and Woodley Park
in the Van Nuys area.
Types of Bows
A longbow
Longbow
Invented roughly 40,000 years ago, this is basically a stick with a string on it. It is a simple, clean, beautiful design to look at. There are several varieties of longbow. Some have many modern innovations to them like metal supports and fiberglass, and some are proudly called "primitive" -- made only from natural materials.
There are no extra widgets attached to these bows -- all of the adjustments take place inside the archer's head.
Recurve Bow
A recurve bow
Invented around 1,000 BC, recurve bows are curved at the tips, which creates extra smoothness when shooting, and extra efficiency getting the energy from the bow into the arrow. Currently this is the only type of bow used in the olympics.
Recurve bows can be made from wood or metal. They can be in single piece, or frequently they detach into three pieces for storage and travel. Sometimes extra equipment is attached to these bows such as sights, stabilizers, and vibration dampeners.
Most of the PRA instruction programs use recurve bows.
Compound Bow
Invented in the mid 1960's (patented in 1969), the compound bow has wheels mounted on the ends of its limbs which provide for significantly more power and accuracy from a very compact bow. Unlike other bows that get harder to pull the farther back you pull them, compound bows can be setup to be easier to hold at full draw than they are to pull initially.
A compound bow
In the U.S., compound bows are extremely popular for hunting, and they make up the vast majority of all archery activity. Most U.S. archery stores primarily work with compound bows, and may have a specialty area for longbows and recurves.
Because their unique attributes lead to them performing well while being less physically demanding, compound bows are also a popular choice for archers with less muscle mass, physical disabilities, and elderly archers. It is possible to continue shooting a compound bow well into one's 90s.
Compound bows are often shot using a mechanical release - a handheld device with a hook or clip that holds the string instead of the archer using fingers to hold the string.
Competition Divisions
Because each type of equipment performs at a different level, it is only fair that scores are compared between comparable equipment. During competition, archers are divided up into several categories based on their age and equipment, and awards are distributed based on scores within those categories.
NFAA Field Archery
For field archery, the NFAA recognizes eight divisions:
- Barebow - longbow or recurve, no long attachments (no sights or long stabilizers).
- Freestyle - If it's a bow, you can shoot it.
- Freestyle Limited - Same as Freestyle, but no mechanical releases
- Competitive Bowhunter - Compounds allowed, but no sights or stabilizers
- Freestyle Bowhunter - Compounds with hunting sights are allowed
- Freestyle Limited Bowhunter - Same as Freestyle Bowhunter, but no mechanical releases
- Traditional - No recurves or compounds allowed, just longbows
- Freestyle Limited Recurve/Longbow - No compounds allowed, no mechanical releases. FITA Recurves would go here.
These divisions mostly separate the major types of bows into their own scoring categories, and then further separate the archers who use certain beneficial accessories (sights, stabilizers, mechanical releases, etc) into their own scoring categories as well.
Here is more information about each division: http://www.nfaa-archery.org/field/styles.cfm
FITA Target Archery
For target archery, FITA reconizes two divisions:
- Recurve
- Compound
Local target shoots may also recognize other divisions like "barebow" and "longbow", using the NFAA classifications for those divisions.
