Some Newbie questions

BrianD3

OK I think I might have some interest in archery. During the summer I'm planning on doing a beginners course/lessons in archery. Something like the 6 week beginners course that the Woodbrook club in Wicklow offers.

However I can't see myself getting very involved in a club scene or competition. My idea is that once I learn a bit I'll get some basic equipment and do some casual shooting at home in the back garden and yard. Would this be a done thing or is it a bad idea, frowned upon, illegal etc. Sorry if these sound like silly questions!

Another question is about crossbows. I see very little mention of them in this forum, why is that? Is crossbow archery not regarded as "proper" archery or something? I realise that a firearms cert is required for a crossbow and this may be hard to acquire. The only close up experience I have had with any sort of bow was when I was a teeanger some acquaintences of mine had crossbows. I think at that time no firearms cert was required to own one.

SonicTheBadger

Shooting in your garden is fine as long as there is no risk of hitting anyone or anything i.e. have a net or alot of land behind the target.
But if youre in college you may as well join a club because you'll get better training in both how to shoot and in the safety aspects of archery.
The reason crossbows arent mentioned much is because there are very few crossbow shooters in the country and they are very expensive and there is alot more hassle involved in getting a crossbow than there is in getting a recurve.

mr potato head

The contact page for the crossbow reps are on the national governing body website Irish Amateur Archery Association they'd be more than happy to give you all the info on starting shooting, and if you go to november of the news on the site you can see they are well qualified to give advice!

As with the other shooting, i'd suggest doing the beginner course and spending a few months being coached. Casual shooting at home is not totally frowned upon but is not encouraged either (its a really safe sport but accidents can happen, at home u've no insurance) untill you have reached a level of shooting which will make it both safe and enjoyable to do so (loosing and breaking arrows is anoying and expensive!)
Not saying you wouldn't be safe but better safe than sorry!

Although you say you don't want to get involved in the club or comp scene it is possible to enjoy shooting for the sake of shooting at these clubs not every one is majorly dedicated and there are advantages.
Once you have compleated the beginner course... at that stage you join the IAAA, when you shoot at any of IAAA affiliated clubs around the country you are covered by their insurance (big plus) and u have butts provided and there is a pool of knowledge to draw from for all those little questions!

thats my 2 cent
there was more but thats the basic gist!
keith

BrianD3

Thanks lads, some good info there

trig

The other problem with the crossbows is that a guy was shot (and killed) with one up in Donegal last year. The Guards were strict before but I understand its rediculuous now. Chances of you getting anything other then a mickey mouse piece of crap crossbow: nil.

BrianD3

OK, I'll forget about the crossbows for the moment.

Are there any legal difficulties when it comes to posessing/using/importing recurve and compound bows.

toxof

No legal difficulties at the moment. But as soon as some *&%$ as Ewan would put it gets his hands on a bow and kills or injures someone there will be problems.

Cosine

Don't get into the mentality that clubs are just for competitions. some clubs I'll grant you that is the all of it but some others are more relaxed and if you get in with a crowd of silly people it makes it alot more fun and you learn a surprising amount.

mr potato head

yup, n thats the way it should be...
Fun first, n take it as seriously as you want to...

thesage

Archery can really be a good laugh.

BrianD3

Also lads, does strength play much of a part in archery? I know that bows come with different poundages but how strong would a person have to be to say use a 70 lb compound bow effectively?

I am quite big into weight training and I have to admit that the "macho" aspect of drawing a bow is appealing to me. A lot of males would probably have a similar attitude

Anyone here do strength training to help their archery?

lilRedSmurf

Funnily enough weight training isn't always a plus when it comes to archery
in general cos sometimes you end up way over working the wrong groups of antagonistic muscles in your arms mostly and your shoulders.

Sure they look good and theres no problem with it at all, it just may not be as easy as one might think to draw if the muscles you've built up perhaps aren't the ones you need to use draw properly.

And (no offence guys) but a fair few archers, good ones too, have quite a bit of extra "stabilization" going on around the ole waist area... :rolleyes: So its more endurance and skill as well as strength.

Also a 70 pounder :eek: can and will turn your spine to jelly in no time so have fun with that!:D

SonicTheBadger

yes i do, but i do weights for my back aswell,all il say is be very careful if you do back weights, if you dont know what youre doing itl **** you up. you dont need to though you just build up the poundage over time an you get used to it.

Cosine

lilRedSmurf wrote:

And (no offence guys) but a fair few archers, good ones too, have quite a bit of extra "stabilization" going on around the ole waist area... :rolleyes: So its more endurance and skill as well as strength.

Hey we're big boned! Right guys? :v:

And like the lads said you'd want to start off on a low poundge. You make mistakes at the start and if you do that with a 70lb compound you are going to have a nasty boo-boo*!

A low poundage bow just to start off with is next to no money compared to a compound. Not sure exactly how much exactly you'll need, but €60 will get you the most basic bow and limb set up on www.altservices.co.uk



*its a medical term.... honest....

baggins

Cosine wrote:

Hey we're big boned! Right guys? :v:

No no, i'm fat. it's a completely different problem