During late spring through mid-fall, we hold target archery practice every Monday from 6pm until dark at the Etna playground, subject to the availability of a range marshal, and weather permitting. Generally we shoot Royal Rounds (see below).
These meetings run from late spring to early fall. During the winter, some of our archers travel north to Delftwood’s indoor archery practice.
Standard SCA target archery consists of Royal Rounds, and occasional novelty shoots, which can include moving targets, humorous themes, or unusual requirements for scoring points. If space allows, there can also be clout shoots, where archers aim high into the air in an attempt to drop arrows down ballistically onto a target on the ground.
A Royal Round consists of four consecutive bouts of shooting:
- six arrows at 20 yards, no time limit;
- six arrows at 30 yards, no time limit;
- six arrows at 40 yards, no time limit;
- ? arrows at 20 yards, 30-second time limit.
We follow strict rules during archery practices and events in order to create an environment as safe as possible.
The SCA does not allow the use of modern compound bows or metal arrow shafts, but is otherwise open to modern materials such as fiberglass bows. Of course traditional longbows are most welcome. Crossbows may also be used on the range, although there are some restrictions regarding them, mostly with the idea of avoiding those that look and feel modern.
Some loaner equipment is available for use during practices.
We usually hold an annual arrow-building workshop in the late winter or early spring.
In addition to target archery, the SCA also offers combat archery, where the archer participates in heavy-weapons fighting against opposing soldiers in melee situations. See our Armored Combat page for more details.
