Target Archery

Inspections

• All archers wishing to shoot during Pennsic must bring their equipment to the archery range and have it inspected before they are allowed to shoot.
• If multiple people are using the same equipment, each of them must come to the Archery Marshals' tent to be inspected with that equipment.
• Each archer and their equipment need only be inspected once during War.
• NO in camp inspections are allowed.

Activities / Hours

Peace Week

Because so many people want to be able to shoot during "Peace Week", we will have a portion of the Archery Range officially open on Aug 2, August 3, and August 4 (Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday), from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm each day for practice and Royal Rounds. These peace week hours will allow more archery fun for all.

To all archery marshals, we will need marshals to help staff the additional six 2-hour shifts. We would need a minimum of 4 marshals each shift. If you can, please consider volunteering some of your time to make this new change happen.

All target archery marshals must attend one of the marshal's meetings listed below. All meetings are located in the Archery Marshal's tent on the archery range.
•    Wednesday, Aug 2 – 11:00 am
•    Friday, August 3 – 3:00 pm
•    Sunday, August 6 – 5:00 pm
•    Monday, August 7 – 5:00 pm

War Week

During War Week, the Archery Range and Family Range will be open from 9 am - 5 pm (in general).

On Wednesday, August 9, the range will be closed for the Archery Champions' War Point shoot.

Practice for the Populace War Point Shoot

Family Range / Youth Archery

A complete schedule of Family Range activities will be posted at the Archery Marshals' Tent.

Classes, Tournaments, Novelty Shoots

We will try to have a novelty range set up in the mornings during War Week, each day that the range is open to the populace. A prize will be given for each different novelty shoot. Come early, come often, and represent your Kingdoms, but most of all have fun.

Archery Equipment Standards

1. Bows

   1. No compound bows are allowed.
   2. Adjustable or fixed sights may not be attached to straight bows or recurves. Marks on limbs are allowed.
   3. There are no draw weight limits for target archery bows.
   4. No modern spring/flipper rests or plunger buttons are allowed.
      1. Wire rests are not allowed.
      2. Simple one-piece plastic attachable rests are allowed.
      3. Plastic or nylon bristle rests are allowed.
   5. Bow straps are allowed.
   6. No stabilizers, clickers, or modern string release devices are allowed.
   7. Bows with cut-out risers (i.e.: those you can see through from the side) must have the openings covered so as to present a solid surface and an appearance more in keeping with medieval archery.
   8. Bows made of PVC are not allowed.

2. Crossbows

   1. No center-shot or split prod styles are allowed.
   2. No compound prods or break-cocking styles are allowed.
   3. No ballistae of any kind are allowed on the archery range.
   4. Rear peep sights may be attached, but front sights are not allowed.
   5. Limb coverings are not required.
   6. Slings may be attached to the bow, but may not be used as an aid in shooting.
   7. Stocks made from any material other than wood must be covered and any cut outs (other than the hole that secures the prod to the stock, the binding bridle) that you can see through from the profile must be filled and/or covered to appear more in keeping with medieval archery.

3. Strings

   1. All strings must be appropriate for the bow type and weight.
      1. Strings may not be constructed of material prone to failure, such as natural sinew or gut.
      2. Linen, silk and artificial sinew strings are acceptable, as long as they are constructed properly.
      3. Strings that have become knotted or those that have been repaired by knotting strands together are not allowed. This rule does not forbid those string designs that incorporate knots in their original design.
   2. A nocking point may be attached to the string.
      1. Both metal and tied-on nocking points are acceptable.
      2. A single nocking point is allowed. The nocking point may consist of one or two locators, which may be of any type.
      3. The locators may not extend above or below the arrow nock in such a way as to allow them to be used as sighting mechanisms.
   3. String silencers may be used.
   4. It is strongly recommended that the ends of the string be served, and that a serving cover the nocking area of the string. It should be noted that Japanese and Flemish style strings, which are rarely served at the ends, are acceptable.
   5. Peep sights mounted on the strings are not allowed.

4. Arrows and Bolts

   1. All shafts shall be of wood.
   2. No broadheads or tips that cause excessive damage to targets shall be used.
   3. Fletching:
      1. Arrows shall be fletched with natural feathers, or any period material, no plastic vanes
      2. Bolts may be fletched with any period material.
   4. Nocks for arrows may be of any material.
   5. End caps, rings, or wrapping are not required for crossbow bolts.

5. Miscellaneous Equipment

   1. Any type of quiver may be used, with the exception of those that attach to the bow.
   2. It is strongly recommended that an armguard or bracer be worn.
   3. A glove or finger tab may be used.
   4. All equipment should adhere to the spirit of medieval archery.

6. Exceptions !

   1. Exceptions to these rules may be granted by the Archery General of Æthelmearc, Captain General of Archers East Kingdom, Deputy Earl Marshal for Target Archery Middle Kingdom, Pennsic Archery Coordinator, or their designated deputies.