Target Archery is a popular martial activity in the SCA and archers of almost any age are welcome. In the East Kingdom, we do not require participants to qualify or authorize, but it is helpful to first get an introduction to behaving safely and using equipment effectively. All archers are expected to obey the commands of the Range Marshals — when to shoot, when to retrieve, what to do if a HOLD! is called.
To get off to a good start, begin by contacting an archery marshal near you. Search your SCA branch’s website to find your local archery officer and practices, or scan the list of Warranted Archery Marshals for marshals in nearby groups.
By meeting individually with a Marshal or by attending a practice, you should be able to try loaner equipment and get instruction on range safety and basic shooting technique. Instruction and loaner gear may be available at events where archery is taking place. Events with archery should be listed on our Calendar, and you can find more information in the event description (linked in each calendar entry and on the East Kingdom Event Calendar).
If you already possess archery equipment, a Marshal can inspect it for safety issues and determine if it meets our equipment requirements (as detailed in the Society and East Kingdom Rules). We shoot with handbows (longbows, recurves, horse bows, yumi, etc.) and crossbows, always aspiring to use equipment that is as close as is practical to what was used in the SCA period of study. For any official or competitive shooting, arrows must be made of wood with feather fletches; crossbow bolts must be made of wood with fletches made of any material used in period (such as feathers, leather or thin metal). For practices, especially with young archers, arrows and bolts made of modern materials may be allowed at the discretion of the Marshal.