Archery Safety

by Rob Daniels

Archery like any sport has rules, most of the rules are best practice rules that are used to keep archers and spectators safe. In general it is good practice to observe these rules whether competing or just shooting for fun.

1. Aim
Always shoot arrows at the target. Arrows can be dangerous weapons and should never to be aimed at anything other than the target.

2. Inspect
Arrows must be carefully inspected before each shot to see that they have not been damaged. If the arrow shaft is damage it could cause the arrow to snap and injure the archer. A cracked arrow could also go off course and harm a spectator. The bottom line is damaged arrows are unpredictable and not safe to shoot.

Damaged nocks may result in arrow leaving bow unpredictably or result in a misdirected arrow. So always inspect arrows prior to shooting them.

3. Safety
Only when everyone has finished shooting should the signal be given, to move forward to collect the arrows. One person at a time should withdraw their arrows from the target. When withdrawing arrows from the target, make sure no-one is standing in front of the target or in the way of the withdrawn arrows.

4. Load
Never pull back and release a bow string without an arrow attached. This could damage the bow or injure the archer. Additionally, a bow should not be loaded with an arrow unless standing on the "Shooting Line" and the signal to start shooting has been given.

5. Placement
Targets should be set up to insure that no one can be accidentally hit by a stray arrow. All competitors must wait for the command to shoot and retrieve.

Archery is a fun sport, but one must not forget it can also be a dangerous sport. By following basic guidelines you are more apt to enjoy shooting.

About the Author
Rob Daniels writes educational material for http://www.archery-target.com and http://www.kayak-escape.com two of his favorite lifelong sports.