Ruantallan Dabblers Guild

Resources

Archery in the SCA

Elise ferch Morgan ap Owen, AoA, CI, CS
(Corinne K. Lewandowski)

Traditional archery is flourishing in the SCA group The Barony of Ruantallan (which is made up of various groups in Nova Scotia and PEI, Canada). At its peak there have been as many as 40 to 50 active archers throughout the barony.

Archery in the SCA is either done as combat archery, with archers using modified equipment to hit fighters in armour safely, or as target archery where all the goals are "paper targets". This leaflet will only cover target archery.

Everyone has heard of how Robin Hood was a crack shot with a bow. The story of Robin’s arrow hitting the exact mark as his opponent so that it split or "Robin Hooded" the arrow is legendary. Many archers often have Robin in mind when they want to start archery in the SCA.

Archery in period (the SCA time from 600AD to 1600AD) is full of rich history in various cultures. The Mongol Hordes were renowned for their prowess with the bow on horseback. The Genoese crossbowmen were hired mercenaries for many battles. The English developed the existing Welsh longbow and created an army of Yeomen (in one battle defeating the French and their Genoese crossbowmen).

Archery Equipment in the SCA
In the East Kingdom, which the barony is an integral part of, the SCA uses longbows, recurves, and crossbows. We do not use compound hunting bows as the SCA is trying for a more period flavour. Archery equipment can be as period or medieval as you like. It can also be a SCA compromise, which includes certain rules that combine period elements with modern ones to make archery affordable. Above all, the rules for equipment use are governed by safety. Crossbows, longbows and recurves are used in the SCA, usually wooden ones. Wood arrows are shot with natural feathers (crossbows can have bolts with "feathers" of any material). The tips used are field points. Craftsmen who made bows in period were called bowyers and those who put feathers on the arrows were called fletchers. King Henry’s yeoman would have shot draweights of over 100 pounds. For the SCA a good starting drawweight for men, women or kids is 20-25lbs Many of the best archers in the East don’t go past 35-40 lbs. We aim for about 2 to 3 seconds and shoot "paper targets". King Henry’s yeoman shot daily (except Sundays) and could bury an arrow four fingers deep into an oak door at some distance. All equipment follows the safety rules in the East. Ask an archery marshal for rules and to check your equipment.

Archery Safety and you
Anyone having archery at an SCA event or practice is required to have a safety marshal present. These people are Archery Marshals. They are trained in running ranges safely and inspecting equipment for safety issues. They also run contests and practices, all following the rules in the East Kingdom (the rules are in the Archery Handbook, ask a marshal to see one.) Archery marshals are approved for their ability to follow rules, especially the safety ones, willingness and ability to teach, use common sense and must regularly report to the kingdom on archery activities they ran. Marshals can try to find suitable equipment for new people to borrow, but this falls to the Archery Company Captain of a group (who may have a larger supply of "loaner gear"). Marshals must also have a paid SCA membership. Archery Marshals are selected by their supervisor’s, the Regional Archery Commanders (in charge of a geographic region), or the East Kingdom Captain General of the Archers (the boss of archery for the whole East Kingdom). An Archery Marshal running an archery range is the safety marshal in charge. They are the boss of the range and anything they say for safety must be adhered to.

The Safety Word "HOLD"

When you hear HOLD! FREEZE! No matter what don’t move! If you are holding an arrow at full draw do not shoot it! Slowly take the arrow off the bow, if you can hear HOLD! FREEZE! No matter where you are or what you’re doing. A hold is called as someone’s life or an animal may be in danger. Maybe they are too close to a target or maybe someone (including you) is doing something unsafe.

Everyone from archers to fighters to regular folks can use and say HOLD! It’s means the same thing, FREEZE! The person who called it or the safety marshal will tell you when it’s safe to resume what you are doing. In archery HOLD! Is also used to mean stop shooting during a timed round. Here are some important things to know when you are shooting or watching archery. No one can stand "down range" where the targets are. It’s not safe. Watch from well behind the line for safety and to give archers some space to shoot. It’s not polite to speak loudly to yourself or others while archers are trying to shoot. You can talk quietly behind the lines as long as you’re not too close to the archers.

How an Archery Range is Run
An archery marshal will do and say the following things. Once everyone is behind the line they will project/shout loudly . . . "Is it Clear Down Range?" The archery marshal has already checked to make sure the range is clear but is double-checking to make sure there is no one "down range". If you are looking for arrows by a target, make sure the marshal knows you are there NOW. "The Range is Clear!" and "Archers Prepare to Shoot at . . . target". You may put an arrow on the string of your bow only at this point forward. "Bows Down!" Put your bow on the ground gently. No one goes to get arrows until all the bows are on the ground. Never collect arrows with a bow in your hand. "Retrieve Your Arrows!" Only now are you allowed to cross the archery line. Walk to get your arrows. Never run to get arrows. Never run with arrows in your hand.

Tips for Getting arrows
When retrieving walk carefully. You may break an arrow by steeping on it. Let people get their own arrows. Stand to the sides of the target when waiting to pull arrows. An arrow can hit you as it can take a lot of force to pull one out.

What does an SCA archer shoot at?
The official way to keep track of an archer’s standing in the East is a system called Royal Rounds. An archer shoots 6 arrows at a 60cm FITA 5-colour ring target at each distance of 20, 30 and 40 yards. An archer also shoots as many arrows as they can in 30 seconds at 20 yards. Archers are given badges for achieving a Royal Round average (which is 3 scores on 3 different days over one year) at various levels (see handbooke). Royal Rounds are a consistent way of using an equal yardstick for archers everywhere in the Kingdom.

What did medieval archers shoot? Soldiers, inside castle walls, through arrow slots and they likely hunted small animals and game. In the SCA our soldiers are paper barbarians, draw castle windows and unusual things from stuffed animals to pictures of animals to fruit to moving targets to 3D foam animals. The distances can be known or not from 5 feet to over 100 yards. Targets are limited only to the imagination of the person making it. If anyone has an idea for a target or "novelty" shoot, suggested it to a marshal. You can design the shoot and the marshal will make sure it’s safe and maybe even run it if you ask.

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