posted
I’ve asked this before here on Hatrack, but I didn’t really get a huge response so I’m trying again. I’ve been interested in getting into archery for a while, but I don’t know how one would go about that. Right now I’m in Colorado, but mostly I’m at Purdue (West Lafayette Indiana), and I don’t think there are any official archery locations in either place, but I haven’t looked that hard. So, how would one go about finding a place to shot, especially a novice who is perfectly likely to miss by 20 feet?
And perhaps more importantly, how does one get started? Is there any place that rents this stuff? And if not, what type of price are we talking about to buy the necessary equipment, how would you (I) know what to look for? What advice can you give me that I’m too ignorant to even ask for?
posted
Most place have a sportsman shop that might have a range, and some parks have public ranges as well. I would go with a local indoor range, there is usually some sort of instruction available there and often equipment rentals as well.
Also you might want to check out two place that might not have occurred to you....the local colleges and the YMCA. There are archery classes available through the YMCA tat are open to the public, and they are usually reasonably priced. The colleges sometimes offer Archery as a class for PE, and it gives you credit too if you are currently in school.
I was an archer for years through the Boy Scouts, and I had my own little compound bow that I shot with for years. I won all sorts of awards, and it was one of the most fun things I did as a kid.
It looks like Purdue use to have an Archery club but that it doesn't anymore. If you talk to the athletic department about it they might be able to tell you more about it, and if there is enough interest they might even start it up again. Purdue has an armory s it wouldn't be a real strech for them, you know....
Also, if these places are actually places you can do archery, and have equipment you can rent, you should do that.
Here is a really good website for you to read and follow links through.
quote:In fact we often advise people to hold off from spending lots on equipment until they have a good idea of what they want....usually found out after a few sessions learning at a club or similar
Actually, I was a bit concerned about Arrows III & Tackle Too when I read a few reviews that were all about paint ball, but the yellow pages seems to think that they sell a lot of archery equipment. 2888 State Road 25 N is the street address in Lafayette. There's also Archery Unlimited 3501 Union St Lafayette. And Burnham's is at 500 Brown St in West Lafayette.
One would think that the Co-Rec would have archery or an archery club, but it seems that they don't. Weird. It looks like they did, but I can't find anything dated past 2003 that has anything to do with archery.
Well, I take that back.
quote:Archery lockers are available in the archery range for $5 a semester.
Surely if they'll rent you an archery locker and have an archery range, they know something about archery, right?
Posts: 9871 | Registered: Aug 2001
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posted
OK, so it looks like there's no where even vaguely close enough to me ... except Purdue's rec, and this is odd because I have done an exhaustive search of Purdue clubs and there's definitly not an archery one, but I'm going to go into the rec when I get back and ask about this and hopefully they can point me the right way. This is good.
For the other archers out there, is there any tips you want to give someone whose starting out?
posted
Get an arm guard for the inside of your elbow! Or be prepared for large bruises! And a glove for your bow hand and finger protection for your string hand.
Relax and control your breathing. And, pick an anchor point somewhere around your jaw or lower. After you gain some experience, you can fiddle with different anchor points and see which feels best, but early on, it's best to try to use a lower anchor point.
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posted
I always anchored at the jawbone...it felt most natural. I always used an arm guard, but hated the shooting tab....try to use a finger guard glove instead, it allows for better feel IMO.
According to the Purdue site there use to be an archery club...it was listed in the synopsis...but it isn't active any more. If I were you I would go to the Intermural activities/sports office and talk to them. If there is no club currently perhaps they still allow people to use the range.
posted
That Burnham's is the only one that's close enough, or even close to close enough. I have to get everywhere on bike, but that's perfectly doable. That's something else I'll be checking out when I get back. Another thanks.
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I think this is a fabulouslly fun idea. I was quite an archery whiz myself back in those two weeks in high school gym. Will you be Robin Hood for Halloween?
Posts: 8504 | Registered: Aug 1999
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Hobbes--that wasn't Adam, by chance was it? I'm not sure if I would really want to learn archery from him...give the little bit flighty boy sticks with sharp ends? I don't know...
I actually think archery would be fun to learn. We tried it once at girl's camp but I wasn't amazing at it. And they did it in Princess Diaries 2 (which we watched today, you'll note).
Posts: 119 | Registered: Oct 2004
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I'm going to ask Mike about this. I know he was really into archery at one point and he was thinking about taking it up again.
If you find out about the co-rec can you let me know? The 4 of us need to arrange to get together some time. I really want to be Lisha-Princess. It's driving me crazy that we go to the same college and haven't met yet. (Of course I also want to see you Hobbes, but I've met you multiple times and haven't met her at all, so naturally she gets higher priority )
Posts: 4655 | Registered: Jan 2002
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I never used an arm guard and I didn't get bruises. But then, I knew to turn my elbow so it was flat, not sticking out.
So there!
I did archery at camp years ago and I was pretty good. But that was what, twenty five years ago? Eeesh, I'm getting old . . . Posts: 8355 | Registered: Apr 2003
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Mike, my boyfriend. He's in freshman engineering and goes with me to all of the hatrack get togethers to reassure my mother that I will have protection from all the scary internet people.
Posts: 4655 | Registered: Jan 2002
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You know I think of you like a sister Lisha, so as long as I'm not laughing to hard I'll stop Blacwolve and Mike from ... I don't know, whatever it is scary internet people do.
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By the way, Hobbes, I'm not avoiding talking to you on the phone. I'm only on Hatrack because Abby is now on the phone and delaying the start of our Super Scrabble game.
Posts: 8504 | Registered: Aug 1999
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But Annie, scary internet person that you may be (Hobbes, please note that this was a self-made description and I am NOT calling her names), I'm pretty sure that Hobbes would side with you and not me. Perfect people are much more appealing than sisters. Posts: 119 | Registered: Oct 2004
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I’ve been interested in getting into archery for a while, but I don’t know how one would go about that. Right now I’m in Colorado, but mostly I’m at Purdue (West Lafayette Indiana), and I don’t think there are any official archery locations in either place, but I haven’t looked that hard. So, how would one go about finding a place to shot, especially a novice who is perfectly likely to miss by 20 feet?
![[Cry]](graemlins/cry.gif)
![[Group Hug]](graemlins/grouphug.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
I have to get everywhere on bike, but that's perfectly doable. That's something else I'll be checking out when I get back. Another thanks. ![[Hat]](graemlins/hat.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
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But then, I knew to turn my elbow so it was flat, not sticking out.![[Wall Bash]](graemlins/wallbash.gif)
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Hobbes, will you protect me from the scary internet people?!
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