Archie's Archery Depot

More Info On Longbow Deer:

Archery - still primitive in nature!

The history of the draft with the Arch goes back thousands of years. There have been stone arrowheads found dating from as far back as 15,000 years go. This simple weapon helped ensure man's survival, as even the fastest animal was no match for the speed of an arrow - propelled by an archery bow.

Bows and arrows were first used solely for hunting purposes but as time went on they became a deadly and dominating force in warfare. The Egyptians used the bow against the Persians in 5000 BC. The Egyptians were also believed to be the first known people to have made composite bows. The Huns, led by Attila, famously used archers on horseback to run rampant through the Roman armies who were themselves short on archers.

Other civilizations and armies throughout the east also used archery, including the Chinese, the Japanese, Indians and the Persians. Some of the famous terracotta soldiers were archers. The archers were very favorable for the formation in a battle group, because of the relatively low cost of weapons, and because of the lack of necessary armor that was needed for archers, being situated most of the time on the back of the battlefield.

Skilled archers were a valuable asset for many Kings through history. And as a hilarious example of that is James II, King of England who in 1457 AD stated that football and golf, took to much time from archery practice and therefore should be banned!

Additionally, the Native American tribes were also very proficient in archery, using bows and arrows both for hunting and battles. The crossbow, which was actually known to be at least 2500 years, was also used in medieval warfare. One of the turning points in warfare, was the development of the English longbow which wrecked havoc upon the French armies at the Battle of Agincourt

The crossbow was more forceful and was superior for shorter ranges, while the longbow provided a huge advantage in the distance you could strike with. However, by the end of the middle ages the importance of archery in warfare clearly fell off. Due to the development of gun power weapons, that was more advanced and powerful.

Whether it's out in the woods stalking deer or on the field taking aim at a target, archery, for all its advancements, is still primitive in nature and there's something alluring about that.

About the Author

I am a business man who has over 30 years experience in Retail Sales and Marketing. I am also the managing partner of a eCommerce website, www.sportsmanbowstore.com.I have a blog that can be found at sportsmanbowstoreforum@blogspot.com. My real passion is serving Jesus Christ, and the Great Outdoors.

Traditional longbow or compound bow?

I am looking for a new bow (my old compound youth bow no longer suits me) and I am considering getting a traditional longbow. I personally think the "old classic feel" of it would be nice. But I am worried about hunting and such. I mainly only hunt white tail deer, but would like to maybe try elk soon. Can I get some opinions and facts from people who have used both? Also, can someone give me a list of places that are good to buy longbows? I have found a few sites that "custom make them to my specifications" (my height, draw etc...)

Compounds are instant gratification...they can be mastered rather quickly as compared to practicing enough with a traditional bow. But you are very limited as to what position you can shoot from. Traditional long bows are awkward in the woods due to their length, but my 56" Browning recurve (overdraw to 60#) is handy enough and lighter than most compounds. I also soot a self bow that is 44" nock to nock (21" draw) that shoots a 375gr arrow at 200fps and is just about the handiest bow I have ever used...pretty much just a stick and a string...don't worry about having adequate power. No amount of equipment and technology will ever fully substitute for training...get what ever bow feels go to you and practice, practice, practice

Archers take top honours
Red Deer archers Dehl Shaw, Terry Brew and Talyn Towers were victorious in the 3B National Archery Shoot at the Westerner.

Thanks for visiting!