Your First Archery Range Visit – Basic Preparation for the Starter. Most useful equipment for the range is not to be found in a store as a single product but as parts for a steady routine of checks. Here is a guide for checking range commands, checking your archery equipment, learning about range etiquette and setting up a basic practice plan for the new starter. Remember, always follow local laws and any posted range rules as well as manufacturer’s instructions. As ever, use qualified people to make any repair or adjustments that affect safety.
Start with the real use case
It is also important to remember the real use case for the equipment you plan to buy. A product can look excellent on a shop wall, but this does not necessarily mean that it is going to be any good after an hour or so in the great outdoors. Write down the following in order to make good decisions: trip length; likely weather; range distance; method of transport; and the user’s experience. This will help to keep focus on range commands, equipment checks, range etiquette and a simple practice plan.
Inspect before every outing
To check the range commands, the checks for the equipment, the rules of the lane as well as the simple practice plan, turn everything in bright light before you use it. Check for wear, for loose parts, for contamination, for incorrect setting and for any other changes that may have occurred since the last use of it. Write down any repairs and note the date for replacement for things that are consumable.
Make fit part of the safety check
It must also fit you and feel comfortable. Make sure you are not forced into an unnatural shooting position by your protective gear. Go for a walk round your garden or local woods to test out your new archery equipment whilst wearing your normal outdoor clothes. See how it feels and how you would react in the field, preferably in a variety of different conditions and distances. If it only feels right when standing still in a warm room then it is not suitable.
Adjust in a controlled order
No more than one variable can be changed at a time. We therefore record all changes made, test the modified equipment briefly in a controlled environment and continue to make further changes as necessary. Changes made to several variables at once cannot be analyzed for cause and effect with respect to improved performance and potential faults introduced.
Spend where reliability matters
You spend your hard-earned cash on things that are necessary. And things that can be maintained, and have spare parts, are usually cheaper than more ‘advanced’ versions of products. So, it is best to go for the simplest piece of protective equipment, a session or two of lessons from a qualified archery coach, and the essential bits and pieces for shooting safely and effectively. Accessorise later when you have a better idea of what you actually need.
Plan for weather and transport
Also remember that weather can change quickly. Thus it’s good to have simple means to cover up your gear. A rain cover doesn’t have to be complicated to work well. If you intend to use your gear for long periods of time, you should check it again for damage after the trip and dry it thoroughly before storing it in a closed environment.
Use clear range and field habits
Communicate what you are checking to your partner. Establish clear range and field habits and follow posted Range Rules. Ask staff members if you are unsure of a particular aspect of the equipment and remember that local commands take precedence over the internet.
Clean without causing damage
Maintenance should be done in line with the manufacturers’ instructions. Adding more oil, using more force or using more cleaning agents does not necessarily mean better maintenance. Aggressive cleaning agents can damage the finishes, seals, adhesives and optical coatings of equipment. Use the recommended maintenance products and avoid getting any liquids into sensitive parts. Stop maintenance when damage could occur and get it repaired by a qualified service technician.
Review the kit after the trip
For every trip out to a range or club, go through a list of what actually happened and note what you could have done without, what was too hard to get at and what you would have found useful in a crisis. Then, when you get back to your home, take a few minutes to sort out any redundant weight, and to restock any consumables you used up.
A simple checklist
- The intended use for your training session or trip as well as the prevailing conditions together with local regulations for using equipment outdoors.
- Inspect fit, condition and adjustment in a controlled setting.
- Only take as much protective gear and spare parts to the outing as is actually needed.
- Make a record of maintenance carried out on the equipment and, if damaged, immediately replace it rather than trying to repair it.
- Clean, dry and store all of your outdoor gear as soon as possible after returning home from a trip.
Final perspective
Approaching preparation to go to the range for practice shots in a repeatable and practical way is better than approaching in a dramatic way. Start with a good foundation and test it out under normal circumstances. Then just keep adding to it one step at a time. This way you will have a better practice session and all your outings will be calmer and more useful.
Practical note 1
Many a caravan storage lock is kept hidden from would be thieves in order to avoid advertizing what is stored. Similarly, lock keys or codes must be kept by a responsible adult and not just left in the lock.
Practical note 2
Reviews of outdoor gear on the Internet can give rise to good questions but cannot replace personal testing of outdoor gear. Try to compare alternative solutions personally and get details of the positive and negative features from an expert user.
Practical note 3
Rather, use the short practice session to test out your arrangement and see how it works. Keep the pace of your practice easy to start with and only continue for as long as your technique is not suffering due to fatigue. Write down one useful correction for future reference and move on.
Practical note 4
Just as important as what you store equipment in is where you choose to store it. Try to avoid storing in hot or cold places, damp basements, attics, garages, etc. Consider a locked cupboard in a safe place, and make sure that anyone who needs to get to the equipment is given a key or has access to the access code.