Welcome to the Nenameseck Summer Archery League

What is it?

It’s a group of archers that get together once a week on Wednesday evenings to shoot ½ a field round at Nenameseck Sportsmen’s Club. Scores are recorded and handicapping is used (80% of best 3, 4, or 5 rounds – depending on number shot) to level the playing field.

Bottom line, though, is that it’s a fun league with the main goal being to get out once a week and shoot some archery. It’s the first year, so things will be a little more fluid. Like prizes – hey, you might win a key ring or something if you take the league. We do plan to have some type of end-of-year “banquet” or dinner.

When is it?

Every Wednesday evening, starting May 14 through approximately August 13. Arrive, sign up and pay the fee between 5PM and 6:30PM and go out, shoot a round with friends or make new friends and turn in your score at the end.

What’s it cost?

We’ll be charging $7 for adults, ages 18 – 64. Kids between 12 and 17, and seniors 65 and over, will pay $5. Kids (cubs) under 12 will be free. Though there’s no lower age limit, be aware that “cubs” should be able to shoot up to 30 yards, though most targets are 10 – 20 yards at that age level. And, of course, you can always move them up to where they’ll be successful.

Why charge? Well, the targets cost money. As does the upkeep of the target butts. And, we hope to have a season-ending banquet.

What is Field Archery?

For the purposes of this league, it is shooting a round of 14 targets, four arrows per target, at a distance of from 20 feet to 80 yards. The yardages are marked so there is no guess work. The fact that you get four shots per target allows you to be able to ensure your shots are successful by understanding if they are grouping or not.

Don’t panic about the 80 yards. You only have to shoot one arrow at 80 yards and one arrow at 70 yards the entire 14-target round.

How Do You Score?

You have four arrows per target, with a maximum score of 5 for each arrow. This means a perfect round would be 280. Get that and we’ll recommend you go to the World Championships. In fact, 250 is a “magic” number (500 in a full round) which, when achieved, is considered a very good round. Anything above that moves you closer to expert level. Field targets look like the picture to the right. The inner black rings are 5 points. The white rings are 4 points and the outer black rings are 3 points. An arrow touching a line between scoring areas scores the higher. The rings within each scoring area are inconsequential for our purposes.

I shoot 3-D. Why Would I Do This League?

Because you like to shoot archery, period.
Seriously, though. There are similarities.
First, in both disciplines, you are aiming at a circle on a target. Foam animal in one case, paper target in the other.
In both cases, you get to walk a course in the woods, combining some archery with some exercise, fresh air and the great outdoors.
Finally, you get to shoot with your friends, make new friends or, if you prefer the solitude, simply shoot on your own. The honor system prevails.

So what’s different?

In Field Archery, the distances are known. If you miss a shot, it’s not because you guessed the distance wrong.
In Field Archery, you get to shoot 4 arrows at each target. In most cases, from the same distance. This allows you to evaluate and correct any missed shots you might make. In 3D, you mark your one score, “try” to evaluate what went wrong, including whether you guessed the distance correctly, and move on to the next target.
In Field Archery, you shoot 4 arrows at each target (14 for the league, 28 for a normal Sunday shoot), which means you get 56 (or 112) shots in a round. In 3-D, you usually get 30 in a full round.
Finally, it’s “almost guaranteed” that shooting Field Archery will improve your 3-D shooting. Why? First, you’ll improve your basic archery skills by having multiple shots at the same target. Second, you’re ability to judge yardage should improve as you get accustomed to shooting at known yardages. Third, 58 shots in the league is the equivalent of nearly two 3D rounds. Lots of practice in only 1.5 – 2 hours!!

In Conclusion

So come on out and join us. It’s a fun league and not meant to be heavily competitive. (Of course, a friendly wager between friends is always motivating.)

See you Wednesday evening!!