Field Archery....best of both worlds!

    I have been loosing arrows for over 25 years , in that time I have shot many styles and formats. My favorite is a Field Round, NFAA to be exact.

    In my 30's I was all about 3D, making SOYT points etc. in my NH league, IBO qualifiers and the like. All 3 D with a little indoor. I discovered Field at my current club many years ago. It was a situation of one of the indoor regulars said, "well you like 3D you should try it" I did and      WOW!

 I think field has all the good bits of all the other formats.

      It is generally Known distance and has a uniform distance and face size anywhere in the country. Generally it is shot on a trail through the woods. This doesn't mean it is boring or the same. Up hill /down hill can cause you to cut a few yards off. Distance is measured with a string or tape, so a severe angle cuts horizontal distance. This adds challenge and separates the greats from the goods. Also,some are open some are tunneled, some brightly lit some dark. so every Fields round will have the same distance and target face combos making up the 28 (usually 2x14)stations.

     In 3D, sometimes it takes the better part of the day to shoot 30 targets, one arrow each. For those who like to shoot lots of shots, Field is a no brainer. 28 targets 4 arrows each 112 arrows! not quite a full FITA outdoor match but a bunch!
 
     Full outdoor FITA is precision repetition, but not a lot of variety for a Compounder. With Field you have from 20 feet to 80 yards (240 feet) and the 80 could be down a hill up a hill, side hill or flat, as could the bunny (20ft).

     One of the things I like best about field is it is social like 3D or Golf, you really get to know the other shooters in the group. There just is not much time for that in FITA.

     In theory, if you had 80 yards, you could set up  a practice course with every target/distance combo with only 4 buts and some different colored steaks for each station.

     Some stations will be straight up shoot 4 arrows from X distance. Some will be fans, a fan is 4 markers at a said distance and you shoot one arrow from each. walk ups are the last type of station. a walk up is  4 arrows with one shoot from the furthest distance with the next 3 shots being progressively closer. the bunny is a walk up IIRC its 35' 30' 25'20' and then the 80 is a walk up too.


     I fully believe that Field could have a resurgence in the North East , it was once much more popular. It is still popular in the Mid thru  Coastal West. 3D sadly has reduced the amount of available shooters to fill a Sunday match. Entry, at even the state Championships, has been in the low teens the last few years. there are only 2 current NFAA Field clubs in NH Pioneer and North Branch Bowmen. for years i have been saying" its a shame more people dont shoot Field, its the best" then for what ever reason I don't go......looks like part of the problem is me.


TRY FIELD!!!!!!  I think you will enjoy the trail aspects if you are usually a Target Archer, and the volume of shooting if you are a 3D person.

best to you all,
Handsome

PS
the NH NFAA State Championship is this week at North Branch Bowmen in Keene/Sullivan.i hope to see you there!

   NFAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

The NH Bowmen Outdoor State Championship is next weekend.  You may shoot either on Saturday or Sunday.  Each day you will shoot a 14 target field round, and a 14 target hunter round, for a 28 target score.  You may shoot just one day and take that day's combined score, or you can shoot both days (no additional charge for the second day), and count your best field round score of the two days, and add that to your best hunter round score of the two days.

To qualify for a State Championship award, you must be a New Hampshire resident, and be a current NFAA member.  If you are not both of these, you are welcome to shoot as a guest.  Here is the link to get your yardages:  https://www.nfaausa.com/wp-content/uploads/Range-and-Target-Guidelines-for-NFAA-Rounds.pdf 

WHAT:  NFAA Outdoor State Championship, scoring (1) (14) target field round and (1) (14) target hunter round

WHEN:  Saturday and/or Sunday, August 12 & 13, start time:  0800-1030 am each day.

WHERE:  North Branch Bowmen, located at: 19 Ferry Brook Rd, Keene, NH (right on the town line) GPS Lat./Long.  42 58.874' N   72 14.604' W

COST:  $20.00 for shooters 15 and older, and $10.00 for shooters 14 and younger

CONTACT:  Dan Deyo at:  603-209-6721, orbarebowdan@yahoo.com, or Mike Wright at:  603-209-8007, orbarebownh@aol.com