Field Archery: 2013 Pekin Archer's Club Spring Opener

Well this post is definitely way after the fact since the event in question was hosted on May 19th. It was before I had conceived of this blog and even though almost a month has gone by the Spring Opener was such a fun and informative event I think it bears mentioning.

So for those of you who don't know, a field round is an outdoor competition composed of 28 targets at various marked distances from 30 feet to 80 yards and set at various angles of inclination/declination. It is shot using the black and white field face with scoring zones starting at 5pts and involves ends of 4 arrows per shooter. What truly makes this format compelling is the physical challenge and the sense of community with fellow shooters. If you've done the math you'll realize a field round consists of 112 shots, plus the hike from target to target. It's definitely an endurance test, especially for shooters with an indoor background (typical indoor rounds are 30 or 60 arrows and no hiking ha). So really at the end of the day, if you're still standing then you've done well.

Fortunately you don't have to go it alone. Typically archers are sent around the course in groups of four. So it becomes a nice day of hiking in the woods with new or old friends while you joke around and send pointed objects off into the blue.

At the end of the day I finished the round with a score of 503/560, which given that it was my first ever field round and in terms of training rhythm I had peaked about two days earlier; I'm not too disappointed. I will say it could have been far better though. There were definitely some embarrassing moments on the last target of the day, when I let the wind push me off the target at 80yards and then shot the ground at 60 yards... two big fat zeros.

I also have to say thank you to all the fine folks out at Pekin Archery Club for hosting the event and making me feel at home; and a specific thanks goes out to Steve for both being my guide and for pressuring me to actually shoot the event.

I didn't have the foresight to actually take any pictures of the event... a practice picture will have to suffice.

Chief lessons for the day:

• Don't be afraid to let down if the wind kicks up. 
• If you let down, keep your thumb off the trigger/don't get your release aids mixed up. 
• A proper grip on your release aid will help alleviate crippling finger stiffness that sets in around target #15
• The "Bunny" target is a cruel mistress (the "bunny" is a small target face shot at distances measured in feet rather than yards. Very difficult due to parallax phenomenon... that's another topic for another day)
• Sit whenever you can, there are no awards for standing all day.