Tomorrow is the closing date for entries to Talisman Bowmen’s Strawberry Shoot 2025. It’s a fun, friendly shoot and perfect for those new to competitions. But if you are new – or even if it’s been a while since you competed – you could do worse than have a read of Archery GB’s guidance notes on preparing for your first archery competition:
Preparing for your first archery competition
Packing for a competition is a bit like packing for a holiday! Here’s a list of shooting and personal equipment you will need, and some handy suggestions for when you start to compete more regularly.
- Bow
- Arrows: Take a minimum of 8 including spares. All arrows must be nocked and fletched in the same way and must have your name or initials on the shaft to identify them.
- Spare nocks: The nock is most susceptible to damage on an arrow, so make sure you have some spares that match the nocks already on your arrows. Some archers also take spare nocks in a different colour, just in case another archer shooting on the same target to them, has similar colour fletches and nocks.
- Spare string: Make sure your spare string has been ‘shot in’ and has the nocking place in the same place as your current string.
- Spare tab/release aid: Just in case your current one breaks, you drop it and can’t find it (or leave it in the tea tent!).
- Bow stand: You will need somewhere to leave your bow when collecting arrows and the floor is not the best place!
- Allen keys: Always handy to have a set in imperial and metric sizes.
- Towel: A small hand or bar towel is always a good idea so you can wipe your bow and handle down if it rains, or to wipe your arrows if you happen to miss the target.
- Scoring equipment: Including pens, calculator, arrow puller and score pad.
- Other: Over time you will collect all sorts of useful pieces in your bow case, such as screwdrivers, spare fletches, glue, scissors, floss, razor blade, pliers, arrow puller.
- Shoes: You need to wear footwear that covers the entire foot and it must be worn all the time whilst on the field, so no sandals or crocs. You will be on your feet all day and doing a lot of walking, so make sure they are comfortable and if possible waterproof.
- Dress regulations: For Record Status events the dress regulations have to be followed. This is set out in the Rules of Shooting and generally means:
- Tops that cover the front and back of the body (i.e. not strapless)
- Any colour clothing, except for blue denim, olive drab and camouflage patterns
- Plain or archery related clothing
- Wet weather clothes: including waterproof clothing and shoes. Make sure loose sleeves are taped up so not to get in the way of the string.
- Hat, sunglasses, sun cream: Try shooting with your hat and sunglasses on before the competition to make sure they don’t get in the way of the string or affect your vision.
- Tent or shelter: Small pop up tents provide shelter to you and your equipment.
- Chair: A camping chair is ideal to use at break times. Not all indoor venues have seating.
- Umbrella: particularly helpful to keep the rain of your score sheet.
- Food and Drink: competitions venues often provide catering, or at least tea and coffee, however as you are out all day, make sure you stay hydrated and can get an energy boost when you need it.
- Binoculars: For when you start shooting long distances!
- Archery GB membership card: Only Archery GB members are eligible to shoot in affiliated competitions.
