Archery

Beornwynn of Stanleia shooting period longbow on the archery range at Krakafjord's Holmgang event in 2025.

200px Combat Archery Photo Here

Archery within the SCA recreates medieval practices using period equipment and techniques.

Equipment

Period bows (recurves, longbows, crossbows, horse bows, etc) are used, with modern equivalents allowed with different scoring groups in some cases.

Things such as compound bows, compound corssbows, non-Society period sights, spring or flipper rests, plunger buttons, stabilizers, clickers, or modern string release aids are not allowed for use in SCA archery.

Types of Archery

Target Archery

Target archery uses bows/crossbows to shoot targets at various distances. Targets may be stationary or moving.

Combat Archery

Combat archery is practised during armoured war scenarios, skirmishes or as individual competitions. Combat archers require different authorization, armour, lower draw bows and different arrows for use. The arrows for combat archery in An Tir require arrows with large blunt heads, bendable shafts, and anti-penetration devices on the end of the arrow to prevent the nocked end from being able to get through a helmet.

Scoring

Royal Rounds

Royal rounds is composed of shooting 6 shafts/bolts at targets at 20 yards, 30 yards and 40 yards, and a 30 second timed round at 20 yards for as many shafts/bolts that can be safely shot in that time. Royal rounds, other scores and more information can be found on the scores website for An Tir.

Awards

The Order of the Mark is the peerage level for those who have achieved a standard of excellence in prowess for ranged martial pursuits. This encompasses target archery, combat archery, siege weaponry, and thrown weapons.

Once three scores are logged in Royal Rounds a rank is achieved.