Same Boss Scoring/Non-Scoring Archers

[Witchie Poo Cat]

Hi Guys

Last night I was down at the field practising. I decided I was going to keep score just so I had some way of monitoring my progress while still in the early stages. I shot 2 dozen and then on the last 6 decided not to score as had been distracted by some shooting line "disagreement" with other half

Aaaanyway, there had been 4 of us shooting that same boss all evening (i was the only one scoring though) and another member came along and joined us. When we went to collect the arrows the member kindly withdrew ALL the arrows then handed them out to us. I was smiling to myself that it was very lucky for me that i had already chosen not to score that round as my arrows were whipped out of that target before I had a chance to utter a word!

Obviously the other people who were shooting with me knew I was scoring and left my arrows in but when someone arrives to shoot on your boss in between rounds and they dont know, what then? My question is really what is the etiquette with this type of thing? I dont want to offend anyone by saying the wrong thing. What do you guys do?

Witchie Poo Cat

[Tarkwin]

I think correct form is to prod the offender repeatedly between the eyes while chanting " do not pull arrows until you have been told it's OK to do so".


T.

[pelican]

Hi WPC

If that happens, don't be shy about saying nicely to person joining you that you'rs scoring and would appreciate your arrows being left in the boss. An experienced archer will already understand this, an inexperienced archer will welcome the guidance. Even if you're not scoring, it's sometimes good to just see your own arrows on the boss to guage the spread of them.

Good shooting, Liz

[Flying Whale]

Whether or not I think anyone is scoring on the boss I would always ask "Is it OK for me to start pulling arrows now?" I then won't pull until I have had a clear answer from everyone (an indistinct mutter from someone with their nose in a score pad is not always easy to interpret).

It's better to be on the cautious side.

[Sponge]

Even when just shooting without scoring, it's always good practice to ask before pulling arrows since pleople may be making a note of grouping/finding one in the grass/working out who smashed of your nocks off etc.

Sponge.

[Thunk]

It's just plain bad manners. If you join a group already shooting on a boss, the polite thing to do is ask if they mind you joining them. In the process, you learn whether or not they are scoring; if not, assume they are until you find they're not. Even then, the object of shooting arrows at a target is to be able to see the result. Pulling someone else's arrows before they have signified they are ready for them to be pulled is just not on.

[Witchie Poo Cat]

Thanks for the reassurance here guys, much appreciated. I think the person who joined us just assumed we were all new and that he was doing us a favour! Next time around I will just make a point of saying "please can you leave my arrows". Even though Im only starting out I AM checking for groupings etc as well as scoring and this will avoid any unneccessary poking between the eyes

Besides it will give me a great opportunity to say "hey, see those lovely shiney new arrows, they're mine, leave em where they are!"

[Little Miss Purple]

I always ask if I can join other archers, then it is (IMHO) polite to check that everyone is happy with their arrows before pulling. I do this as I hate people pulling any arrows before I have written my score down, but then that stems from a muppet pulling my arrows before I scored them

[andrew.paterson]

Originally Posted by Witchie Poo Cat

When we went to collect the arrows the member kindly withdrew ALL the arrows then handed them out to us.

Blimey is this person like the world record holder in arrow pulling. He managed to pull 30 arrows before you even noticed Now that is someone you want on your target in a competition - just point them at the target and whooosh watch them go.

I must admit whenever I am about to pull arrows I always ask - even if the archer has got into a conversion on the line and hasn't walked up to the target! A quick shout of 'Oi do you want these arrows or not?' normally prompts the offender into action.

[PaulT]

Not sure who the offender is but as everyone else states arrows should not be pulled without the archer's permission whether scoring or not - please don't be afraid of speaking out if something like this happens. I don't think we have any experienced archers who would do this but still there are plenty wo would back you up in a situation like this.