Dress Codes

[Field Archer]

I'm very happy with the field archery dress code, wear what is comfortable, in any [big][red]c[/red][orange]o[/orange][green]u[/green][blue]l[/blue][violet]o[/violet][indigo]r[/indigo][/big] you like. I do agree with Gwynn, on camo, trying to be invisible in the woods is far from safe.

[Archery1st]

Target are getting better, but to say its a joke well there is always one or two#easy ways to show your disagreement; 1 show up at a record status shoot or one which states dress code 307 will be enforced, wearing non correct colours and see what happens, or 2 don't book in to them.</p>

As for Field, well I want to be able to shoot in my camo's, I go bow hunting in them, shoot 3d in the states in them and so far i've not been shot, are you saying that UK field shooters can't see someone standing next to them in camo's? or that there in the trees there are a group of people, some of whom may be wearing camo's, or are you saying that checking to see whats ahead of you isn't needed as no one can wear camo's so I can shoot, rather than making sure its safe for you#to shoot.</p>

[Furface]

Can you name me any sport that doesn't have some dress code for its formal occasions? And at least we are spared the sight of hundreds of "football" shirts.
And, if you want to complain about throwbacks to bygone eras, then you should rule out organised sport altogether.

[English Bowman]

My take on dress codes. For target shooting, practice or club and open tournaments, you should wear what you want. For record status, county champs and above then I think that the dress code is a good thing as it gives a professional view. If you don't like the code then stick to non record status shoots. For field archery I think that camo is stupid. Fine people should be looking out for you, but there is always the chance that you are looking for an arrow, and are not seen due to camo, whereas if you weren't wearing camo you would have been spotted. Why take needless risks, no matter how small just to look "hard" or like a "proper hunter" ridiculous, and the sort of thing that can give us archers a bad reputation.

[Armchair Archer]

I agree with English Bowmen, although maybe with the allowance for registered club colours.Archery seems to me to be one of the last bastions of etiquette and good manners, something which the world sadly lacks these days. If you lose the dress codes completely, then the rest of the archery etiquette will follow suit, slowly but surely.

[Haywain]

Archery1st - 16/5/2005 3:07 PM
As for Field, well I want to be able to shoot in my camo's, I go bow hunting in them, shoot 3d in the states in them and so far i've not been shot, are you saying that UK field shooters can't see someone standing next to them in camo's? or that there in the trees there are a group of people, some of whom may be wearing camo's, or are you saying that checking to see whats ahead of you isn't needed as no one can wear camo's so I can shoot, rather than making sure its safe for you#to shoot.</p>

I trust in myself and I know I will check for other archers ahead of me before I shoot. However I don't trust anyone that much. I value my life too much to risk it to someone elses stupidity or forgetfulness. I won't wear camo for that reason alone.

The problem with camo is that it is, by design, meant to make it harder to spot someone in your peripheral vision. Remember when you're field shooting you're not there to hunt, but to shoot static targets, so why wear camo in the first place? If someone not in your direct line of sight is wearing camo, you "might not" see them and they could walk in front of you as you release. This is dangerous, and ruling anything out that can cause someone to get shot is, in my opinion, no bad thing.

By all means wear your camo, but don't stray off the paths and if you have to go off those paths looking for lost arrows (it happens to the best) - always make sure someone stands in clear line of sight of other groups of archers. This way they know your around and won't shoot because they can't see you.

An example of an accident while hunting, and this could happen at a competition quite easily:

[gwynn]

Archery1st - 16/5/2005 3:07 PM



As for Field, well I want to be able to shoot in my camo's, I go bow hunting in them, shoot 3d in the states in them and so far i've not been shot, are you saying that UK field shooters can't see someone standing next to them in camo's? or that there in the trees there are a group of people, some of whom may be wearing camo's, or are you saying that checking to see whats ahead of you isn't needed as no one can wear camo's so I can shoot, rather than making sure its safe for you#to shoot.</p>

I shoot in camo trousers sometimes, they are comfortable, hard wearing and loads of pockets! But I'll always wear a high vis. top, white or red or summat, with it. It only takes one person to not see you...........
I have shot with people in full camo gear, even down to the bow and arrows and you think, rather you than me! I was running around the sticks in Africa for some years in an operational army and I know accidents happen.
It only takes one arrow to ruin it for the rest of us. The do-gooders would get on the case and then God help us all!

[Archery1st]

Yep thats a great picture, however totally out of context, the person with an arrow in the head was shot by a member of his family who was drawing the bow to check everything before going hunting, as any good archer he drew with an arrow just in case a release failed and he dry fired, oh and what happened his release failed and he shot the arrow, bow didn't break or get damaged as he had an arrow in the bow. And he wasn't even at full draw when it failed.</p>

So what did he do wrong?? he drew up with someone in front of him, for that he's a royal idiot.</p>

BUT nothing in the pic says wearing camo is dangerous, just standing in front of someone while they are drawing up is.</p>

As for looking like a hunter etc, I wear camo trousers for the exact same reason mentioned, comfortable, loads of pockets and very hard wearing.# I don't wear full camo, unless actually hunting, then if i draw up I will be aiming at my next meal but some may not like to hear that, oh well </p>

[Barry C]

Furface - 16/5/2005 7:14 PM Can you name me any sport that doesn't have some dress code for its formal occasions? And at least we are spared the sight of hundreds of &quot;football&quot; shirts. And, if you want to complain about throwbacks to bygone eras, then you should rule out organised sport altogether.

</p>

Formal dress code = everyone must wear the same colour and type of clothing? Most sports are not like this these days, except maybe Wimbledon (NO doubt the committee there is full of fuddy duddys too)</p>

In most sports there are team colours. Other traditional sports are colourful, Rowing, International Cricket, Athletics... All I would wager are generally#more popular than archery.</p>

[Dolphin Boy]

correct summary of the photo Archery1st!
Here's a link to the story.... Darwin Award Candidate!

http://espn.go.com/outdoors/hunting/...5/1264454.html