Any sport you play has a risk factor involved with it. Many sports are considered dangerous. One of them is archery because people associate it with traditional forms that were practiced earlier. Bows and arrows were invented to serve two primary purposes. The purposes for which they were developed are: hunting animals and killing another person. However, over time, archery has become a sport used for recreation.
Contents
Is Archery Dangerous?
Modern archery is not dangerous if you start to practice with adequate safety measures. If not, there are several ways archery can become harmful, from minor to major issues. As mentioned, if the archer is not cautious, various problems like muscle strain, self-injury, and injuries to others might take place.
So, in this article, we look at what can make archery dangerous and the risks involved. We also provide information on how to practice archery safely, and it would help you eliminate the risk factors associated with archery and determine what precautions you need to take.
Since people link archery with danger, we list the potential risk factors associated with it. These risks are avoidable, but only if you take adequate precautionary measures while practicing archery. So, here are some of the common risk factors associated with archery.
Muscle Strain
Risk: Any bow needs to be drawn before an arrow is shot at a target. An archer needs to use their physical strength to pull the string to do this. The strain on your muscles while drawing is common among archers, and it always happens, even if you use any type of bow.
Straining your muscles happens when you practice for prolonged periods regularly, and it is done in a dash to achieve excellence in a short time. Using a bow that is not designed well can cause this strain.
Solution: Experienced archers do not risk muscle strain as they tone their muscles to be ready for the stress or strain involved. Involvement in physical training and exercise to strengthen the upper part of the body eliminates the chances of muscle strain.
Using a high-quality bow would also help archers. When you use a modern bow, you can eliminate the chances of muscle strain in the upper body. These are designed to have minimal impact on the archer, and they are also easy on the body as they are complex in structure.
Injury To Others
Risk: Injuring others while you are practicing archery is a common one. It usually happens to archers when they practice in their backyards. Aiming for something in your backyard is not ideal for practicing archery. Missing the target can occur to anyone.
When you take aim and miss the target, there are chances of someone getting injured. It may be the neighbor next door or a pet that has wandered. The risk of severe injury and fatality is a real threat, especially when using very sharp arrows.
Solution: Always have a backstop when you practice archery. Even if you miss the target, the backstop should be wide enough or big enough to contain the arrow. Practicing archery at an indoor facility is a better option than practicing in your backyard with no specific safety measures.
You can also practice at a place with no chances of a person or animal wandering off. Allow enough space for the arrow to drop without any interference whatsoever. Practicing at an indoor facility eliminates the chances of injury to others.
Injuries To Yourself Or The Archer
Risk: Injuries to an archer is another common threat this sport has. Cuts, blisters, and losing balance are some of the dangers connected to archery. Some of these common injuries happen when an archer is using a bow to hunt animals.
While you hunt, falling from trees, slipping, and getting hit by fellow archers can also happen, and these injuries can become fatal to you or your fellow archer. In short, while hunting with bows, there are severe risks to an archer or a fellow archer if you are hunting as a team.
Solution: While hunting, one has to take all standard safety measures. Wearing bright clothes can help a fellow archer identify you even when you stand far away from them. If you keep each other informed about your positions, you can avoid becoming the victim.
Climbing trees should be done with caution, and you should make sure not to fall off a tree while you take the shot. So, if you position yourself in a proper place, the chances of you slipping and falling are slim.
Tips To Practice Archery Safely
It does not matter what type of archery you practice, as the risks are similar. Modern archery is so advanced that the potential injuries are very narrow. Here are a few tips you can follow to ensure that you can practice archery safely.
Safety Equipment: Use appropriate safety equipment when practicing archery. Goggles, gloves, and other accessories can be some things that you can use while practicing archery. Many accessories are available on the market to make archery a safe sport to practice indoors or outdoors.
Controlled Access: Always practice archery at a place with a backstop. These backstops can either be natural ones like trees or artificial ones like statues. Indoor facilities usually have backstops that are reliable to ensure no harm can be inflicted. Practicing in a place with no people or animals is highly recommended.
Use the Proper Equipment: When practicing archery, always use the proper equipment. A recurve, compound, or longbow that is advanced is designed in a manner to ensure that there will be no damage caused to archers or others. So, choose safe equipment to practice with, even if you are a beginner at archery.
Maintain Equipment: Regardless of how advanced your bow and other equipment are, they require proper maintenance. When you use broken equipment or are not maintained, you are likely to cause harm to others or yourself. Tightening screws and replacing worn-out parts of your bow are some of the vital things to do.
Practice: Always practice your skills in a place where it is safe for you and others. Practice before you take your skills outdoors or start to hunt using your bow. Once you have enough practice, you will know the exact safety measures that are supposed to be in place while hunting or target practicing.
Time to Learn: Before you pick up the bow for the first time, take the time to learn about the risks and precautions. Learning these beneficial things can often avoid any potential dangers you may otherwise take due to a lack of knowledge. You never know how much damage an arrow can cause to an animal or human being. So, invest your time to memorize as much as possible even before practicing archery.
Conclusion
If you follow the basic safety measures, there will be little to no chances of you causing injury or harm to humans or animals. Archery is a very safe sport that you can practice without harming others.
However, it is vital to know the potential risk factors before you begin to prepare yourself to use the bow. Realizing the risks would help avoid taking them and practice archery without causing bodily harm to humans or animals.