Archery is very popular across Texas, including target archery in which individuals learn skills and precision without putting animals at risk. Target archery allows for year-round practice and for some individuals may serve as a gateway to hunting. Individuals should be able to find clubs, professional shops and other archery resources near any major Texas city.
Learning Archery
Several popular ways of learning archery exist. Individuals may, of course, learn independently or from a family member or friend. However, many people elect to learn from a professional shop, which provides specific personalized instructions. Such shops may offer 20-, 30- and 100-yard practice areas in addition to instruction. As well, young adults may join clubs such as 4-H while adults may join region specific clubs such as the Clifton Archery Club or Austin Archery Club. These clubs often have members with various levels of expertise who help each other gain additional skills.
Leagues
The Texas Field Archery Associations help coordinate a statewide indoor league called Shoot Your Way Across Texas Indoor or, more commonly, S.Y.W.A.T. Indoor. This wintertime league encourages local shops and clubs to hold events. Events include male and female competitions, as well as youth and senior events, ranging from freestyle to bare bow to longbow. Individual clubs and locations can hold their own events, training sessions and competitions throughout the year.
Tournaments
Beyond helping to encourage and promote local events, the Texas Field Archery Association also holds several statewide tournaments each year. These include the Indoor State Championship and the Texas Gander Archery Open. Archers can also participate in the multi-state Indoor Southern Sectional, which also occurs annually. These tournaments provide individuals a chance to test their skills versus other top-notch archers while meeting new people, staying active and having fun.
Laws
No specific laws exist regarding target archery as a sport. However, many individuals who practice target archery also hunt in season. In fact, target archery can be a way to keep skills sharp throughout the year and hone new skills. As such, it should be noted that longbows, compound bows, recurved bows and crossbows can be used during designated portions of the hunting season in Texas. This applies in every county except Grayson, in which individuals need a doctor's note detailing an upper-limb disability to use a crossbow. Also, crossbows must have a minimum pull of 125 pounds and a mechanical safety in any county.
Clubs and Recognition
Numerous clubs exist for residents across the state--such as the Cowtown Bowmen Archery club, the Lone Star Bowhunters, the Traditional Bowhunters of Texas and the Texins Archery Club. However, the sport is also recognized by local universities such as the University of Texas and Texas A&M, both of which offer archery clubs to students. This provides an opportunity for even non-participants to watch and enjoy archery. In fact, the University of Texas' Lindsey Carmichael won a bronze medal in archery at a Paralympics event.
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