Archery GB has a good list on the start archery website: What to take
Tents are only needed for protection from the elements, so not always needed, particularly when it’s an indoor competition!
A camping chair can be very useful, but may not be welcome if there is not much space at an indoor venue. I would take one and then assess whether it’s needed when you get to the venue.
Similarly, if you are shooting indoors in ends of 3 arrows, you’re unlikely to need spare fletchings and glue etc, if you have 6+ fletched arrows.
Something with your Archery GB number on it.
Your renewal email from AGB will have it on PDF, or pass you can download to your phone.
Don’t rely on having signal at competitions, so have this ready in advance.
You can also request a plastic card from AGB via Sport80.
Food
Have enough to take you through the day / session.
Even short rounds, like indoor rounds, can take a few hours as you shoot in ends of 3.
Clothing
Nearly all competitions will say they have dress regulations the comply with the AGB Rules of Shooting (rule 307).
The most important part of this is:
No blue denim.
No Olive Drab.
No Camouflage.
Tops: Tops or shirts must cover the front and back of the body (including the midriff when at full draw), they must not be strapless and, for gentlemen, must include sleeves.
Equipment
Arrows:
These should be fletched the same and include your initials.
Initials can be in pen, a sticker from a label maker or via a company like Arrow Socks.
Bow:
Organisers will normally do an “equipment check” to ensure all bows are legal within their bowstyle.
Can have a mark, or rubber band on the limb, but no “sight”.
Barebow
This is normally just that they can pass between a ring of 12.2cm while unstrung.
This is just so that you can’t have a sneaky stabiliser rod attached!
Recurve
Sight pin cannot be magnified in any way.
Compound
Draw weight check to ensure it is not over 60lb.
Release aid check – to see it’s in good working order.
Occasionally they will look at strings and cables to check for good overall condition.
Etiquette
There will be a briefing before the session begins which will normally go over everything you need to know about the shoot.
Before the competition, the organiser will release a “target list”. It’s a good idea to know what target you are shooting on, but pay attention to the briefing / sign in incase there have been changes.
In some competitions, there may be multiple faces on the same boss, up to 4, normally maked as A, B, C, and D.
Make sure you know which one to aim at!
Arrows on other target faces will count as a miss.
Shooting more arrows than allowed will result in losing the highest scoring arrow.
