By Rean Steenkamp

Is traditional archery growing in popularity in South Africa, and following the trend in the USA and Europe?

It certainly seems so. No fewer than 100 longbows and recurves and more than 60 children’s and development bows were sold locally during 2004. More may have been sold, but I only enquired at four South African bowyers: Derek Nourse,

Johnny Snyman, Johan Smit, Gecko Archer and a few bow shops in Gauteng: The Bow Shop, Sureshot Archery, Crooked Arrow and Magnum Archery.

No less than 1 500 compound bows were sold in Gauteng last year. Compared to this amount, the number of traditional bows sold may not seem much, but it’s still a sizeable amount and more than in previous years.

I have just received the new 7th edition of the Archer’s Digest and it is interesting to note the following quote: “The hunter who carries a recurve or a longbow typically is an experienced archer who has mastered the modern compound and is looking for an additional challenge.” It may be that many compound bowhunters in South Africa have hunted freely with their compounds and now need a new challenge. Taking up the stick and string is certainly a very good option.

On the other hand, many of the bows bought from South African bowyers were purchased by people who are new to archery. There are at least two possible reasons these newcomers buy a longbow or recurve. Either the prospecting archers have not yet heard of the compound, or they are enticed by the romance of the wooden bow – being the same bow that was used by Robin Hood, Howard Hill and all the well-known archers throughout the history of mankind. That is, until the compound was invented, which certainly changed things. In the 1970s the traditional bow all but disappeared, just like folk and other music styles did when Elvis and Rock ‘n Roll hit the world. During the hippy era, folk music was rediscovered and the same happened to traditional archery a decade later. Both have a sizeable following today, although they make out only a small percentage of the population.

Traditional archery is not for everyone. The compound will always be more popular. Most people go where fashion takes them. They are enticed by new things and the latest technology. Only the individualist who is prepared to work harder to hit the target or to take game will follow the traditional way. Nevertheless, it seems as if we have many of this kind of people in South Africa.

Africa’s Bowhunter and Archer’s traditional website www.africanarcher.com is visited by between 50 and 100 people per day, of which 40 percent are South Africans. It cannot be the same people visiting the site every day, since the articles and information on the website is only changed once or twice a month. Many of these visitors probably do not own bows, but have an interest in traditional archery and are looking for more information.

It should be noted that shooting the traditional bow takes a lot of hard work. No sights are used and the bow has no let-off.

When you draw a 60-pound bow, you will be holding 60 pounds at your anchor point and not 12 to 24 pounds, as would be the case with a compound. Even if one should fit an aiming device to a heavy hunting longbow or recurve, it would be difficult to use, since it isn’t easy to hold the bow at anchor long enough to use the sights.

To hit a six-inch circle at 15 to 20 yards one has to practise every day. The best hunting distance with a traditional bow is 20 to 15 yards or less. This means you have to get closer to game than you would when hunting with a compound. The arrow travels at a slower speed, which makes string jumping a much bigger problem. I have shot at least three warthog and two impala at less than 20 yards, but missed completely because of this problem.

In fact, the first warthog I took a shot at was kneeling on its front legs at 17 yards when the arrow left the shelf. I missed it completely and found the arrow lodged in the fork of a tree.

There was not a drop of blood on it. Many archers and hunters who take up the stick discard it after a while and buy themselves a compound, which is much easier to master. If you are a hunter who is just looking for another weapon with which to take your game, then the compound should be your choice. And a fine choice it is. The compound is certainly an extremely accurate and effective piece of machinery. You can take your game silently at 20 to 30 yards and some skilled bowhunters hunt at even longer distances of up to 100 yards or more. However, ABH&A does not recommend hunting at a distance further than 30 yards.

If you like wooden bows, however, and are enticed by the thought of hunting as hunters did for many thousands of years, you might be a candidate for a stickbow. But be warned, the first shot you take will probably miss the butt completely, as will the next 50.

Little guidance will be available from others. You will be told to stand with your feet apart at shoulder width, to tilt your bow slightly and that you have to draw the string to your mouth, touching your mouth with your middle finger. You will be given some other advice on form, but none on how to aim, except that you have to focus on the spot you want to hit. As you shoot arrow after arrow you will notice that you are steadily hitting closer and closer to the spot you are hoping to hit.

It isn’t the easiest road to take, but if you are so inclined and have the will to see it through, you will come to love your stick like a second spouse.