I always wanted too. I thought it was cool seeing movies w/the Amazon women shooting(the myth of them cutting a breast off so they shoot better spear or arrow).Also, archery is native weapon to almost all indigenous people of the world.
I enjoy shooting the most by myself.I can relax and not worry if someone will get in my way too.
Last I love weapons. Being a martial artist I learned how they can be an extension of yourself.Erika

I first shot as a child in Northern Wisconsin. My father was a bow-hunter and we had a range set up in our backyard, so it was just a natural game to play. In school, we also had to shoot in PE class.

In the past few years, as a SCAdian, I was reminded how simply beautiful it is to see skill with any art, including archery. The graceful look of an archer about to let and arrow loose as they hit that zen moment of blocking out all exterior distractions was just too irresistable and I purchased a simply beautiful Kassai bow and got back into the sport.

So, yeah, family connection to my father, the focus, and the challenge of building a skill drew me back to shooting.

I do archery primarily as a way to unload my daily stress. Other benefits of archery are that I get to improve my eye-hand coordination, time spent with others who also enjoy archery and I get to forget - for a short while, at least - the responsibilities and obligations of every-day life. Besides, any dang fool can put their finger on the trigger of a rifle and pull it back...

I should get out and "sling some arrows" this week. The bill-paying job is getting to be more stressful than it needs to be, what with working thirteen hours overtime each week....

--Artúr Dúbh Maca'Gobhaínn - Archer/Fletcher

i'd been interested in the sport since i was a kid, but b/c we moved around so much around the globe to land at a school that actually offered that was a longshot (not to be punny). then last year i decided i would make that happen and found a club about an hour away. i love it. i love the meditative aspect of it. i love the concentration and the hand-eye cordination. there's nothing like letting off that perfect shot and how smooth it feels. check out horsebows.com. once a year archers get together to learn to shoot targets from the back of a moving horse with short bows. whoo hoo!

For it's spirituality, it takes me back to the days of our ancestors, for the skill involved, because I like silent weapons, because it's such a basic form of weaponry for defense and survival, for all the reasons that are good, but not for hunting unless it is a matter of survival.

Archery is a "pure" sport - if there are outside distractions, if one is incapable of hitting that moment of clarity-of-purpose, it isn't for you. Focus & concentration. The only real competitor is oneself. It is an Art form. Hence, IMHO, a pure sport. Then you add combat into the equation - it satisfies that need for full physical agility. =grin= My husband says I'm just bloodthirsty.

I've loved archery since I was a kid & was watching Errol Flynn as Robin Hood. At 11, I finally was able to pick up a real bow & came in 3rd in a competition all in one week. I was hooked, but my schools didn't have archery classes until junior college. Then I picked it up again for awhile, until I changed schools/states. It took me awhile to get back into it, but I did in '91 & have been seriously shooting for the last several years. Oh, I went to practice a lot but I was more socializing than taking it seriously as to scoring. And then I was bitten by the combat bug. Not allowed to fight heavy, but I can do archery. =grin= I love Wars - but I do love the target shooting as well. And someday, maybe I'll be able to get out hunting again! I do miss game meat... And the hunting is enjoyable!

So many reasons to why I shoot. With a bow in hand on the war field, I feel pretty invincible. On the target range, I feel highly confident in scoring better [I am my only competitor] than the last time. If I don't, it fuels the next round. =grin= I am fiercely aggressive against myself. And whenI feel my abilities have progressed to the point for hunting, I'll be shooting to actively hunt, as well.
~ J