Lets go a Roving!

This is a game that needs LOTS of room, preferably in a field that is at least 400 yards by 300 yards with no obstacles such as trees and hedgerows. Safety is paramount, so check that the area is clear before shooting.
Indirect shooting is the style used in this game. Archers shoot into the air, usually at an angle of 45°, such that the arrow falls onto the target. This style of shooting was practiced during the middle ages for warfare as archers were required to generate an arrow storm to fall upon the enemy.
In this style of shooting, the distance the arrow travels is controlled by a combination of shooting angle and draw length. If the target is very close then the arrow is "pinged" off the bowstring.

Equipment

• A "roving" arrow, preferably with large bright flechings. A flu-flu type is ideal.
• A length of string
• Pen and paper for scoring.

Game Details

• An archer is chosen to shoot the roving arrow indirectly up the field. All the other archers must stand behind whilst the roving archer shoots.
• Once the roving arrow has landed, it becomes the target for all the other archers to aim at. The archers form a line and shoot indirectly at the roving arrow.
• The archer who's arrow is nearest wins the round and gets to shoot the roving arrow next. If two or more arrows appear to be the same distance from the roving arrow, then a piece of string can be used to measure the distances.
• The winner of the round then shoots the roving arrow from the spot where it previously landed. In this way the archers move (rove) around the field.
• Archers can decide how many rounds to shoot.
• The archer who shoots the roving arrow the most number of times is the winner.
• Note that the very first roving shot (from the chosen archer) does not score.

Variations

• Archers can choose to shoot more than one arrow at the roving arrow (suggest 6). The archers then decide which of their arrows is the nearest to the roving arrow and retrieve the rest.

Safety

• It is the responsibility of the range captain to be satisfied that the roving shot will land safely in the field, that there is nobody in the line of fire.
• It is very important that all arrows remain within the confines of the roving field. This is particularly so for archers using heavy bows.
• The use of a flu-flu type roving arrow is that it cannot be shot too far, reducing the risk of it going out of the field or giving archers with light bows an unfair disadvantage.
• Prevailing winds must also be taken into consideration as they can make an arrow fly much further than anticipated.
• For archers new to this style of shooting, it may be a good idea for the range captain to get them to shoot some arrows indirectly at various draw lengths to get a "feel" for how far their arrows will go (both onto the wind and with the wind behind them).

Courtesy of Black Cat Archery