I am going to explain the basics of archery in this Instructable. Here is a little bit of information on Archery:

Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity. One who practises archery is typically known as an "archer" or "bowman", and one who is fond of or an expert at archery can be referred to as a "toxophilite".

Sixty thousand year old stone points which might be identified as arrowheads have been found in a cave in South Africa. By 16,000 BCE flint points were being bound by sinews to split shafts. Fletching was being practiced, with feathers glued and bound to shafts.

The first actual bow fragments are the Stellmoor bows from northern Germany. They were dated to about 8,000 BCE but were destroyed in Hamburg during the Second World War. They were destroyed before Carbon 14 dating was invented and their age was attributed by archaeological association. The second oldest bow fragments are the elm Holmegaard bows from Denmark which were dated to 6,000 BCE. High performance wooden bows are currently made following the Holmegaard design.

Step 1: Materials

The Following are the basic materials you will need to practice archery.

1.) The Bow or A Crossbow

2.) Arrows

3.) Quiver

4.) Shooting Range or Large Yard (Check Local Laws as it could be illegal to fire a bow in city limits)

5.) Common Sence

The Following are optional and i will not do a step on them unless asked to.

6.) Bracer

7.) Camouflaged Clothes

Step 2: The Bow

The Bow is made out of a few parts. It is comprised of the "arms" or "limbs", depending on who you're asking but i will refer to them as the "Bow limbs", the Handle, and the Bow String.

The "Bow Limbs" are traditionally made of wood. This wood could be of almost any type of wood. It could: Pine, White Oak, Red Oak, Yew, Willow, Maple, Teak, etc. it can also be made out of any combination of wood. Other things the limbs can be made of are fiberglass, horn, and in modern times, even different metals.

The Handle of the bow is very simple. Basically it's a small part of the bow that is less flexible, purposefully thicker than the rest of the bow. Finally, the handle is made as a place for an arch, or person who practices archery, to hold onto the bow.

The bow string is one of the most important things in Archery in my OPINION. Yes opinion. The bow string basically lets you transfer the elasticity of the bent limbs to the rear of your arrow to propel the arrow forward. Bow string was traditionally made from sinew, which is dried tendons normally from deer.

Step 3: Crossbow

The Crossbow is very much like the bow. It uses the elasticity of it's limbs to propel a projectile forward. The crossbow is made out of 5 main parts. It is comprised of: The Limbs, The Stock, The String, The Trigger, The Latch, and The Channel in the stock for the Bold (similar to an arrow)

The stock is what holds the limbs and string rigid so that the crossbow can fire.

The Trigger is pulled to activate the latch which lowers and releases the string of the crossbow which fires the arrow.

The latch is the part of the crossbow that holds back the string and arrow. To fire, you simply activate the trigger which normally activates the latch which then releases the string and fires the arrow.

Step 4: Arrows

The arrow is the (possibly)lethal part of archery. There are four parts to an arrow. The Arrow head or tip, the arrow shaft, the fletching, and the nock.

The arrow head can come in many forms. most types of arrow heads can be found in the picture below. Arrow heads can be made out of almost any rigid object that you can find.

The arrow shaft is the largest part of the arrow. The Shaft can be made out of wood, fiberglass, carbon fiber, and aluminum.

The fletching is traditionally made from feathers, such as swan or goose feathers. The purpose of the fletching is to help the arrow travel in a more straight line.

The nock is at the rear of the arrow and can be made two different ways. Either you can cut a notch in the end of the arrow, or you can glue a plastic nock to the end of your arrow. The nock is for keeping the arrow on the bow string when you pull the string back.

Step 5: The Quiver

The quiver's use is to hold your arrows. This is important because if not carried in a proper way, then your arrows can corrode. Quivers are traditionally made from leather. Leather still makes a great quiver because it is waterproof and is highly durable if made well. Quivers can also be made of leather, pvc, nylon, and other materials that can make a container.

Step 6: Firing Range

A Firing Range or a large yard can be an essential part of becoming a better marksman with your archery. At a firing range, you can fire ALMOST any weapon you, by law, are allowed to use where you are. If you live in the United States, you can check with your local DNR to see where the closest Public Firing Range is to you.