The Rise and Fall...and Rise of Archery

The skill required to successfully wield a bow and arrow is truly an art form in and of itself. The ancient practice of archery originated out of necessity, employed primarily for hunting and self defense. Since then, the bow and arrow have found their way into the world of collectibles and competitive sports. After a long lull in popularity, the tried and true bow and arrow is a formidable presence in sport and game hunting again today.

Brief History of Archery

The use of the bow and arrow is believed to have begun as early as 10,000 BCE as a means for hunting during the stone age. Developed as an improvement on the spear, archery allowed for the firing of an arrow over longer distances, making hunting for food overall safer and more effective.

Bow hunting was prominent worldwide for centuries as a means for hunting and waging war, until its sharp decline following the following the global spread of firearms. The invention of gunpowder drastically changed the practices of hunting and warfare, making the bow and arrow largely obsolete.

However, the 18th century accompanied a rise in recreational archery. This use of the bow and arrow for sport sport, rather than for survival, brought about the revival of the art form of ancient archery.

Bow Hunting Popularity Today

Target shooting and game hunting with modern archery equipment has received increased attention with the wild popularity of medieval television shows like Game of Thrones. Movie trends have also brought the bow and arrow back into the limelight, as with the lethal archery skills of Legolas from TheLord of the Rings and Katniss of The Hunger Games.

With archery so heavily trending these days, it is no wonder why people are taking up the historic bow and arrow these days! Have you got yourself an archery set yet?