Field Archery
Field archery offers a more varied and adventurous style of shooting compared with traditional target archery. Instead of shooting across a flat field, archers follow a course set through natural terrain, shooting at animal-face targets placed at different distances, angles and elevations. This style of archery challenges both accuracy and judgement, making it a favourite for archers who enjoy the outdoors.
At Greenwood Archers, the field course is made up of 14 targets set out in an IFAA marked animal round format. The round is typically shot twice, creating a 28-target course with shooting distances ranging from 9 to 55 metres. We also extend the course to provide a World Archery Marked Round Field Course and in April 2027 will host the Wellington Archery Association Field Tournament over 2 days wehere archers will shoot both an IFAA Animal Round and WA Marked Field Round.
Target Format and Scoring
Field archery targets feature animal faces with two scoring zones. The highest score is achieved by hitting the “kill” area, while a lower score is awarded for arrows landing in the “wound” area. Some formats also include an X-ring, providing an additional scoring bonus for highly accurate shots.
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Archers may shoot up to three arrows at each target if needed, with arrows clearly marked and shot in sequence. The course includes a mix of standard targets and “walk-up” targets, where each arrow is shot from a different position along the range marker.
A Challenging Outdoor Discipline
Field archery develops skills that go beyond simple target shooting. Archers must judge distance, adjust for terrain and lighting conditions, and maintain focus while moving through the course. This makes field archery both a technical challenge and a rewarding outdoor experience.
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All bow types can be used on the field course, including recurve, compound and traditional bows, making the discipline accessible to archers with different equipment and shooting styles.
Range Rules and Safety
To ensure the safety of everyone on the course, Greenwood Archers follows a number of important range rules. The field course is for members only, although members may bring a limited number of guests. Archers must always shoot from the designated markers, follow the course path and ensure arrows are only drawn in the direction of the targets.
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Safety and respect for the environment are essential parts of the sport. Shooting must take place only within designated areas, and wildlife on the club grounds must never be harmed.
