| Archery is a pastime that possesses a rich and | | | | but the archers were not revered as much as |
| interesting history. Moreover, it is a pastime that | | | | those men who wielded swords. Even later, the |
| is still quite alive today and despite the fact that | | | | crossbow was developed, allowing for more aim |
| people rely on it less to survive, archery remains | | | | and control and the crossbow was added to the |
| a popular sport among avid sportsmen. Let's take | | | | list of weapons used in battle. Finally, once guns |
| a look at the history of archery and how it has | | | | were invented, the bow and arrow faded from |
| evolved over time and has become a favorite | | | | use in warfare entirely, succumbing to the better |
| sport among hunters and archery enthusiasts. | | | | power offered by musket rifles and the like. |
| Archery, of course, is a sport in which the | | | | Today, bows and arrows are still used for hunting |
| participant uses arrows and a bow to shoot at a | | | | by those who prefer them and some individuals |
| target. Possessing a rich history that is well over | | | | engage in bow and arrow competitions. The |
| 8500 years old, the use of the bow and arrow | | | | hunting that bow and arrow hunters engage in is |
| has evolved from one of need to one of | | | | regulated by the government and can only be |
| enjoyment. Bows and arrows were first used for | | | | done during certain times of the year. These |
| hunting endeavors and were later adopted for | | | | times are referred to as "bow season" and only |
| warfare purposes. The primary cultures that | | | | certain game can be killed with a bow and arrow. |
| adopted the bow and arrow as a standard | | | | To become a good hunter with a bow and arrow, |
| weapon in their vast armies were the Greeks, the | | | | one must master their aiming skills and one also |
| Native Americans, the Chinese, and the | | | | must possess a firm understanding of the kill |
| Macedonians. Armies of archers were trained in | | | | zones on an animal. |
| combat to masterfully aim and fire their arrows | | | | The reason is twofold; first the hunter will ensure |
| at their enemies with alarming skill and precision | | | | that the animal they are hunting won't travel too |
| and for many years the bow and arrow | | | | far once it has been hit and the second reason |
| continued to be used as a weapon for both battle | | | | for understanding the kill zones is that if a hunter |
| and hunting by a variety of cultures. | | | | hits the animal in the wrong area, the animal can |
| Later, during medieval times, although the bow | | | | survive the shot and suffer for a long period of |
| and arrow were still used during battle, they | | | | time. Thus, to successfully kill their prey, a bow |
| began to fall out of favor when swords were | | | | hunter must become a master archer and there |
| created. Swords were sturdier weapons, so | | | | are many classes offered that help train hunters |
| armies consisted of both swordsmen and archers, | | | | to become the skilled archers they need to be. |