Greetings, Midrealm!
Target archery marshals: as target archery has restarted around the Kingdom, there are some items that I need to bring your attention to.
The target archery marshallate has been asked to determine the number of unique participants that we have over the course of the year. The regional marshals and I have decided to attempt this by correlating names on the uber event reports from events and practices. This means that those reports need to be sent on in a timely fashion. Reports from events are expected within a week of the end of the event. Reports from practices can be grouped by month. Ask people to write their name legibly.
The Society Target Archery Marshal has made a couple rulings that are in effect now and will be incorporated into the Society Target Archery Handbook. The first is on overdraw devices. These are devices, such as the Majra, that allow you to shoot an arrow that is too short to reach from your draw point to the bow. They are typically used for distance shooting. The Society marshal’s ruling is,
“Overdraw devices are not called out as a banned item in Society Handbook. However, arrow length is something all marshals check in inspections and short arrows will fail by default. Which means their use (short arrows and overdraw) will need at least marshal-in-charge sign off on a per archer and per event basis. So, possible to use? Yes, but many hoops to jump through and it will come down to the personal choice of the MiC. Individual Kingdom rules may be in place that do ban these devices.”
The Midrealm doesn’t have any specific rules on these, so we would treat them as experimental weapons. That means that you need to contact a regional or the Kingdom marshal if someone shows up with one of these. If it is permitted, it needs to be thoroughly documented in the event report.
The other ruling is about break-cocking crossbows. Here is the Society marshal’s ruling:
“The question was on the Society rule about break cocking crossbows (Section V – crossbows, Rule B): Break-cocking crossbow styles are not allowed. Does it only apply to the Barnett crossbow that used the term break cocking action, or does it apply to the Barnett crossbow that used the term break cocking action, or does it apply to any crossbow where a built-in mechanism on the crossbow brings
string and trigger into position?
The understanding I’ve had for years is that it’s a ban on any crossbow with a built-in mechanism.
- Cranequin – not built in, allowed
- Goats foot lever – not built in, allowed
- Belt hook – allowed
- Handheld hook – allowed
- Barnett with built in lever action – No
- Hooks built into hand-pulled sliders along stock – No
- Table slides to string, lever or ratchet back – No
The term in the handbook may be specific to a certain brand, but the application is broader. I can work on an update to clear this up if needed.
There are a couple of reasons for this. The repeating crossbow falls under this ban. It grabs the string and brings it back to firing position and loads a bolt. But you can’t see when a bolt loads, or runs out, or jams. Dry fires are possible. And do we want a rapid-fire crossbow in speed rounds? Fun for sure, but this rule is what prevents their use.
For ratcheting mechanism bows, how do you make it safe when a hold is called?
A Barnett or other hand-operated built-in lever can be let down, hopefully safely. But a ratchet that is halfway back can’t be let down and period examples didn’t engage trigger until all the way back. You are stuck in a half-loaded situation until it is safe to finish cocking the bow.”
If you have any questions on these rulings, please contact me at [email protected].
Maître Diccon de Reinport, OP
DEM for Target Archery, Middle Kingdom