I have put together the euipment standards for the archery competition for this years Paston Palooza. I have borrowed heavily from the SCA archery standards for Period Hand Bow Competition. Don't let that put you off. I would appreciate suggestions.

EQUIPMENT STANDARDS

General Standards:
1. All equipment should be consistent with 15th century archery in looks and function.
2. Each archer has the ultimate responsibility for the proper care, inspection, and safe use of his/her own weapons, and for knowing and following archery rules.
• An archer shall not knowingly use unsafe equipment.
• If an archer is unsure of the safety of his/her equipment, he/she shall request the assistance of a Range Master in inspecting the equipment.
• Range Master assisting in the inspection shall make a reasonable attempt to locate any unsafe conditions or violations of the rules and inform the archer of what is found and how to correct it.
• The inspection by the Range Master may not find all equipment faults and is conducted as a service to all the archers on the line. It does not remove the archers’ primary responsibility for the safe condition of their own equipment.
• Any equipment observed by a Range Master to be unsafe shall not be used until it is made safe and is re-inspected by an additional Range Master
3. The Range Master shall make necessary allowances for handicapped archers, provided that range safety is not compromised by these allowances.

BOWS:
Period style longbows of any woods are allowed. The bow must have the appearance of a period bow. Laminated longbows of different woods are allowed with the exceptions of those woods that are visibly modern (i.e. Purple heart, Osage Orange bamboo etc…) and various backing materials (i.e. linen, silk, snakeskin etc…)
Modern style re-curves or longbows with full or partial center cut risers are not allowed. There is no weight limit, maximum or minimum.
Period style bows are defined as: Any style of bow that can be documented as used in 15th century archery. Construction materials should be mainly those that were used in period for the making of that style of bow. No modern features such as full or partial center cut handles are allowed.
1. Bows may be made of any wood,provided they are judged safe to shoot by the Range Master.
• Bows of unusual materials or construction will be not be allowed
• No compound bows are allowed in competition. There will be no exceptions to this prohibition.
2. Adjustable or fixed sights are not allowed.
• Sighting and/or ranging marks on the limbs or riser are not allowed.
3. There are no draw weight limits for target archery bows. However, should a Range Master observe that an archer is using a bow too heavy or overdrawn for them to safely shoot, the Range Master will require the archer to stop using the bow.
4. No modern spring/flipper rests or plunger buttons are allowed. The use of simple rests is not allowed the arrow must rest upon the archer’s hand.
5. No stabilizers, clickers, or modern string release devices are allowed.

SIGHTS:
Placement of sighting marks on bow limbs is not allowed

ARROW RESTS:
Non period arrow rests are not allowed. Built in or partial windows are not allowed

STRINGS:
1. All strings shall be appropriate in length and strength for the bow type and weight.
Linen, silk, and any modern bowstring materials are acceptable, as long as strings are properly constructed.
• Strings that have become knotted, or those that have been repaired by knotting strands together, shall not be used. This rule does not forbid those string designs which incorporate knots, such as a bowyer’s knot, in their original design.
2. A nocking point may be may be tied on to the string. A single nocking point is allowed. .
3. Peep sights or kisser buttons mounted on the string are not allowed.

ARROWS:
1. All shafts shall be of wood.
2. Both self and footed shafts are permitted.
3. All arrow tips are allowed both modern and medieval. Period tips such as bodkin points are encouraged however the use of “Mod Bods” is acceptable. Modern points such as target and or field points are also acceptable. No broad heads or tips that cause excessive damage to the targets shall be used
4. Fletched arrows shall use feathers .Plastic vanes are not allowed.
5. Nocks must be self, reinforced or built up (no plastic nocks). Reinforcing or build up materials may include: horn, bone, ivory, leather, hardwood or other natural materials used in period.

RELEASE AIDS:
Archers may use any period style release appropriate for their bow, but are not required to do so. For example, an archer may use a glove or tab.

These rules borrowed heavily and modified from the standards for the SCA period hand bow competition.