This is perhaps the most important command on the archery range. 5 whistle blasts means that you need to stop everything. It is used alongside or instead of the verbal command ‘stop’ or ‘halt.’
These blasts will be sharp and in quick succession. They are designed to grab your attention and call a stop to everything that is going on.
When you hear 5 or more whistle blasts you need to immediately let down your bow, un-nock your arrow and put it in your quiver. You will then need to step back behind the shooting line and wait for further instruction.
Under no circumstances are you to fire an arrow or step over the shooting range when you hear 5 or more whistles.
This signal can be used for a number of reasons. It could be that someone or something has crossed the shooting line. This means that it is unsafe for anyone to shoot in case they hit the person, animal, or thing.
This signal may be used in competitions if there is an issue with a target that needs fixing. The signal is given to protect the organizers and staff as they rectify the issue.
It may also be used if there is an issue off the range that requires the supervisor’s attention. They will blow the whistle 5 or more times to get everyone’s attention before issuing further instructions.
On some ranges, 4 whistles are used instead of 5. Check with the staff when you enter to find out how many blasts they use in an emergency.
In competition, the 5 blasts may also be accompanied by red lights or flags. Again, this should be explained to you when you step up. If, however, you are unsure, ask the organizers or staff. Nothing is more important than safety on the archery range.
What does 3 whistles mean in archery?
3 whistle blasts signal that it is safe for archers to walk down range and collect their arrows. It is used in conjunction with or instead of the verbal command ‘walk forward and get your arrows.’
Like everything in archery, there are rules and regulations about retrieving your arrows. These will vary from range to range, but there are similarities.
In some ranges, once the 3 whistle blasts have sounded every shooter can walk up to the target and start pulling their arrows.
In other ranges, the shooters move up to the ‘target’ line which is about 6 foot away from the targets. Small groups of archers walk up to the targets and retrieve their arrows before returning to the safe zone. Once one group has retrieved their arrows, another can move forward.
When retrieving arrows, it is important that you use your common sense and follow a few basic rules.
First and foremost, pay attention. It’s easy enough to lean in to retrieve an arrow and catch your face or your eye on another arrow sticking out of the target.
When pulling arrows, you’ll want to put one hand on the target, just above the arrow. This will be used for stability and to give you purchase.
Place the other hand around the arrow as close to the target as you can comfortably get. Pull the arrow out of the target firmly.
Try not to wiggle the arrows too much, or you could end up bending or breaking the arrows. Instead, gently rotate the shafts if you’re having trouble getting them out of the target.
Avoid pulling from the vanes or end of the shaft. This, again, could cause the arrows to break or bend. If you bend your arrows, you’ll find that they don’t fly straight and become pretty useless.
Once you’ve retrieved your arrows, place them back in your quiver. You should not remove them from your quiver until you are given the command to shoot once again.
If you don’t have a quiver, you’ll need to hold the arrows like a bouquet with the tips facing toward the floor. This is essential in case you trip or get knocked over.
What does 2 whistles mean in archery?
2 whistle blasts signal the beginning of the time slot sequence. 2 blasts are used alongside or instead of the verbal command ‘archers to the shooting line.’
When you hear 2 whistle blasts you need to bring yourself and your bow to the shooting line. Once there you need to get into position.
That means planting your feet either side of the line about a shoulder width apart. Your body needs to be perpendicular to the target. Stand up straight without leaning to the left or right. Let your shoulders relax and avoid hunching up.
It is important to take the time to get your stance correct. If your stance is off, then your shooting will also be off. The key is to be stable but relaxed. Choking your bow, hunching your shoulders, or over tensing your muscles will all create stress which can introduce uncertainty into your shot.
At this point, your bow should be held in your non-dominant hand, pointing toward the ground. You may only raise your bow when you hear one single whistle blast or the verbal command ‘begin shooting.’
The reason for this command is so that everyone can get into place, but also to make sure nobody is down range of the archers.
When the two whistles go, there should be nobody in front of the shooting line. That goes for archers, judges, and staff.
It is a matter of personal safety and these rules should never be ignored. If you disobey the whistle commands, you may find yourself disqualified from competitions or banned from the range.
What does 1 whistle mean in archery?
Whistle blasts are used on archery ranges to signal to archers what they should be doing. It is imperative that all archers learn the procedures and follow them when on a range.
1 whistle blast is used with or instead of the verbal command ‘begin shooting.’
When you hear one whistle blast, it means that you can take arrows from your quiver and go through your shot sequence.
You can continue to shoot until you’ve used up your arrows, or you hear 5 or more whistle blasts in a row.
Once you are finished shooting, you should put your bow on the rack and wait for the command to retrieve your arrows.
The single whistle blast isn’t used until archers have stepped up to the shooting line. This means that you should already be in position to draw arrows and start shooting when the whistle sounds.
Remember when shooting, you should only aim at the target directly opposite you. You shouldn’t raise or point your bow in any other direction, and arrows should only come out of the quiver once you’ve heard that whistle.
Sometimes, archery ranges will use a sound system or loud beeps instead of a whistle. The same rule applies to beeps. One beep means you can start shooting. If the range is using verbal commands, make sure you pay close attention. These can be harder to understand than whistle blasts.
