Wet Weather Archery

Are we fair weather Archers?

Archery outdoors is the best kind of archery, there's no question here about that. But what if the heavens open when you're about to go out to shoot? If you're already out shooting then you're going to get wet without question, so the only option is to suck it up. The real decision comes when you're just about to string your bow and spend an hour or more in the rain. The answer, as always, to just crack on, you're not made of sugar and did you come out to do archery or not? This isn't a bunch of lanes under a roof, this is the outdoors and we don't get enough time to spend in it as it is, so don't waste it.

Speaking of big pants, you'll need a few things:

• waterproof over-trousers

• waterproof jacket (a proper one)

• waterproof boots

• a bit of wax on your string

• properly spined arrows

The Waterproofs as self explanatory, but as you can see in the image, some people opt for the poncho. This is a ballsy move and a strong one if done correctly. Make sure you have elastic bands or hair bands to keep the poncho away from the string and test before you leave your base. The results is that you appear dangerous yet adventerous; other archers will whisper as you go by: 'My god the balls'.

String Waxing in this situation is fairly important, you'll be out for longer with a well waxed string, but it will soon become so waterlogged that you will experience a shower to the face each time you loose an arrow.

The powdery stuff that you put on fletchings to stop the rain getting to them? Don't bother. If you put enough on to make a difference, it changes the feel of the arrow enough that you notice the difference for the worse. Though one good point is that if you put enough on, the first shot looks amazing, like the tail exhaust from a rocket.

So, the best technical thing you can do, apart from don waterproofs, is to spine your arrows correctly. A happy arrow is a spined arrow and a wet arrow will be ok for a few shots and then just turn into a stick. Make sure your stick is the best stick you can have for your bow.

However the most important thing to help shooting in the wet is to be happy being wet. If you go in with the attitude that a day outside if better than one inside and that a day outside doing archery is superior to almost any other form of outdoor activity... then you'll take a joy in being drenched. Just make sure you have something to look forward to when you return such as a decent coffee.