The sport of archery dates back thousands of years. The earliest evidence was discovered around 20,000 B.C., when it was used as a method of hunting and protection. Archers back then relied on their bow and arrows for survival; the tool helped archers provide food, clothing, and protection for their families. The earliest bows were handcrafted, made from a single strip of wood, normally elm, and with a bowstring made of animal sinew. Arrows, similarly, were also designed by hand. The base of an arrow would be a strip of wood with two feathers attached to the bottom to serve as fletchings, and a piece of sharpened flint or stone at the top to serve as the arrowhead.
After the rise of firearms in the 16th century, archery was no longer the main weapon for hunting, but it grew as a sport. Archery competitions started in 1583, when the first was held in Finsbury, England, with around 3,000 participants. England and Turkey held the most archery competitions throughout the 16th century. Archery also became crucial in Scotland, particularly during the Middle Ages, for both military defense and as a skill promoted by the monarchy. Archery competitions and practice were encouraged, and the country even began banning other sports to prioritize it.
Another unique piece in archery’s history is the fact that it became a sport dominated by women. The idea of women in archery began to grow more popular after it became common among royalty up until the middle ages. Anne Boleyn, the second wife of English King Henry VIII, is said to have participated in archery practices, and Queen Elizabeth I, was also an archer. Even in modern times, women participate in archery and take on leadership roles in archery organizations. Towards the end of the 19th century, archery’s popularity in America increased drastically, and in the 1870s, the Crescent City Female Archery Club was founded in New Orleans. In fact, archery was one of the first sports to allow women to participate in the Olympics in 1904. In the Paris 2024 Olympics, South Korean archer Lim Si-hyeon set a new world record in the women’s individual archery ranking round with a score of 694.
There is an interesting and complex history about how archery made its way to Sonoma County. One of the first archer groups in Sonoma Country was a club called White Feather Archery. This group was not officially documented, but instead recorded through word-of-mouth. According to the stories, the group owned a range above what is now the Flamingo Hotel in the 1950s. Later in 1961, two more groups were formed called the Santa Rosa Bowmen and the Sebastopol Bowmen. In 1971, the two clubs merged to create what is now the Sonoma County Bowmen’s Association.
The current president of Sonoma County Bowmen (SCB) is Marilyn Dutra. “I have been involved with SCB since ’92, president for over 30 years and [vice president] for one year. I am also president of a second archery club, Traditional Archers of California. Our SCB board is made up of 4 women plus 4 guys and two appointed positions,” Dutra says. Marilyn Dutra is not only president of archery leagues, but she is also an archery teacher, including classes with kids of all ages. “There is a special rapport between coaches and their youth. I always explain they can tell me anything, and I’ve learned to work with multiple personalities, helping kids build self confidence, self esteem, and patience.”
When asked, in her opinion, what some of the benefits of having kids involved in the archery community are, Dutra responded, “It is important to give our youth a safe opportunity to be outside. To participate alongside adults, boys and girls.” She explains how archery requires a certain skill set that can be beneficial to anyone as well, stating, “Archery requires listening, following directions, and building trust with those who are helping them.” Dutra enjoys teaching the kids to give back to the community as well. She has several students that work and volunteer at her club work parties and events.
Sonoma County Bowmen’s 3D League club shoots are normally on Wednesdays, beginning in April and ending in August. 3D League is normally held at their range, Rancho Neblina, and is a weekly hike around the range shooting a 14-target course. In the 3D league, rather than shooting at paper targets, archers shoot at 3D foam animal targets which are set up by volunteers and the SCB’s team. 3D league allows both traditional and compound bows, allowing different styles of archery to exist within the club. In addition, SCB also holds other fun events, like their Steelhead Festival at Lake Sonoma, or the Broadhead Shoots at the range, and their “Shot In The Dark” shoot, a glow-in-the-dark night course, held every October as their Halloween shoot.
Archery is a sport filled with a lot of history. From the ancient times of hunting and warfare, to the sport that we know today, archery has changed the world in many ways. It gave the world stories that can never be forgotten, it gave women a practice that they could take leadership in, and as the sport grew, the lessons it can teach this world’s youth are ones like no other. While archery is a less common sport in America when compared to football or baseball, there are opportunities right here in Sonoma County. It takes a special person and a unique skill set to master a bow and arrow, but you can learn a lot from it if you try.
