Where To Shoot Your Crossbow
It is legal to use crossbows for target shooting in the UK on private land with the landowners permission so long as you are 18 years or older or have a supervising adult with you.
Over the last 10 years the popularity of crossbow shooting has rocketed partly due to the new firearms laws and restrictions on owning guns and rifles. Although they are similar to archery bows they do not seem to be very welcome at most archery clubs. It is worth asking your local club if they allow them but it is almost a certainty that compound crossbows and recurve crossbows above 300 ft/sec will not be welcome.
Crossbow Activity Centres
3xtreme - Brighton click here
Oakerwood Leisure - Leominster click here
Private Clubs
1066 Target Sports - St Leonards-on-Sea click here
Targetsportsworld - South East London click here
Dechmont Air Rifle, pistol and Archie club - Hamilton (call Rob on 07786017034)
NFAS (National Field Archery) Clubs we know that allow crossbows
Fleet Ibex (Woking) - Click here to visit the website
Doverdale Bowmen (Worcestershire) - Click here to visit the website - Contact Geoff Loader Evenings 01905 352878 (NFAS Rule crossbows only).
Green Dragon Archers (Kent) - Click here to visit the website - (NFAS Rule crossbows only)
Black Arrow Field Archery (Ashby De La Zouch) - Click here to visit the website - (NFAS Rule crossbows only)
NFAS Clubs we know that DO NOT allow crossbows
Archery Duns
Blackburn Archery
Riggwelter Field Archers
Windwhistle Archers
Whitemark Bowmen
South Cheshire Field Archers
Pines Park Archers
Spirit of Sherwood
Colchester & District
For a full list of NFAS (National Field Archery Society) clubs click here. You will need to ask if they allow crossbows.
If you write to the Crossbow Federation at the address below they will provide you with the nearest archery club that allows crossbows. If you know of a club please let us know and we will place their details on the website. Crossbow shooting is not yet as popular as archery but things are changing.
Mr.G.Peatfield
NCF General Secretary
24 Ivy Road
Poynton
Cheshire
SK12 1PE
Website www.ncf-crossbow.co.uk
If you are a club that allows crossbows please get in touch email here.
NFAS competition crossbow rules
The prod can be made from any materials except aluminium alloy. The maximum distance from the front of the prod to the string latch is to be no more than 16" (sixteen inches). Minimum bolt length is to be no less than 12" (twelve inches). All crossbows shall be fitted with a bolt retaining clip. No cocking aid other than a rope and foot stirrup is permitted. Telescopic or magnifying sights are not permitted. Crossbow archers shall shoot off hand, no rests of any description are permitted. Crossbow archers will only draw their bow at the shooting position and must keep them pointed in the direction of the target at all times whether loaded or not. No compound crossbows allowed and the maximum velocity is 300fps.