NEVER shoot an arrow straight up into the air. You can end up hitting another person or yourself.
NEVER shoot an arrow off into the distance where you cannot see where it will land. Again, you could end up hitting another person.
Only use archery equipment in places that are especially set up for target practice - such as indoor and outdoor target ranges. Targets should be set up to insure that no one can be accidentally hit by a stray arrow. Allow at least 20 yards behind the targets and a 30 degree 'cone of safety' on each side of the shooting lane. Try to place targets against a hill or rising terrain as a safety measure.
If you are looking for a lost arrow behind a target, always leave your bow leaning against the target face so that it will be seen by other archers coming up. If possible, have one archer from your group stand in front of the target to prevent anyone from shooting.
On Field Archery or 3-D courses, be sure to stay on the marked path and travel only in the direction in which the targets are laid out while shooting is in progress. Going backwards on the trail or across an unmarked area could place you in the path of a flying arrow, resulting in serious injury.
DO NOT shoot arrows with broadheads at standard targets. Set up broadhead pits for such practice.
If you are shooting wooden arrows, check them regularly for cracks. If one is found cracked, break it immediately to insure that it will not be accidently used. Shooting a cracked arrow can result in its breaking and causing painful injury to the shooter.
Always use a bowstringer for longbows and recurve bows. This will reduce the possibility of damage to the bow and injury to the person.
Check your bow regularly for cracks or twisting. If in doubt, have it checked by a professional before shooting it any more.
Check the condition of your bowstring regularly. It's cheaper to install a new string than to replace the bow.
Don't draw a bowstring back further than the length of the arrow for which it is intended.
Overdrawing can break the bow and injure the shooter in the process. There is an old saying that a fully drawn bow is 7/8 broken!
Don't draw the string back except with an arrow on it and, especially, don't release the bowstring with no arrow on it. Doing so is called dry firing and can damage the bow.
At practice ranges, the only safe place is behind the shooting line.
Never shoot an arrow until you are positive that no one is in front of you or behind the targets.
Conversly, don't stand in front of a bow while it is being shot, even if you are to one side of the shooter.
Wait for a verbal approval from the Range Captain or his designee before starting to shoot.
Arrows should only be nocked on the shooting line and pointed in the direction of the targets.
After you are done shooting, wait for the word: CLEAR from the Range Captain or his designee before going toward the targets to retrieve your arrows.
WALK, don't run toward the targets. Remember that the arrows are sticking out and can injure you.
When pulling arrows out of a target, stand to one side and insure that no one is directly behind you.
If archers will be shooting concurrently at varying distances, stagger the targets, not the people. This goes back to the previous rule about having one shooting line and staying behind it.
If you are using broadheads, be sure that they are adequately covered when not in use.
Treat a broadhead with the same caution that you would a razor blade.
Carefully follow the instructions given by the Range Captain.