If you are interested in getting started in archery, or know someone who is, don't hesitate. The best time for getting started in archery is right now.

[caption id="attachment_5895" align="aligncenter" width="200"] Getting started in archery now will have you hitting the mark that much sooner.[/caption] I can honestly say archery has changed my life. I often joke with my hunting friends that "I've been a bowhunter all my life. I just didn't own a bow until my late 20's." Every delicate nuance of the sport of archery is enticing. Practice sessions where you watch an arrow beautifully arc through the air are a relaxing way to unwind after a long day. Autumn days on the hunt fill the soul with peaceful solace no amount of modern frills can provide. Wild places archery can take you will humble you through the glory and majesty of all God's creation. Saxon Pope said it best; "it truly is a noble sport." Anyone interested in getting started in archery should be encouraged to dive in and experience our noble sport for several reasons. Firstly, our modern equipment has never made it more easy for getting started in archery. Compound bows and crossbows alike have made the sport of archery almost automatic. That is not to say there isn't a skill to be honed, or room for improvement, it just recognizes the fact shooting these bows accurately does not take the practice it once did. Most people can start shooting pretty decent groups at 20 yards in a matter of weeks, and that has never happened before. Another reason why getting started in archery has never been easier is the fact there is so much information available to help new archers troubleshoot. Blogs, hunting magazines, YouTube videos, and professionally produced hunting videos all offer advice on how to tune your bow, shoot more accurately, select the right gear, and every other question a new archer will encounter. Information is so cheap, all you need is the desire to go find it. Thirdly, not only is bowhunting enjoyable but it also is a great way to get outside and experience the world. I often tell people archery is my golf. It gets me outside, it is a skill you can never truly master, you compete against yourself, and it is typically much cheaper than playing golf, not to mention camo duds look cooler than golf shorts and a polo any day. Whether target archery is your niche or you want to become a hunter, getting started in archery gives you a reason to go outside and get some fresh air. Finally, we need archers. In a world of fast changing morals and dueling political parties, we need archers to ensure the right of archers is not infringed upon in the future. Whether it be keeping our public lands public, continuing the culture that believes it is ok to take the life of an animal in a morally and ethically sound way, or keeping the flame of history alive while practicing this ancient skill, simply by participating people can help. In the end, now has never been a better time for getting started in archery. Not only is it a fulfilling pastime, with equipment that can ease the learning curve, but archers are needed as much as they ever were to keep our good thing going. NEXT: 3 HUNTING RESOLUTIONS FOR 2016