Alfie O’Quinn, president of the Archery Association of Nova Scotia, made his own longbow last year. He chopped down an ash tree, cut out a suitable piece of wood, sanded it down and braided a string for it. He says archery is a fine-dexterity sport that requires discipline. If you want to get involved, you can buy your own bow for $40 to $2,000, or ask O’Quinn to show you how to make one. Bows and arrows are also available for newbies to borrow at the CFB Halifax Archery Club. Just walk into their 10-lane shooting range and they’ll introduce you to a mentor, he says. They’re open from 7pm to 9pm on Sundays and 6pm to 8:30pm on Tuesdays. You might even rub shoulders with hunters who shoot their own dinner.
CFB Halifax Archery Club, the drill shed building (S-14) at Canadian Forces Base Stadacona at 2649 Gottingen Street, 427-6962, aans.ca
