Vegan Archery? Is That A Thing?

Typically, when we think of archery, we have certain images in our minds. Maybe Robin Hood, target shooting, or hunting. Well, all three are valid points that do exemplify the term archery. We are going to look at how you can get into archery (hopefully for the sport) and keep the animals out of it. 

Author: Jason Rapp

Finger tab

A finger tab is normally split to off-split shooting or non-split shooting. It all depends on your preference.

These can be made from leather or plastic/nylon. The below image is a plastic finger tab.  These types of tabs are priced at about the same price as the leather ones, if not lower. They are also slimmer than their leather counterparts making it easier to store in smaller places, for example, in your quiver.

Gloves

Some people prefer gloves instead of the finger tab. The good news is that among the leather ones, there are plenty of faux alternatives. The picture below is an example of a faux one.

Arm guard

The purpose of the arm guard is to protect your inner arm from sting slaps. If you have never encountered that. You are very fortunate, as these hurt quite a bit. Normally these are leather. However, you can get them in faux leather and plastic. The below picture is an example of a rubber one.

Bows

Bows are normally free from leather or suede except for the grip. They can sometimes be wrapped in leather. These leather grips are found more on bows for shooting from horseback or longbows. Most people (myself included) start with recurve bows. These do not usually contain leather or suede, as the grips are mostly plastic. Below is an example of an Olympic-style bow. The limbs can be changed out to stronger ones as you progress.

Arrows

Arrows are normally made from bamboo, wood, or carbon. So, the main arrow itself is no issue. The problem comes in at the end. Fletches for recurve shooting normally have feathers on them, and sadly they are not synthetic. They usually have turkey feathers on the end. I have not been able to track down a synthetic feather manufacturer. However, all is not lost. You can purchase either arrow that has plastic fletches called vanes, or you can purchase your own and glue them on. If there are any archery shops nearby that make their own arrows. They will probably have them. Below is a picture of arrows that have vanes. Instead of feather fletches.

Sadly, there is not a one-stop shop that contains all these items. So, you would need to look around online. I have been able to find these items on Etsy, Amazon, and eBay. Hopefully, one day, we will see vegan-friendly sports stores that carry these items and more. One way to find out when a shop like that comes into existence is by downloading the Vkind app and staying up to date on all the latest news. Another way will be through the social media aspect of the app once released. Do you know of a vegan-friendly sports shop that carries these items? Do you have a shop like this? Join the VegEconomy on Vkind, and you can reach more people.