don't know exactly where to go

To competitions?..

 

Lol… can you just show up and pay the entry fee and shoot in the pro division?

 

Keep your day job to pay for it LOL. There's no money in it except for a very, very few at the top of national and international shooters and they need a source of income.
Seriously start at your local levels, clubs, state shoots. The hope maybe you can advance to some national shoots, maybe pick up a sponser. But that takes some winning, dedication, lots and lots of time, practice. You will need to live and breath it. Even then the odds are stacked against you.

 

What Dale said here, plus get ready to really test your nervous system. that's why I prefer at my age to compete against myself in the backyard and basement ranges. Being of a younger age, go for it or later in life you will possibly regret it, plus it can only make you a better archery. Remember there is a monetary side this also.

 

Dont listen to the na sayers. Work hard and who knows how far u can go.

 

Not being a nay sayer, it's the truth, just not sugar coated.

 

Shoot in tournaments. There is a big difference in being a good league shooter and being a great tournament shooter. It's not the equipment, learn how to set-up your equipment for you. Find a form that is naturally repeatable under stress. Find a qualified coach who will point out the flaws in your form and how to fix them.
Get a full time job that allows you time off for tournaments and supports you.

 

I am looking at getting into professional archery, I've been shooting for about 11 years and really seriously started to get in the target world this last year. I'm 19 and don't know exactly where to go. Thanks in advance!

How to turn Pro in Archery:

1) Get a bow - Complete
2) Learn how to shoot it - Complete
3) Go to local leagues/tourneys/money shoots to see how you stack up - <---------<<< You are Here
4) Go to National events and register as a Pro and compete -

Meanwhile, keep your day job until you start winning big $$$ events on a regular basis.... I know quite a few people who compete in the Pro Classes and every single one of them has a day job. These folks are amazing shooters.... but so is everyone else who competes at that level.

I truly wish you luck on your journey. If it's your dream, put in the work!!!!

 

Is there a Pro in your area? If so talk to them & see what shoots are coming up & what is required to be able to shoot in them. Some shoots you don't need to be a Pro to shoot them & some you need to be NFAA Pro & they can help you to become an NFAA Pro.
It is a hard track but it is do able.

 

I am looking at getting into professional archery, I've been shooting for about 11 years and really seriously started to get in the target world this last year. I'm 19 and don't know exactly where to go. Thanks in advance!

Back in the day there were a small handful of legit archers on here but it’s an extremely rare occurrence now. You’ll spot the difference pretty fast. Take all of our advice with caution and don’t let us get you down.

What’s your plan post High School? Are you jumping into the workforce or heading off to a university or smaller college? If going to school, does it have an archery team? If so, did you do the research on how to try out or get on the team. What’s the equipment requirements? Do the research.
If the workforce is your future, do you have a chance of a legit pro shop sponsorship or shop shooter option? Does the shop offer a legit coach or pro shooter to mentor and coach you? Not a shop groupie but a legit pro to mentor you and invest in your future.
What is your financial ability? Traveling and shooting weekend tournaments is not cheap let alone the equipment for initial setup without sponsors. It’s not always expensive to shoot pro level but it will get costly the farther you go down this journey.
It’s going to take some raw relent and serious commitment but you can do it if the commitment is followed daily and you have the financial backing. Most never follow through on the commitment or lack the funds to move beyond local shoots. I know I lack the daily drive to shoot exceptionally well during the stress of a tournament. Standing shoulder to shoulder shooting under timed pressure is a mental game of its own, let alone my slightly above average shooting ability.
Life can be an amazing journey and yours is just starting. Don’t let those that couldn’t prevent you from growing and becoming better.

 

Thanks you for the advice! I actually am an Archery Technician at a a shop, and have the support there. I know a few pros thay could help me. Thanks again, that's really helpful

 

At 19 do whatever the heck you want for a year or 2.

 

It's sort of one of those things where when you are good enough to earn a living at it, companies will seek you out; Earning a living at archery competitions is like all other parts of archery: consistency and repeatability-- you have to in big events consistently and repeat it year after year.

You also have to work on your "presentation" skills- Your "make a living" shooters don't get to just shoot, you have to be a great representative of the product, and have a fairly squeaky clean social media presence. Actually pulling the string is just a smalll part of the job.

 

There is very little money in the actual shooting part, the prize money for winning. It's other avenues where you'll make the money.

Google ASA or IBO (assuming you are talking 3D), find the closest national shoot and go, see how you do against the pros, or even semi-pros. You can register as pro, it just takes some money.

 

... really seriously started to get in the target world this last year. I'm 19 and don't know exactly where to go.

When you're good enough to turn pro, they'll find you.

You don't just decide to turn pro, and jump in. I guess you could, but you're just asking for heartache, getting beat constantly, embarrassment, and losing a bunch of money.

When you are actually good enough, not just "want to", the opportunities will start to present themselves.

 

If you are actually a professional, doing this for income, you should register yourself as a business to write off travel expenses, entry fees, and equipment. Of course if you have no income from sponsorships or winnings you can’t subtract your expenses from $0 and have the IRS pay you to shoot.

 

As young as you are, go for it. Why not?
Don't be discouraged. At the same time, don't be too upset if you don't make it. It is insane how hard it is to be a true "PRO". Honestly, not much different from being a great Football/Baseball player in college and making it PRO.

 

Not really telling me a lot. How well are you shooting? In the top five at any event? "target world this last year" says you don't have a lot experience.....

You can join any organization and compete and not have to be a Pro. And then find out where you stand.

I think Dale gave you good information.....and others.....

 

quite simple,....go to as many competitions as you can afford to. register in the pro category, pay the pro entry fee and go shoot. sooner or later, when you empty pockets are hanging out of your pants, you will realize that being a pro has very little to do with how well you can shoot and much more to do what your wallet can withstand. puzzled though,...if you are a tech at a shop and you know several pro,... i would think you would have all the information at your finger tips and would not have to ask here. most pros i know, started out with accessory sponsorships and deep discounts from local shops they frequent or work at long before they actually claimed being a "pro". you don't usually declare yourself a pro and get all sorts of stuff, just because you did. you have to earn the reputation of being a good shot within the archery community before manufactures offer you anything .

 

puzzled though,...if you are a tech at a shop and you know several pro,... i would think you would have all the information at your finger tips and would not have to ask here.

Beat me to it.

 

Your 19 been shooting awhile cool. How do you stack up in local or regional shoots? On the podium , top half, bottom half?. Go for it jump in and go for it you will either fail or be successful if your willing to put in the effort. As has been said very few pros actually shoot for a living most get up and go to work during the week and shoot the tournaments on the weekend.

 

Go to every major shoot you can afford to attend, and win them, it's just that easy. When you build a resume you can apply to bow companies for sponsorship. Many companies will pay contingency to you if you win using their equipment even if you are not sponsored. It's up to you to prove to then you are good enough.

 

Couple of days & only responded once & have been asked several time how he shoots & what class he shoots in & no response. He should know by working in Pro shop what it takes & how to get there.

 

I am looking at getting into professional/competitive archery, I've been shooting for about 11 years and really seriously started to get in the target world this last year. I am also an archery technician, so I have support from my local shop to get in to it. I'm 19 and don't know exactly where to go. Thanks in advance!

If the question is serious, you should already be registered in Championship Compound Open at the 2021 Vegas Shoot. Even if just semi-serious, you should be putting up a score in Vegas/Virtual Flights. Either way, wishing you luck.

 

you should get out there and start competing get into the world of it. like others said go to every local, state and national matches you can afford to go to. that is the only way you can learn is to immerse yourself into something. i am just an average archer but i competed in rodeo for many years and i was very good but i never learned the mental game as no one explained it to me. one thing no one has mentioned is how big the Mental Game is in any sport. that is what makes or breaks the best in any sport, you need to understand how to control that and stay committed to the process. i have seen guys that could have been the best in my old sport of rodeo but that could not keep it together, you need ice water running through your veins. by the time i understood this my body was too broken to compete in rodeo consistently but i used those skills when i got into competitive shooting and i became very good quickly cause i never got rattled. just giving you another perspective to think about cause no one ever took the time to tell me this and it would have been a game changer for me. i wish you the best and follow your dreams cause who knows where they might take you.

 

My buddy Jason Dickey is a pro unknown 3d guy, he started coming to 3d shoots years ago and enjoyed it, he was a decent shooter but nothing stood out. He kept working on things and coming to all the shoots with us and one day we mentioned you should go to a asa 3d. He finally decided to go and won open c at his first asa, that basically addicted him. He worked his way up through open b and then open a and then semi pro. I think he won another 2 or 3 of the asa's during those years and he finally won out of semi pro and became a pro.

As of right now he has been on the podium with levi morgan 2 times, his first one was at the asa classic when dan mcarthy won shooter of the year and jason tood second that day beating levi. He made the shootdown at the first asa this year for his second shootdown as a pro.

All I know is that I have won around 200 local tournaments over the years and I have been on the podium 3 times as a amateur and the jump you have to make to be on the podium at the pro level is huge. Jason simply has the ability to do just that and I just don't, you simply have to go to the asa nationals and compete and earn your way out of the amateur classes and become the pro. Or you can be like some of the idiots and just buy a pro card and donate your money which some people really enjoy doing.

 

So, from personal experience.......

Back in the 70's I was a danged good bass fisherman. BASS was just starting to take off back then. I was winning a LOT of local tournaments and kind of making a name for myself. I decided to quit my job and go all in with BASS.

I bought a better boat and a bunch of gear and lit out on the trail. My first tournament was in Alabama. There I stood with Bill Dance, Jimmy Houston, Rick Clunn and Roland Martin. I guess I never realized these guys would show up. Duh. In 6 months I had won around $1000 and spent 50 times that much.

Needless to say, that was the end of my career in BASS. It also started by career in bankruptcy court.

So, my advice..... Start slow. Do NOT give up your day job. Dip your toe in the water first. Make a plan. Set goals. Keep your expectations in check.

Remember, there are very, very few people in the world that make their living off tournament shooting.

 

I can tell you that the year before Jason became a pro we had a tough course here in missouri that if you shot 4 up in the open class or so you had a awesome day, I think that day I did shoot 2 or 6 up but holy crap then there was jason. He shot that course 30 up and it was only a 30 target course. He cleaned it with no zeros and so that means he shot 50% 12's for the day, I watched him range 47 and 49 and 44 yard type targets over and over again and his arrows simply hit exactly where they should either dead on 12 or slightly high just above with his safety yardage. Every stinking arrow he shot that day hid good enough left to right for him to hit the 12's, he did not have one arrow out of 30 arrows that was left or right of a 12. There was one 28 yard type target that day and a couple 32 to 34 yard targets and everything else was 38 to 50 yards.

That was the day when i knew at some point in time Jason would be on the podium at a asa with levi Morgan, I had always dreamed of shooting that freaking good or being in a group with someone who could shoot that good but until I watched jason do it I had never seen it.

 

I can tell you that the year before Jason became a pro we had a tough course here in missouri that if you shot 4 up in the open class or so you had a awesome day, I think that day I did shoot 2 or 6 up but holy crap then there was jason. He shot that course 30 up and it was only a 30 target course. He cleaned it with no zeros and so that means he shot 50% 12's for the day,

That's one thing what I always wondered what means that up.
I guess U use AVG 10 to be that level and everything up that is up ?

Just asking 'cause we don't have that kind of count here.