The four primary types of archery bows are below

Each type stores and releases energy differently, using distinct designs ranging from ancient traditional styles to modern mechanical setups.

Recurve Bow

• Tips curve away from the archer when unstrung.
• Stores extra energy to shoot arrows faster than straight bows.
•  Used officially in the Olympic Games.

Compound Bow

Uses a levering system of cables, cams, and pulleys. Typically constructed from Aluminium and carbon fiber. The bow's design makes holding weight at full draw less and is therefore easier to hold steady.
The pulley/cam system grants the archer a mechanical advantage, the limbs are much stiffer than those of a recurve or longbow.  This makes the compound bow more energy efficient than the traditional bows as less energy is dissipated in limb movement and makes them highly popular for bowhunting and target shooting due to its power.

Longbow

Features a tall, straight or slightly curved D-shaped design that makes a long draw possible.
Relies entirely on the archer's physical strength and form.
Deeply rooted in historical reenactments and traditional target shooting.
Used for hunting and warfare, Longbows have been made from many different woods in many cultures through the ages.  Historical Longbows were made of a single piece of wood but modern day Longbows may also be made from other materials or by gluing different timbers together

Crossbow

Mounts a horizontal bow limb (prod) onto a gun-like stock frame.  Uses a mechanical trigger mechanism to hold and release the string.

• Crossbows do not require a Firearms License, however they do have an “Offensive Weapon” status.
• Mini/pistol crossbows or models lacking a positive mechanical safety catch are prohibited in New Zealand.
• There are strict equipment standards if hunting on DOC land.
• TVDA does not allow crossbows to be used on its property.

Arrows

An arrow consists of a shaft with an arrowhead at one end, fletches and a nock at the other. Modern arrow shafts are usually made from carbon fibre, aluminum or wood. Carbon shafts have the advantage that they do not bend or warp but are expensive.  The less expensive alternative is aluminum, but they can bend and warp from use.  Wooden shafts are the least expensive option but often will not be identical in weight and size to each other and break more often than the other types of shafts, they are used in traditional shooting and many long bow users shoot them with their bows.

You can have a lot of fun customising your arrows - nocks, fletches and arrow wraps come in a wide array of colours and patterns to match your bow, or just because they are your favourite.

Arrowheads

The end of the arrow that is designed to hit the target is called the arrowhead.  Usually, these are separate items that are attached to the arrow shaft by either tangs or sockets.  Materials used in the past for arrowheads included flint, bone, horn or metal.  Most modern arrowheads are made of steel, but wood and other traditional materials are still used occasionally. 

A number of different types of arrowheads are known, with the most common being piles, broadheads and bodkins.   A pile arrowhead is a simple metal cone, either sharpened to a point or somewhat blunt and is used mainly for target shooting.  A broadhead is usually triangular or leaf-shaped and has a sharpened edge or edges.  Broadheads are commonly used for hunting.   Bodkin heads are simple spikes made of metal of various shapes and are designed to pierce armour. 

Other heads are known, including the blunt head, which is flat at the end and is used for hunting small game or birds.  This head  is designed to not pierce the target and will not embed itself in trees or other objects and make recovery difficult.  Another type of arrowhead is a barbed head, usually used in warfare or hunting.
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