Markus Fischer, one of the owners of Bogen Parcours Wolfertsfeld in Birgland, Germany, stands outside of the information trailer at the start of an archery hiking trail in Germany. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
In a scene that felt straight from “The Hunger Games,” I recently found myself hiking through the golden Bavarian wilderness on a Friday afternoon with a bow in hand to hunt foxes, warthogs, hawks, and even a towering ostrich — mercifully, all made of foam.
I’d been craving a good walk through the forest but wanted something more than just another aimless trek.
So when a German friend invited me to Bogen Parcours Wolfertsfeld — a hidden gem 35 minutes from the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels that blends the beauty of a woodland hike with the thrill of archery — I was immediately on board.
The course begins humbly enough. After parking in an open field, we followed a sign to a modest bus-like booth, where Markus Fischer, one of the owners, welcomed us.
He handed us bows, arrows and protective gear, explained the simple rules, and with the help of my friend translating a few German words, he shared his plans to expand the course. He mainly spoke German but was able to help me through the instructions as well.
Entirely outdoors, the park is at the mercy of the weather, so it’s wise to come prepared.
An archer aims at a large ostrich target at the Bogen Parcours Wolfertsfeld, an archery and hiking trail in Birgland, Germany. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
Arrows point hikers and archers at the Bogen Parcours Wolfertsfeld in Birgland, Germany, to each target starting point. Archers at the trail have free reign and can stay as long as they want within the course's hours. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
A foam snake hangs from a tree as a target for archers to hit on a hiking trail at Bogen Parcours Wolfertsfeld in Birgland, Germany. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
An archer lines up a shot on a foam target while hiking on an archery trail at the Bogen Parcours Wolfertsfeld in Birgland, Germany. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
Before heading out, I tested my aim on a few practice targets as locals watched from a bench, drinks in hand. Despite only having shot plastic play arrows as a kid, I soon had the hang of it.
Armed with four arrows each and free rein of the course, we set off into the woods following arrow-shaped signs to each of the starting points.
The course felt like someone reimagined disc golf with a medieval twist: nstead of flying discs and chains, there were foam wildlife scattered among the brush and trees.
Each station offered multiple difficulty levels, marked by yellow and red color-coded pegs, leaving it up to the shooter how challenging they wanted to make it.
My friend and I managed to turn the course into a competition, daring each other to tougher targets and celebrating the occasional unplanned trick shot.
Within the first hour, I managed to knock a squirrel off a log, hit a snake dangling from a branch and even strike a hawk rigged on a rope to swoop across the course.
Surprisingly, the largest target — the ostrich — humbled my growing confidence. Perched on a hill and aiming downward, I managed just one hit out of four, while my friend landed hers with ease.
But what surprised me most was the peace of it all. For a Friday afternoon, the forest was quiet, with only one other group briefly audible ahead.
An archer at the Bogen Parcours Wolfertsfeld stands on a shooting platform and fires an arrow at a nearby target in the woodline in Birgland, Germany. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
A raccoon target wearing sunglasses is one of several targets at a playful rest stop on an archery trail at the Bogen Parcours Wolfertsfeld in Birgland, Germany. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
Each archery starting point at the Bogen Parcours Wolfertsfeld in Birgland, Germany, has pictures of the foam-depicted animal targets and an explanation of where you can find these animals in the region. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
Between shots, we enjoyed the stillness and the breaks of sunlight through the trees. Midway through, the course even offered extra challenges: elevated perches, resting spots, and a suspended log that resembled shooting from horseback.
At that stop, we discovered a stash of snacks and drinks sold on the classic German honor system of dropping the required euros in the tin and enjoying. Despite the lack of supervision, visitors are expected to tidy up and leave the course just as they found it.
After nearly three hours of wandering, shooting and laughing, we wrapped up the initial loop, catching glimpses of the extended course and even more hidden targets on the trail back to the car.
For anyone curious to try it, booking is simple: if you need rental equipment, just send a WhatsApp message to Fischer to coordinate a time. Otherwise, the trail is open daily to archery connoisseurs with their own equipment.
Whether you’re an experienced archer or a complete beginner, Bogen Parcours Wolfertsfeld offers a playful twist on hiking and a chance to let your inner Katniss shine in the Bavarian woods.
Bogen Parcours Wolfertsfeld
Address: Wolfertsfeld, 92262 Birgland, Germany; additional directions on the website.
Hours: Daily from 6 a.m. to dusk; appointment needed for rental.
Cost: Entry, 12 euros; children up to 8 shoot for free; equipment rental, 13 euros; lost or broken arrows, 5 euros.
Information: bogenparcours-wolfertsfeld.de, kontakt@bogenparcours-wolfertsfeld.de, +49 (0)171-8043612
