Archery has been a sport, a means of feeding the family, and a martial art since about 6000 BC or earlier (the earliest arrowheads date to around 60,000 years ago, according to scientists). In the Middle Ages, archery was not only a specialized means of waging long-distance war, but it began to be adopted as a leisure activity practiced by youth, and even ladies of royal blood. Target shooting with a bow and arrow is still an acceptable and popular sport among the male and female gentry of many nations.
The vast majority of archery competitions worldwide, both informal and formal, use circular, colored paper targets for scoring. However, 3D archery has grown exponentially in popularity over the past quarter-century, and it is not only enjoyable, but it can help bowhunters hone their skills to make more ethical shots on game during hunting season. Let’s go over the basics behind 3D archery… you might find it’s something worth looking into.
What is 3D archery, and when did it start?
Identifying the exact moment of inception of any sport is often difficult, but 3D archery as it stands today evolved out of field archery, which gained traction among competitive archers and bowhunters in the late 1980s through the 1990s or so. Traditional archery competitions had participants shooting circular, often straw-filled targets at measured ranges. Bowhunters and other archers wishing for a more realistic competition or training environment began placing hay bales (with targets attached) at different/unmeasured distances around archery ranges and fields. This led to the rise in popularity of field archery competitions, where participants shoot circular paper targets and/or various targets attached to bales of hay, but from unregulated, unmarked distances in a field-type environment. As more people were drawn to the more realistic shooting scenarios and problem-solving involved in field archery, synthetic target technology continued to advance, allowing realistic, 3-dimensional animal-shaped targets made of foam and durable polymers, including replaceable sections representing the vital areas of various game animals. It was a natural progression for 3D archery competitions to grow as a subset of field archery, and the first 3D archery competitions were formalized around 2003.
Video: 3D Archery 101
So, somewhat similar to sporting clays in shotgun shooting, 3D archery attempts a more realistic training or shooting scenario where you walk a target course through fields or woods (or indoors), stopping at various stations to take shots at various target presentations. There are all sorts of 3D foam game animals such as bears, deer, antelopes, bobcats, elk, leopards, turkeys, etc., and you engage them from varying distances. As noted earlier, being able to properly judge the distance to a realistic target without prior exposure was a fundamental skill prioritized by early pioneers of 3D archery, so rangefinders of any type are not permitted in most classes and some tournaments. This greatly improves a bowhunter’s ability to accurately and quickly estimate range when hunting, as there is often insufficient time to use a rangefinder.
You take one shot at each target from the designated shooting location, or stake, earning points as your arrows hit the scoring rings molded into the vital zone sections of each target. Different archery ranges and competitions have different rules and shot limits, but generally, a round of 3D archery is around 20 to 40 targets, depending on the size of the archery club/range hosting the competition. Only target/field point arrows are allowed; no broadheads, as they greatly increase wear and tear on the targets (as well as being prohibitively expensive for archers as the arrowheads incur damage).
Today, there are recreational and formal/competitive 3D archery shoots held by individuals, archery clubs, and competition organizations all over the country. The two primary 3D archery-supporting organizations in the USA are the International Bowhunting Organization (IBO) and the Archery Shooters Association (ASA). Both organizations sponsor sanctioned tournaments each year, typically running from early spring to late summer. They use similar targets (in fact you can use ASA-approved targets for either competition) but there are some nuances in the rules and scoring systems between the two, and each has created its own competition divisions to help ensure shooters of similar skill, age, and equipment compete against each other.
How are AMA and IBO 3D archery targets scored?
The lifelike targets used for 3D archery have replaceable vital areas where most of the arrow impacts occur, and these sections can be replaced when needed. There are scoring rings/areas molded into or otherwise marked on these vital sections. For ASA, there will be a large, generally oval-shaped area including the vitals zone (where the heart and lungs would be on a real animal). If your arrow lands outside of this vital area and hits any other part of the animal, it’s scored as a 5. If you hit inside the vital area, but not inside a smaller, 5-inch circle within that area, it’s scored an 8. If your arrow hits within the center circle, it’s scored a 10. Within the center 5-inch section are three smaller circles, one dead center, one above center and one below center. The lower of these scores 12 points if hit naturally, whether intentionally or unintentionally. The upper of the two inner circles also scores 12 points, but only if you call your shot beforehand. If you call your shot a 12 in the upper circle, but your arrow actually hits the lower circle, it’s only scored a 10. In ASA scoring, the dead-center circle is simply scored a 10. On some ASA targets, there’s an additional small circle placed away from the center scoring area, but within the outer vitals scoring zone. This scores 14 points, but is usually used only in the pro-level shoot-down competitions for tiebreakers and similar situations.
Image Courtesy of: ASA Shooters Federation
IBO 3D archery scoring is mostly similar, with some nuances. The 8-point vital area, 5-point anywhere, and central 5-inch 10 point areas are identical to ASA scoring. However, IBO’s bonus scoring circle is the small center ring within the 10-point circle. This smaller ring scores 11 points. If the target has the additional ASA-type 12- or 14-point circles, they are ignored in IBO scoring.
Image Courtesy of: Lancaster Archery Supply
For both ASA and IBO scoring, any arrow that is touching the line/circle is scored the higher point value. In other words, if your arrow tip hits outside the vital area but the edge of the shaft is touching the scoring line of the vital area, it’s scored as an 8. Similarly, if you’re shooting ASA and your arrow hits within the circular 10-point area but the edge of your arrow touches the lower 12-ring, it’s scored a 12.
If you’re just going on a woods walk through a local 3D archery range for fun, you treat it like a round of golf. You want to let faster shooters/groups play through, and try not to hold up other groups. You and your group score each other as you retrieve your arrows from each target, using the honor system. In competition settings, you have to wait until everyone in your group has shot, and then all score your targets together before pulling arrows. Doing otherwise can result in disqualification from the competition. To learn more specifics about competition divisions/classes, equipment, maximum allowed arrow speeds, rules, dress codes, and scoring procedures, be sure to read the IBO 3D archery rules, and the ASA 3D archery rules. Your local archery club might also require similar dress or behavior, so be sure to ask around before you show up to shoot. The best way to get started is to go to a competition and observe (or participate), with the goal of learning how it all works. Ask questions and make friends. There are always friendly people willing to help out newbies in any sport.
Recommended gear and extras for 3D archery shooting
Luckily, 3D archery isn’t really a gear-heavy sport. You can generally take whatever bow you want to use for hunting (or one you use for target shooting), and some field point arrows, and you’re pretty much set. For informal 3D archery at an outdoor range, we’d recommend taking some extra arrows (losing one or two is common), some water, some sunblock, sunglasses, a good hat, good walking or hiking shoes, and maybe a snack. Sometimes the course may be a mile or more long, and if you get behind a slower group, you could be standing around a while if playing through isn’t feasible. An umbrella might not be a bad idea if the weather looks iffy.
For ASA and IBO competitions, specific dress as well as fully enclosed footwear is required, so be sure to read the rules and follow them. There are also restrictions on sights, rangefinders, and some types of binoculars (depending on the organization and the class of competition you’re shooting), so familiarize yourself with the rules. Arrow speed is also limited, either by absolute feet per second, or as a function/calculation based on your bow’s draw weight and the arrow’s weight (depending on the governing organization for the competition). ASA events limit arrow speed to a maximum of 290 fps, and arrow speed is measured when you check in for the match. IBO typically only has a maximum speed specified for the various youth classes/divisions, but does enforce a general rule requiring arrows weigh at least 5 grains per pound of your bow’s draw weight (For example, a 60-pound draw weight bow must shoot 300 grain arrows or heavier). So be sure to bone up on those specifics if you wish to compete in formal 3D archery matches.
If you’re struggling to draw a 75-lb hunting bow, a 40-shot 3D course probably isn’t the best way to practice. Work on strengthening your draw stroke at home. You might want to lower the draw weight of your bow and run a 3D course to get your eye in about estimating distances and angles, or shooting through brush (where permitted). Then gradually increase the draw weight of your bow as you gain skill and strength.
What are the advantages of 3D archery?
So, let’s go over some of the benefits of participating in 3D archery, whether informally or in competition.
Realistic target sizes and presentations
Obviously, the primary advantage (and the whole point) of 3D archery is the increased realism afforded by the 3-dimensional targets with anatomically accurate vital areas. Compared to shooting from a fixed distance at a circular paper bullseye, it’s almost a completely different sport. When aiming at a realistic, animal-shaped target, there’s no visible circle or reference point like a circular, paper bullseye target. You have to learn to use other reference points such as the belly, leg, or other part of the animal to aim.
If you favor the zen of archery shooting the exact same target from the exact same position in exactly the same cadence, 3D archery might not be for you. But if you want to change things up, learn more about practical archery, or get ready for hunting season, 3D might push all the right buttons.
Training for accurate target distance estimation and obstacle avoidance
Since most 3D courses discourage or prohibit the use of rangefinders and practice shots before shooting for score, you are forced to develop your ability to accurately estimate the range to your target. Target presentations are also often set up deliberately with obstacles partially in the way, or from unfamiliar angles. This is essential for hunting, and gives you a sense of satisfaction once you start to develop that skill.
Pressure inoculation
Competition, whether with firearms, bows, or anything else, adds a little bit of pressure to the situation. Even if you’re just shooting for fun with friends, it can inoculate you a little for the adrenaline dump that occurs in a real hunting situation. If you can learn to keep your cool and trust your fundamentals on a 3D archery course, you might become a more accurate, more ethical bowhunter when going after game animals.
Familiarizes you with shooting realistic targets
This benefit might seem a little strange, but if you’ve only shot circular paper targets your whole life and you want to be successful at hunting a turkey, deer, or bear, you need to understand that shooting at a live animal is very different from target shooting. 3D targets are obviously not the exact same as shooting a live game animal, but they’re a lot closer than paper. You can gain some familiarity and remove some potential inhibitions you may have when aiming a bow and arrow at a living target.
Use whatever bow you wish
While other formal archery competitions require specific types of bows and accessories, there’s probably a division/class for 3D archery competition that allows you to use whatever hunting or recreational bow you currently have. If you practice enough, you can be competitive with pretty much any bow.
Indoor ranges are available for all-season 3D shooting
Although outdoor 3D courses are usually more diverse and fun, there are as many indoor 3D archery ranges as there are outdoor ones. This is an advantage to inner city or suburban archers, as well as anyone who wants to get in some string time when it’s miserable outside. Indoor tournaments can be surprisingly inventive and exciting, as well.
Helps keep you and your equipment in shape in the off-season
Shooting a 3D course regularly can help ensure your equipment (and you) are in top shape for hunting season. If you only shoot your bow once or twice a year, getting ready for the hunt, you’re definitely not as good an archer as you could be if you visit a 3D range a few times throughout the year.
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