Bowhunter Challenge 3D Shoots

Introduction:

The purpose of this event will be to provide a venue for bowhunters in 3D Archery and to assist seasoned and novice bowhunters in improving their archery skills to a level that will allow them to be proficient in harvesting game animals with archery equipment. It will not be an event that has the sole purpose of competition among archers or crowning a winner, although friendly competition and monetary paybacks will be a part of the event. Socialization among bowhunters and providing assistance to one another to improve our archery and hunting skills will be the primary goals. At the same time it is important that we promote bowhunting in a positive manner and use the activity to recruit youth in to the sport of bowhunting.

Dates: April 27, May 25, June 29, and July 27

Entry Fee: $10.00 per shooter across the board Member or Non-Member for shooters under 12 years of age and $5.00 for shooters in the Cub Class (under 12).

Shoot Times: Sign ups will be taken from 8:00 am until 1:00 pm. No one will be allowed to enter the range to shoot after 1:00 pm.

Ranges:

The ranges set for these shoots will reflect realistic hunting conditions and will include shots from elevated tree stand platforms and ground blinds. Archers will shoot form a variety of positions typical to bowhunting, which will include: standing, kneeling, squatting, and setting. Shot distances will be held to a maximum of 35 yards for all participants except for the cub class (under the age of 12 years old). Cubs will shoot a max range of less than 25 yards. Target size will be relevant to the distance shot, meaning that targets shot at the max distances will be larger in size providing a decreased chance of a complete miss. Targets may also be set in a manner in which vegetation, trees, limbs, or the terrain may block or hide portions of the target. However, it will be ensured that scoring rings are clearly visible, provide a clear arrow path and not blocked by any obstruction. 50% of the targets on the range will be marked yardage and 50% of the targets will be unmarked yardage. Also, every effort will be made to utilize natural backstops to lower the chance of lost arrows in the case of a miss.

Scoring:

We will be using the "traditional" ASA scoring method for this event of 12,10,8, and 5. 12 rings may be at 7 O’clock or 5 O’clock position of the ten ring depending on which direction the target is facing or it may be in the center position of the 10-ring. In the event that targets have more that one 12-ring, the low traditional ASA ring will be the one counted. The "new" high ASA 12 ring will not be in play nor will the 14 rings due to the fact that the location of the 14-ring does not reflect an ethical bowhunting aiming spot on the animal target in most instances. The maximum score that can be shot is 360 if all 12 rings are hit on all 30 targets. Arrows that bounce off, glance off, or fail to strike in the bodyline of the animal targets will be given a score of zero. Pass-throughs (arrows that penetrate completely through the target and exit) will be scored at the point of impact agreed upon by the majority of the group. The highest score that can be obtained for a pass through is 10. A score of 12 cannot be given. Any arrow that results in a Robin Hood or damages and bounces of an arrow already in the target rendering it un-shoot able, will be given the same score as the arrow it struck. Only one arrow will be shot at each target. Misfires will receive the score in which they resulted in. If the target is missed a score of zero will be given. No less than three shooters will make up a group. Each group will have one person designated as scorekeeper and one person designated as the score caller/arrow puller. There must be at least one non-family member in each group and in the case that there is only one non-family member in the group, they will be designated as the scorekeeper. No arrow will be re-moved or touched prior to being scored. All shots will be taken from the designated colored stake and shooters must make body contact with the shooting stake. The range is not to be altered in anyway. If an obstruction exists, it needs to be reported to the event organizer and a decision will be made on how to deal with the issue.

Payback:

All classes except for Cub class will be flighted each seven (7) places with the payback being 3 dollars for every shooter entered in the class. Each class will have to have at least seven (7) shooters in order for a payback, 14 shooters for a second flight payback and so on in multiples of 7 for further paybacks.

Cub Class participants will be provided with trophies for 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place and all participants that do not place in the top 3 places will receive participation medals.

Sandbagging (the act of shooting below ones skill level in order to compete and win in a lower class) will not be allowed or tolerated. This kind of act is un-sportsman like, sets a bad example to new archers, and it cause disinterest among participants of lesser skill sets. We ask that all participants be honest to both themselves and others when entering into a class.

Range Etiquette

In order to provide the best experience possible, it is expected that participants practice good sportsmanship. In doing so it is asked that during the process of a participants shot sequence, all others in the shooting group limit distractions such as loud talking and movement that can challenge the focus of the archer. Coaching among group members is accepted since this event is about sharing knowledge to improve skills, however yardage is not to be discussed. It is expected that participants not engage in the use of profane or inappropriate language. Cheating of any manner will result in disqualification.

Seasoned Bowhunter- (Green Stake) Archers shooting compound bows with or without sights or mechanical release that are of a higher skill class, have won or placed in top 10 of any amateur level sanctioned archery event such as the ASA, IBO, NFAA, etc or elect to shoot in the class based on their own opinion of their skill.

Bowhunter Novice- (Green Stake) Archers shooting compound bows with sights with or without mechanical release that have not won or placed in any amateur level sanctioned archer event. Novice Class participants should be those that are truly Novice: meaning new to or a beginner. The organizer of this event reserves the right to decline participation in the novice class to archers that are known to shoot at a higher skill level to ensure fairness.

Traditional Bowhunter- (Green Stake) Archers shooting traditional recurve or longbows with out sights or the aid of a mechanical release

Cub Bowhunter- (White Stake) Archers under 12 years of age shooting any bow with or with out sights or mechanical release.

Class Change: Novice participants will be given the opportunity to shoot in the Seasoned Bowhunter Class as their skill level progresses. However, once they move up in class they will not be allowed to return to novice in future Bowhunter Challenge Events.

Equipment:

Equipment will be restricted to that which is considered commonly used for the purpose of bowhunting.

Arrows- Any material (aluminum, carbon, graphite, or fiberglass) that is endorsed by the ATA/AMO as safe to shoot through the given type of bow being used

Sights- "Fixed", non-moveable sights that do not have any adjustability to compensate for yardage. No more than 5 sight pins will be allowed in a sight aperture. The use of magnification of any kind will not be allowed. No built in range finding device will be allowed nor can pendulum type sights be used for elevated shots. Sights with pendulum capability will have to remain locked in a fixed position at all times. No laser sights that project a laser beam on to the target may be used.

Arrow Fletching and Points- Due to the popularity of smaller high-profile broadhead vanes there will be no restriction on fletching size, however, all arrows must be equipped with screw in field tips. Target glue in points or nibs will not be not allowed. NO Broadheads!

Release Aids- All classes aside from the traditional class are authorized to use a mechanical release aid. In the traditional class, the use of finger tabs and shooting gloves are authorized as long as they do not have any device that holds the string for the archer.

Range Finders- Although electronic range finders are popular in bowhunting they are not permitted in this event. One goal of this event is to assist archers/bowhunters in becoming proficient in judging yardage to their intended target without the aid of a range finding device. That is why 50% of the targets will be marked yardage.

Bows- Compound Bows, Recurve Bows, and Long bows are permitted. Crossbows will not be permitted.

Bow Speed- Bow speed will be limited to 280 feet per second plus a 3% margin of era for chronograph differences. Archers may at any time be asked to shoot through a chronograph by the event organizer. If this rule is violated or if the archer refuses to shoot through the chronograph, they will be disqualified.

Additional Note: Chickasaw Archery Club will also be welcoming NASP (National Archery in the Schools Program) during the same dates as the Bowhunter Challenge. NASP participants will have their own shooting stake (Blue or Red Stake) and these stakes will be set for them in accordance to the max range per NASP rules. A NASP Coordinator will set guidelines for their participants. Chickasaw is simply providing the use of the range for their event. NASP participants will pay a $5.00 shoot fee to Chickasaw Archery Club.