The term 3D archery generally refers shooting at 3 dimensional life-like targets made from self healing foam in situations which would mimic real life hunting experiences.
Early use of the targets was primarily for bowhunting practice but over time, shooting clubs began setting up courses to challenge hunters which led to more competitive venues leading into what we know today as 3D archery. Most early targets where made to resemble deer but today there are all kinds of animals in various sizes – from skunks to giraffes and everything in-between including dinosaurs and aliens! Whether you want to shoot for practice or plan on competing, 3D is a great way to enjoy the outdoors with friends and family while gaining valuable experience shooting your bow. Setting up a 3D venue could be as simple as a single target in your yard or as large as a provincial or national level event.

Equipment Needed
There is nothing special needed to get started in 3D archery – just a desire to have fun! Bring a bow and field point tipped arrows – everything else including a sight and release are optional. When you attend an event, you may see high tech target rigs with long stabilizers but they are not needed to do well – many archers do extremely well with basic archery equipment. Remember, as you start shooting 3D events, HAVE FUN! If you have never been to an event like 3D before, be sure to ask about range safety and etiquette.

Organization of 3D Events
There are many formats and rule sets which 3D events are run under so some basic information will be covered here. Depending on the competition format the number of days which must be shot, and how it is organised can vary but all will use some form of the targets shown above and use the scoring areas imprinted on each. Courses is done outdoors under a variety of shooting conditions. For simplicity, a typical event will be described to help develop a base understanding of a typical event. Generally, the venue includes 22 or 28 targets which will be arranged at the discretion of the host club. For large tournaments, you may be required to shoot 2 consecutive days to post a combined score for ranking. Targets are placed in varying situations and at varying angles but in all cases, the scoring area is visible to the shooter. You may end up shooting from elevated platforms or hillsides to simulate a downward shot or you may shoot uphill though less common. Normally, the distance to the target must be judged by the shooter without any aids, however in South Africa we have rangefinder class. The top competitive classes shoot unmarked yardage.

Outdoor
Outdoor events usually are done on a walk-through course with a group Depending on your age and the shooting class you registered under, you will be shooting from a specific stake placed on the ground at each shooting lane. For instance, Cubs will shoot from the Black stakes (30 yards max) where Juniors will shoot from Blue stakes with a max of 50 Yards and Young Adults, Adults and Veterans shoot from Yellow stakes to a max of 60 yards. The stakes are used to ensure each shooter has the same opportunity and the shooter is required to touch the appropriate stake with at least one part of their body (generally a foot or leg). However you could kneel or lie down and shoot if you wish! The events are shot in whatever weather event is going on – rain, wind or heat.

Typical Scoring
Similar to what you would expect in a hunting situation, a “high score” shot would be in the vitals section of the animal you are shooting at.

One or more arrows is shot at each target with a score being read where the arrow enters the foam target. This can sometimes confuse those new to 3D events when a target is placed on an angle to the shooter. For example, a deer target placed at a quartering away angle would pose the problem posed above.

In a hunting situation, you would likely shoot at the deer so the arrow would enter about mid way between the front and rear legs however in 3D, this would result in a score of 5 or 8. In order to score a 10 in 3D, the arrow would have to be shot as if you wanted to pass through the outer shoulder area.

Since most targets have multiple scoring areas marked on them to extend useful life, be sure to ask which one is being shot. If no specific area is marked, assume the most “natural” kill zone would be used.

Each target has its own set of scoring rings so it may be helpful to pick up a set of reference cards. It is important to note that if the arrow even touches the next higher scoring ring it counts as the higher score. In most situations you will not be able to see the scoring rings from the shooting stakes so having a good set of binoculars or a reference card can be handy.

When in doubt, feel free to ask someone.

General Rules and Etiquette
Each tournament has its own set of rules and equipment restrictions so be sure to know what you are in for when shooting a sanctioned event as a competitive shooter. For instance, Actual stake to target maximum distances also vary depending on the format of the shoot. All the rules for competitive 3D shooting can be found on the IFAA website. There are far too many rules to list but in a general sense, here are some basic things to consider.

• Safety is of primary concern so know what you are shooting at and what is behind it. Be sure any children with you stay behind the current shooter at all times.

• Be courteous to other shooters by not talking while other members of your group are at the shooting stake. Don’t let kids goof around.

• Don’t spend too much time at the stake glassing the target or guessing yardage as there may be set time limits on how long you can be at the stake to ensure the event moves along well. You should not need more than 1 -2 minutes once in position to shoot.

• Since these events are meant to involve all genders and ages, be cordial and do not use foul language.

• Typically 2 separate people keep score and one calls the shots. Cards are compared at the end to confirm no mistakes were made in adding up the score.

• For outdoor events, bring something to drink and snack on – the walk through courses can exceed 1km in length and take several hours. You may also want to take an Allen wrench set and an extra release (if you use one). An umbrella is also nice if you care to take one on a rainy day.

• If your group is moving slower than others, allow the groups behind you to “shoot through” to keep the event on track. If you are consistently being passed by groups of similar size, you are likely going too slow and should consider picking up the pace.

• Group sizes are typically from 3 (min) to 5 or 6 (max) depending on the event. At large competitive events, you will not be permitted to shoot in a group which just includes your friends/family.

• If you miss a target, don’t spend too much time looking for the arrow as it will back up the entire event. Just like hunting, misses do occur and arrows will be lost. Be sure to bring 8 or more arrows with you on the course.

• Have Fun. Don’t think you need to shoot perfectly, just enjoy yourself.

• If the event is large, a shotgun start may be utilised where groups are assigned to a specific target then the group walks out to that target. At a set time, the event organiser will utilise some kind of signal to let shooters know they can begin.

National Events
The targets are grouped into four categories where each category has a different shooting distance. The standard round comprises of shooting at 28 targets. The distances to targets are not given. Each target is shot from two different markers or stakes. There are two markers for each target and each marker has a different distance to the target. The maximum distances for each target group follow the maximum distances set for the IFAA 3D Hunting Round. The maximum distance for each target group (Number Veterans/Adults Juniors Cubs) are:

1 60 Y 50 Y 30 Y
2 45 Y 45 Y 25 Y
3 35 Y 35 Y 20 Y
4 20 Y 20 Y 10 Y

South Africa also offers 22 Arrow round which conforms to various rules. The 22 targets (with a maximum of two archers per stake), rather than 28 will be implemented in an attempt to speed-up the 3D competitions. The 3D course will consist of:

3 Groups 1 paper targets,
3 Groups 1 3D targets,
3 Groups 2 paper targets,
3 Groups 2 3D targets,
3 Groups 3 paper targets,
3 Groups 3 3D targets,
2 Groups 4 paper targets and
2 Groups 4 3D targets

The sport of 3D Archery is a form of Target Archery. It is also known as a very addicting and fun Archery sport. 3D Archery can be participated by anyone at any skill level. 3D Archery can be set in the forest, fields and sometime even indoor ranges. The goal of 3D Archery is having the ability to guess how far away the target is and know where to shoot to achieve the highest possible score. 3D Archery is a lot like golf.

Target Scoring in 3D Archery
Each 3D Target will have a set of scoring rings on it. The scoring is normally Club or IFAA dependant. The scoring is as follows . The smallest circle scores 10 points, the next ring is vitals 8 points, the body is 5 points. The hoof or antlers on deer score a zero.

Types of Archery Targets
Generally, the 3D Archery will shoot at various animal shaped targets. These are close to life sized animals. The types of animals will vary depending on the club. You may see everything from the big five to Antelope, Deer, Sheep, Snakes, Beaver, Skunk, Moose, Elk, Cougar, Bobcat and much more.

Archery Skill Levels Required
3D Archery has many classes for different age levels and equipment. Even beginners and children can have a lot of fun in this sport. Your age group, is the deciding factor on how far away your targets will be. An example for Cubs 30 yards and under.

What about guessing yardage in 3D Archery
Guessing the distance is probably the number one skill in 3D Archery. In unmarked 3D Archery, you must guess how far the target is in order to make a high scoring shot

In the “Rangefinder” (RF) class. Provincial colours will be awarded in these classes, but no National or Protea colours.

Targets are divided into four groups, where each group has its own shooting distance depending on the archers class (age).