Regular target shooting is something that many people enjoy. However, regular target shooting is also fairly boring. Those targets never move. They’re always the same targets at the same distance from you. This makes things very boring after a while. Regular target shooting with your bow never brings anything new to the table.
Some people also like to go bow hunting for real animals. Yes, this can be very exhilarating and adventurous. However, if no game animals show up for you to shoot with your bow, it also gets boring. There’s also the fact that there is a moral question involving hunting. Some people just don’t want to shoot real animals.
This leaves one specific type of archery that should be suitable for most people. This is known as 3D archery. 3D archery is a fantastic solution for people who want the rush of shooting realistic targets, without the moral question of killing something. Today, we want to do a 3D archery guide. We’re going to teach you everything there is to know about 3D archery so you can get started.
What is 3D Archery?
Although 3D archery sounds weird, it’s actually quite simple. 3D archery involves archers shooting at three-dimensional targets. These targets are designed to look like various real-life animals. These could be elk, deer, bears, boar, rabbits, birds, and more.
The point is to then shoot these realistic-looking 3-dimensional animals. Of course, there is a scoring system involved. This scoring system is something that we will take a look at further below. Generally speaking, archers score points for the proximity of the arrow to the vital organs of the animal in question. Click here to find out what the best 3D archery target is!
Who is 3D Archery for?
You might be wondering whether or not 3D archery is right for you. Well, we think that it is right for most people. It’s much more exciting than regular target shooting. Regular targets don’t look like real animals. They’re also always the same distance from you, and in the same position. It’s just super boring.
However, shooting three-dimensional targets makes things a bit more exciting. It allows the bow hunter to imagine that they are shooting a real animal. As you will see, because of how these tournaments work, it can even offer a bit of a surprise. Hunters don’t always know where those 3D archery targets are located or what position they are in.
It adds an element of mystery and suspense to the mix. Therefore, it’s ideal for people who want to feel like they are hunting for a real animal, but don’t actually want to kill anything. It’s for people who find regular target shooting to be just a little bit too boring.
Where to Practice 3D Archery
If you want to practice 3D archery, you’ll need to go to a 3D archery range. There are both indoor 3D archery ranges and outdoor 3D archery ranges. There are some pretty big differences between the two that you need to know. Although you might think that one is just inside and the other is outside, the differences are a little bit bigger than that.
First, you need to consider the weather and outdoor conditions. Of course, outdoors it can be rainy, snowy, windy, and whatever else. If you are looking for a comfortable archery experience, outdoors is not always going to provide you with that. If you don’t want to get wet and cold, you’re probably better off at an indoor 3D archery range.
However, on the other hand, you also need to consider realism. If you are looking for a realistic experience, then outdoors is best. Any indoor conditions just won’t be able to mimic that natural sunlight and crisp outdoor air.
Speaking of recreating the outdoors, you just won’t get that same appearance indoors. Outdoor 3D archery ranges are often very realistic because they are placed in actual nature. A 3D archery range is generally located in the forest or a similar area. More or less, you’re just hunting for 3D targets where actual animals would be. It’s about as realistic as it gets without actually having to shoot animals.
That said, if a very realistic experience isn’t what you are going for, then an indoor 3D archery range might be better for you. You don’t have to deal with weather. You don’t have to deal with insects either. 3D archery ranges also tend to be better for beginners because it’s more of a controlled environment.
Furthermore, if you actually want to find a 3D archery range, finding an indoor one is your better bet. This is especially the case if you live in a big city with limited spare space. You won’t find many massive outdoor 3D archery facilities in the middle of the city. However, you might be lucky enough to find an indoor 3D archery facility in the city. Therefore, it also just depends on what you have at your disposal.
What You Need to Get Started with 3D Archery – Required Gear & Equipment
You’ll need some equipment to get started with 3D archery. Let’s take a closer look at the bones, arrows, releases, and more that you’ll need here.
The Bow
Of course, the number one piece of equipment you will need here is your bow. There are some 3D target arbitrary organizations that have specific rules regarding the type of bow that may be used. For instance, some organizations allow traditional longbows and wooden bows, whereas others do not. They are usually allowed, but it’s always better to check.
Another type of bow that is generally not allowed in a 3D archery competition is a crossbow. Crossbows are too powerful. They cause too much damage to the 3D archery targets. Therefore, they are usually always banned from traditional 3D archery shoots.
The two main types of bows used in the 3D archery competitions are recurve bows and compound bows. Keep in mind that for 3D archery competitions, you want to turn down the draw weight a little bit. Might want to turn it down on your compound bow. Being able to hold your bow drawn and be steady is very important in this kind of competition.
There are also small accessories on your bow that you may want to invest in. You can have any type of site you want except for laser sites. You are allowed to use a magnified pin sight, a single pin sight, or a 5 pin sight.
You are then also allowed to use a stabilizer. Short stabilizers are considered best. It helps stabilize your bow without getting in your way. If you are looking to make long distance shots, a longer stabilizer is best. Longer stabilizers are better for accurate shots at long distances. These are generally considered best for 3D archery tournaments.
The Arrows
Of course, you will also need your arrows. Preferably, most people use fairly thick arrows. Arrows that have thick shafts provide you with a bit more wiggle room to hit your targets with. If you have a draw weight of over 50 pounds, you definitely want to use thicker arrows.
However, if you’re shooting with a draw weight under 50 pounds, using regular arrows is usually better. Regular arrowheads are usually preferred here.
You don’t actually need to kill anything, so broadheads are not necessary. Furthermore, broadhead arrows are usually outlawed in all 3D archery tournaments. Broadhead arrows caused far too much damage to very expensive targets.
The Quiver
Although it’s not the first piece of equipment you will need, equipment comes in handy. Your quiver allows you to carry all of your arrows. On a side note, referring to the arrows, you’ll only need a few. 3D archery targets won’t run off with your arrow once they’ve been shot. Around five or six arrows should do just fine.
The Release
Most 3D target archers also use releases, ones such as this one. If you are a hunter, an index finger release is probably your favorite option. That said, they can cause trigger punching and inaccuracy. Being able to squeeze smoothly is important with this kind of release.
Some people may also choose to use what is known as a back tension release. This is generally the most popular for people who struggle with target panic or flinching. Many people in the 3D target archery community use this type of release.
You then have the tension activated release. This is perhaps the number one most commonly used type of release in the tournament world. This is a great type of release for people who want fast surprise shots. It more or less allows yourself to be the trigger.
Some people may also choose to use a thumb trigger release. This is like a combination of a back tension release and an index finger release. It does have a trigger, but it virtually eliminates the problem of trigger punching.
Keep in mind that every type of trigger release has both advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, you want to do some research into the different types of trigger releases before making a choice.
Rangefinders and Binoculars
The other thing you’ll want here are your binoculars. You also want a rangefinder. Combination rangefinder binoculars like these ones work really well. Using binoculars is important to identify the higher point rings. If you want to try judging distance, using a rangefinder is also important. Traditional 3D archery tournaments require you to judge distance.
However, this is not always the case. You’ll see in the section below what we are talking about when we refer to judging distance or not. There are two different types of 3D archery tournaments, so let’s take a quick look.
How do 3D Archery Shoots Work?
As mentioned above, there are two main types of 3D archery tournaments. These include the unknown distance and the known distance tournaments. The vast majority of 3D archery tournaments don’t tell you the distance to the targets.
A part of the challenge is being able to judge the distance and make the shot accordingly. This is of course the far more difficult type of 3D archery tournament. It’s ideal for people who have a bit of experience on this front. It’s also the type of 3D archery tournament where you will need a rangefinder.
There are then also many tournaments where the distance of the target is told to you. These are called known distance tournaments or known distance shoots.
These are ideal for beginners, because it is a bit easier. Different types of tournaments will have varying numbers of 3D targets that need to be hit. You then get a score based on your results. Let’s move on and figure out how exactly 3D archery is scored. If you’ve never done this before, starting with some 3D archery classes might be a good idea. Where to practice archery is always another question.
Scoring Rings & Rules in 3D Archery
How exactly scoring in 3D tournaments work depends on the archery association in question. You have the ASA and the IBO. Both of these organizations have different rules for scoring archery tournaments. There are so-called scoring rings on the 3D targets. These scoring rings look kind of like a normal archery target, but are generally irregular in shape.
In terms of the ASA, a hit in the vital area provides the shooter with 8 points. A hit in the large circle is worth 10 points, and the two smaller circles are both worth 12 points. There is also a small circle that is up and off from the center, which is usually used for tie Breakers. A hit on the body of the animal is worth five points, and a miss is worth zero.
The IBO scoring rules are a bit different. There are no small 14 or 12 rings. The small ring in the center is generally worth 11 points. You also get five points for hitting anywhere on the target. You also get 10 points for the 10 ring, which is the large circle ring. You also get 8 points for hitting the vital areas.
How to Find Local 3D Archery Tournaments
The best way to find local 3D archery tournaments is to look online or to talk to your local archery community. Any decent sized city or town should have at least one 3D archery tournament or shoot.
Tips and Tricks for 3D Archery Beginners
Let’s just quickly go over a few tips to make life at a 3D bow shoot a little more successful.
- One of the best ways to practice your skills is to simply repeat. Keep repeating shots until you get it down.
- To make life easier, you might want to start with an indoor 3D archery range.
- Learning to judge distance on your own is also very important.
- You must also learn where to aim on 3D archery targets.
Take a look at this video for some of the best 3D archery tips!
Final Thoughts
The bottom line is that 3D archery can be a whole lot of fun. These competitions are exciting, yet don’t require you to actually kill anything. If you want the thrill of hunting without the moral dilemma of killing something, this is the type of hunting for you. Get down to your local archery course and give it a shot! If all else fails, you can always start with a 3D archery course!