This guide explains the archery courses, the various targets,
styles and equipment used, the rounds, and how the shoots are conducted.
Archery is a sport that is conducted the same way by all the
member clubs wherever you go. The VBA establishes the rules and
coordinates the schedule "shoots and State tournaments” held by member
clubs. Every year, VBA publishes a tournament schedule listing all the
club schedule shoots.
An archery course consists of twenty-eight (28) targets.
Four (4) arrows are shot at each target. The maximum score for each arrow
is five (5) points. Five points x four arrows = twenty points per
target. Twenty points per target x twenty-eight targets = 560
points. The twenty-eight targets are laid out so that they form a safe,
one-way path from one target to the next. The twenty-eight targets
vary in distance from 10 and 80 yards for the Field and 10 to 70 yards for the
Hunter round.
There are four different size targets. The smallest targets
are shot at the shortest distance and the largest are on the longest
shots. Each target has either the two or three scoring rings. The
three rings is called the “Championship” target with the central dot having a
value of five points, the middle ring with a value of four, and the outer ring
with a value of three. The two ring target, called the “Standard” target,
with a central ring dot has a value of five points and the outer ring has a
value of three points. In addition to the two different targets, there
are two different types of faces. The Field face has a black dot on a
white background and the Hunter face has a white dot on a black background.
Each target has assigned shooting positions which are marked by
stakes in the ground. White stakes mark the shooting position for Field
distances and red stakes mark the Hunter distances. Each person is
required to stand between or ‘toe’ the stakes when they shoot.
In some cases all four arrows are shot from a single stake.
However, there are walkup targets and fans (in line with each
other.) Walkups have four shooting positions at different
distances. The first arrow that is shot is at the longest distance.
Fan targets have four shooting positions, all equal distances to the
target. One arrow is shot from each stake. "Bunnies" are
basically 10 yard walkup targets. The bunny is shot from bottom to top.
Generally four people shoot together. Two shoot at the same
time. At targets #1 through #14, archers #1 and #2 will shoot
first. At targets #15 through #28, archers #3 and #4 goes first.
When you get to a target which has four faces, archers #1 and #2 will shoot the
bottom left and right respectively for the first fourteen targets. At
target #15, archers #1 and #2 will switch. This way, each archer gets to
shoot at every target position.
When you go to a club shoot, you present your VBA card to the
Club's registrar. A registration fee is $8.00 for an individual or for
the first family member, $5.00 for the second family member and $4.00 for each
remaining family member. After the
shoot, your score is officially posted and your card is returned to you.
Your average will be based on the highest three (3) of your last seven (7)
scores. When you shoot, you compete against archers who shoot in the same
style and equipment as you. In other words, someone who shoots
"fingers" and pin sights will not compete with someone who shoots
with a release, scope or long stabilizer. Now, what about the different
types of shooting styles and equipment? There are Barebow, Traditional,
Competitive Bowhunter, Bowhunter
Freestyle/Release, Bowhunter Freestyle/Limited,
Freestyle/Release, and Freestyle/Limited as describe as follows:
|
Styles |
Equipment |
|
Barebow (BB) |
No sights or
mechanical devices allowed Only one
adjustable draw check and level mounted on the bow, Neither of
which may extend above the arrow and a mechanical type arrow rest and cushion plunger are permitted. |
|
Traditional (Trad) |
Recurve or Longbow |
|
Competitive Bowhunter
(BH) |
No Sights, kisser
button, or clicker allowed |
|
Bowhunter Freestyle (BHFS/R) |
Sight with maximum
five fixed pins No
counterbalance allowed. V-bar
counterbalance and string dampeners may be used. |
|
Bowhunter Freestyle Limited (BHFS/L) |
Sight with maximum
five fixed pins |
|
Freestyle (FS/R) |
Any type of sight
and stabilizer |
|
Freestyle Limited (FS/L) |
Any type of sight
and stabilizer |
Divisions are recognized as Adults; Young Adults (15 to 17), Youth
(12 to 14), Cubs (under 12), Seniors (55 & over)
or Pros.
The Field Round consists of 28 targets of four arrows per
target. A maximum of
20 points per target or 560 points per round. A 14 target unit will have a maximum score of
280 points. Targets used for Field and
Hunter Rounds shall be those sold by Maple Leaf Printers. The scoring shall be 5 points, 4 for the
white rings and 3 for the outer black rings.
The shaft only has to touch the line to be counted in the higher scoring
area. The X ring is for tiebreakers as
needed. Any arrow shot from the wrong
distance will be counted as a miss. Any
arrow shot into the wrong target will be counted as a miss.
When you shoot the Field targets, Adults & Young Adult will
use the White stakes, Youths & Traditional will use the Blue stakes and
Cubs will use the Black stakes.
The equivalent distances are as follows:
20 cm = 35, 30, 25 and 20 feet. This is a walkup and one
arrow per distance.
35 cm = 15, 20, 25 and 30 yards. Four
arrows per each distance.
50 cm = 35, 40, 45 and 50 yards. Fan at
35 yards. Four arrows at each
distance from 40, 45 and 50 yards. Walkup at 45, 40, 35 and 30 yards and one arrow at each distance.
65 cm = 55, 60, 65, 70 and 80 yards. Four arrows from 55, 60 and
65 yards. Walkup
with one arrow from 80, 70, 60 and 50 yards.
The Hunter Round is the same as the Field Round, except the
scoring shall be 5 points, 4 for the next 2 rings and 3 for the outer 2 rings.
When you shoot the Hunter targets, Adults & Young Adult will
use the Red stakes, Youths & Traditional will use the Blue stakes and Cubs
will use the Black stakes.
The equivalent distances are as follows:
20 cm = 11 yards. Four arrows from one stake.
35
cm = 15 – 14 yards. Walkup,
2 arrows at each distance.
19 – 17 yards. Walkup, 2 arrows at each distance.
23 – 20 yards.
Walkup, 2 arrows at each distance
28 yards. Fan, walk across with one arrow from each stake.
32 yards. Fan, walk across with one arrow from each stake.
50
cm = 36 yards. Fan,
walk across with one arrow from each stake.
40, 44 and 48 yards. Four arrows from each distance.
53, 48, 44 and 41 yards.
Walkup, one arrow at each distance.
65 cm = 58, 53, 48 and 45 yards. Walkup, one arrow at each
distance.
64, 59, 55, and 52 yards.
Walkup, one arrow at each distance.
70, 65, 61, and 58 yards.
Walkup, one arrow at each distance.
These targets are pictures of animals varying in
sizes depending upon the distance. They are sold by Maple Leaf Printers. They
shall be posted on the regular target butts. Three arrows shall be marked and
shot in numerical order. Only the highest scoring arrow will count. The longest
distance on walkups will be shot first. If needed, the second arrow from the
middle distance, followed by the third arrow, if needed, to be shot from the
nearest distance. If an archer advances to the target, then their arrows shall
be considered shot and said archer may not return to re-shoot any arrow, unless
the target butt leaks arrows and there are pass through. The scoring area is
the kill and wound, and a one point bonus area in the center of the kill area.
The arrow only needs to touch the lines.
The
scoring is as follows:
Kill Wound
First
Arrow 20 or 21 18
Second
Arrow
16 or 17 14
Third
Arrow 12 or 13 10
For example: If your first arrow hits the wound
area of the animal target, your score would be 18. You need not shoot arrows #2
or #3. If your first arrow missed the Animal target, you would then shoot your
#2 arrow. A kill hit on your second arrow scores a 16. Maximum score for each
target is 20 or 21.
There are four groups of targets according to size
and distance shot from marked Yellow stakes. Youths & Traditional archers
will shoot from the closest adult walkup stake if over 50 yards. Target
distances may be laid out anywhere between the maximum and minimum distances.
Group 1 – Maximum yards
is 50 and minimum yards are 40. There
are three walkup distances with 5 yards between the maximum and minimum
yards. Animals consist of the black
bear, grizzly, deer, moose, elk and caribou.
Group 2 – Maximum yards
is 45 and minimum yards are 30. There
are three walkup distances with 3 yards between the maximum and minimum
yards. Animals consist of the black
bear, antelope, small deer, work and mountain lion.
Group 3 – Maximum yards
is 35 and minimum yards are 20. There is
only one distance where all three arrows may be shot. Animals consist of the coyote, raccoon, javalina, turkey, fox, goose, wildcat and pheasant.
Group 4 – Maximum yards
is 20 and minimum yards are 10. There is
only one distance where all three arrows may be shot. Animals consist of the turtle, duck, grouse,
crow, skunk, woodchuck, jack rabbit and rock chuck.
The 3-D Classification
will be based on the Flight System for each Style and Division, and will
consist of 15 shooters per Flight.
Maximum distance allowed
for 3-D targets must be followed as shown (Spring only
at marked distances), and may shoot up to 60 yards.
The Fall Classic (unmarked distances) may be
estimated from the chart below.
Equipment
rules will be the same as for VBA Field and Hunter Rounds.
All
Divisions will be broken down into male and female. Styles will consist of:
Freestyle-Release (FS/R), Freestyle-Fingers (FS/F), BHFS-Release (BHFS/R),
BHFS-Fingers (BHFS/F), Bowhunter/Barebow (BB/BH),
& Traditional (Trad).
Age
groups consist of: PeeWee
– under 8; Cubs: 8-11; Youth: 12-14; Young Adult: 15 – 17 and Adult: 18 and
over.
Shooting time is restricted to two (2) minutes for the first
shooter in each group. Time will begin when the previous group clears the
target. Each following shooter in the
group will have one (1) minute to shoot his arrow. Time begins as soon as the previous shooter
releases his arrow. Individuals taking
more than the allotted time may have five (5) points taken from their score.
Dogs
are prohibited on any range and must be on a leash on the club’s
premises.
Binoculars
and pictures are permitted.
Range
finders are at the discretion of the Tournament Committee. (Spring only)
No
range finders or other devices that can estimate distances are allowed on the
range. (Fall only)
No
recording of distances or referring to recorded distances. (Fall only).
Penalty
for the guilty archer is disqualification.
No
equipment may be held in line with the target for use as a range finder. After archers set their sights, they may not
let down to re-set those sights. There
will be a verbal warning from the group for the first offense and 5 points for
each offense after that.
There
will be a minimum of 25 targets. There
shall only be one arrow shot per target.
Scoring
shall be 12, 10, 8, & 5 points. The 12 ring will be located in the center
of the 10 ring.
Horns
and Antlers shall receive no score.
Any
arrow that is deflected by any foreign object or any miss-fired arrow must be
counted as a shot arrow. Skip-ins off
the ground will not be scored. Witnessed
bounce outs may be re-shot. Any arrow that “Robin Hoods” another arrow will be
counted the same as the one it hits, even if it falls to the ground.
If
there is a target that is leaking arrows, then one archer that has an arrow
showing in the target will advance to the target to verify that the other
archer’ arrow has passed through the target so it may be re-shot.
If
an arrow falls to the ground while in preparation of a shot, it may be
recovered and shot if it is within reach of the archer while standing at the
stake.
For
any ‘
If
an archer declares equipment failure, he will have 45 minutes to replace or
make repairs on equipment and shoot practice arrows. If there is equipment failure during the
shot, the arrow will be scored where it lands and may not be re-shot. Archers are limited to one equipment failure
per tournament. If there is a second
equipment failure, then the archer will remain with the group and act as a
scorer or scorekeeper.
Score
cards shall be standard, simple cards requiring only the score of each target
and a total score. Archer and
scorekeeper must sign the cards. All
cards must be turned in as a group as soon as possible after finishing the last
target.
3-D
Classification will be based on the Flight System for each style and division
and will consist of 15 shooters per Flight.
Maximum
distance allowed for 3-D targets must be followed as shown. (Spring only).
Fall
Classic distances may be estimated from the chart below:
White Stakes Red Stakes Blue
Stakes Green Stakes
(Sights shooters)
(Sight shooters)
Men & YA-male Women, Traditional & Pee Wee
YA-female, Cub
Youth, &
BB/BH
Target Animals & Distances: (McKenzie
Type Animals)
Elk 50
Yards 40 Yards 35 Yards 15 Yards
Standing Bear 50
Yards 35 Yards 30 Yards
15 Yards
Large Deer, Antelope 45 Yards 30 Yards 25 Yards 10 Yards
Medium Deer, Bear, Boar 40 Yards 25 Yards 15 Yards
10 Yards
“VBA is Always on
Target!!”