All about 3D archery

Since the discipline has been governed by Archery Federations. But what does this discipline consist of? What are the different shooting conditions? What are 3D targets like? At what distance are they placed? To provide an answer to all these questions, in this article, we will discuss everything there is to know about 3D archery.

What are the targets for 3D archery like?

The 3D targets represent animals of different sizes and are varied in 3 dimensions. They are made from high-density foam injected into a mold that allows arrows to stick without passing through. Then, paint is applied to the target to give it more effect. There are therefore several 3D targets depending on the different molds offered by various brands. This type of target is ideal for hunting practice.

Since they are intended for hunting, the vital parts of these 3D targets are marked. This allows archers to get closer to the points based on the impact of the arrows. These targets are lightweight and weather-resistant. That's why they can be set up in a natural outdoor environment.

The main manufacturers of 3D targets are Germans, Americans, Italians, and French.

The discipline of 3D archery

5 types of bows are authorized for 3D archery. These are the bare bow, the compound bow, the hunting bow, the longbow, and the freestyle bow.

3D shooting is practiced on targets that represent animals of different sizes. A normal course consists of 24 varied targets including:

• 4 very large game.
• 6 large game
• 8 medium game
• 6 small game

In 3D shooting, the shooting distance is between 10 to 45m for bows with sights. For cadets, the distance is 5 to 30m, while it is between 5 to 25m for the junior, minor, and discovery categories. It should be noted that these distances are always unknown to the archers.

How does 3D archery work?

3D archery is practiced in groups of 4 to 6 competitors. It can also be done in teams with specific national events.

The groups move from target to target on a pre-marked course. Once the target has been cleared by the previous group, the archers will then position themselves behind a waiting stake.

Archers will go in pairs. They will make 2 shots, each depending on their category. The positions will be marked by red, blue, or white stakes.

For 3D archery, the shooting time is always limited to 90 seconds. Counting will start as soon as the archer arrives at the shooting stake until the release of the second arrow. A time overrun per course is sometimes tolerated.

When all the archers in the group have finished shooting, they will retrieve their arrows and count their points. Then they can move on to the next target.

How is scoring done in 3D archery?

In 3D archery, on each animal, each zone has a value including:

• 11 points for the small kill zone.
• 10 points on the kill zone, which is the circular area corresponding to the vital organs of the animal.
• 8 points on the vital zone or wounded zone.
• 5 points in the rest of the animal's body, excluding horns, hooves, and other parts dezoned by the organizer such as the tail, feather, etc.

 It should be noted that only arrows that remain fixed on the target count.

In summary, 3D archery is one of the most interesting disciplines for getting closer to nature. Moreover, it's a sport that is both good for the mind and body.