3-D Classes Defined
MALE BOWHUNTER OPEN (MBO)
Compound bow, recurve, or longbow with moveable sight, scope, or laser sight. Any release aid, glove, finger tab, or bare fingers may be used. The course must be shot from the ORANGE stake.
FEMALE BOWHUNTER OPEN (FBRO)
Compound bow, recurve, or longbow with moveable sight, scope, or laser sight. Any release aid, glove, finger tab, or bare fingers may be used. The course must be shot from the GREEN stake.
MALE BOWHUNTER RELEASE (MBR)
Compound bow, recurve, or longbow with or without a sight. If a sight is used, it will have fixed pins. The shooter must be shot with some type of mechanical releasing aid. Cross-hair style pins are allowable as fixed pin sights. Circle-style pins are allowable (if circles are of one size). Sights that utilize any lens or magnification are not allowed in any class other than open. Sights may not be adjusted while on the range during a tournament. The course must be shot from the ORANGE stake.
RANGEFINDER (RFR)
Compound bow, recurve, or long bow. Any release aid, glove, finger tab, or bare fingers may be used. There are no restrictions as to the type of sight or the number of pins. The course must be shot from the Orange stake. Note that the Rangefinder Class participants must not discuss or broadcast the yardage in a way that shooters in other Classes overhear the yardage. Discussing or broadcasting the yardage is still an activity that carries an immediate disqualification and may include removal from the course. *Note that a Range Finder is not required to shoot the RFR Class.
RENEGADE HUNTER (RHC)
Any type of equipment or style described above, fewer lenses or scope in sight. The course must be shot from the Yellow stake.
SENIORS (SNR) – AGES 50 AND OVER
This class is for any shooter 50 years of age or older. Any type of equipment or style described above. The course must be shot from the ORANGE stake.
MASTER SENIOR (MSNR) – AGES 60 AND OVER
This class is for any shooter 60 years of age or older. Any type of equipment or style described above. The course must be shot from the Green stake.
MALE HUNTER (MHC)
A compound bow using release or fingers, fixed pins minimum 5 grains of arrow weight per lb. of bow weight, string silencers, or string leaches (speed demons are not considered string silencers). Arrows are not to be drawn past the face of the bow. The course must be shot from the YELLOW stake.
FEMALE HUNTER (FHC)
A compound bow using release or fingers, fixed pins, string silencers, or string leaches (speed demons are not considered string silencers). Arrows are not to be drawn past the face of the bow. The course must be shot from the YELLOW stake.
TRADITIONAL – WOOD (TLRW)
Shooters with a traditional longbow or recurve. Arrow shaft material made of wood, shot with fingers directly contacting the bowstring using a glove, finger tab, or bare fingers. Archers may use up to two (2) nock locating devices, but they must use the same nocking point and anchor point for each shot, and the index finger must contact the string in the same place for each shot. The index finger must touch the nock of the arrow. Face and/or string walking are not permitted. No sighting device of any kind may be used. There shall be no markings on the bow or bowstring (intentional or accidental) that could be construed as sighting marks. No type of draw check will be allowed. Shot off knuckles, shelf, or stick on rest with no berger button. No sights, stabilizer, mechanical devices, wrist or finger sling, etc. The course must be shot from the WHITE stake.
TRADITIONAL – UNLIMITED (TLRU)
Traditional longbow or recurve. Arrow shaft material made of the shooter's choice, shot with fingers directly contacting the bowstring using a glove, finger tab, or bare fingers. Archers may use up to two (2) nock locating devices, but they must use the same nocking point and anchor point for each shot, and the index finger must contact the string in the same place for each shot. The index finger must touch the nock of the arrow. Face and/or string walking are not permitted. No sighting device of any kind may be used. No markings on the bow or bowstring (intentional or accidental) could be construed as sighting marks. No type of draw check will be allowed. Shot off knuckles, shelf, or stick on rest with no Berger button. No sights, stabilizer, mechanical devices, wrist or finger sling, etc. The course must be shot from the WHITE stake.
YOUTH (YTH) – AGES 13–17 YEARS OLD
A compound, recurve, or longbow with or without a sight. If a sight is used, it can be fixed pins, moveable sight, scope, or laser-type sight. The course must be shot from the YELLOW stake, except for participants using recurve or longbow will shoot from the WHITE stake.
CUB (CUB) – AGE 9–12 YEARS OLD
Can shoot any type of equipment or style described above. The course must be shot from the WHITE stake or any stake of a further distance from the target.
FUTURE BOWHUNTER (FBH) – AGES 8 AND UNDER
Any type of equipment or style described above, Maximum shooting distance of 15 yards. The course must be shot from the BLUE stake.
CROSSBOW CLASS (XBW)
This is a non-Trophy class. Crossbow Shooters must shoot from the Green Stake but may choose to shoot from the Orange Stake if they desire. GSB clubs are not required to honor these divisions with trophies unless they hold an IBO-sanctioned shoot. Some Clubs do not allow for the use of Crossbows at their facility, and therefore, any person wishing to use a crossbow at a GSB event should check with the Host Club prior to the event.
CLASS ADVANCEMENT BY AGE
If a shooter changes age on or after January 1, he/she will maintain their present class (peewee, cub, and seniors) until the conclusion of the subsequent championship. If their birthday falls before March 15, he/she shall advance to the next higher age group.