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GSB 3-D ARCHERY RULES

MEMBERSHIP

Any person competing for awards at any GSB championship shoot must be a current member of the Granite State Bowhunters in good standing.

SHOOTING COURSE

Each shoot shall consist of no less than thirty (30) targets. A shooters score will be considered valid as long as at least one target has been shot and scored according to the rules herein.  All 3-D animals shall be identifiable from the stake and the kill obtainable, regardless of the equipment used.

ARROWS

Only hunting / target arrows equipped with manufacturer approved points and/or inserts that do not exceed the arrow diameter are acceptable. No blunts or broad heads shall be used by anyone.

ARROW WEIGHT

All classes must shoot an arrow weighing at least 5 grains per pound of peak bow weight.

Further note: Check manufacturer's recommendation concerning arrow weight per pound of bow weight. It is recommended that you do not shoot an arrow weighing less than the minimum recommendation for your bow.

MAXIMUM PEAK BOW WEIGHT

A maximum of 80 pound peak bow weight in all Male classes except, Traditional which is 90 pounds. A maximum of 60 pound peak bow weight in all Female and Youth classes.  A maximum of 40 pound peak bow weight in Cub class.

STABILIZERS & V-BARS

No length limits for all classes except for (MHC/FHC) class.  Stabilizers may only extend 12” from the face of the bow in MHC/FHC class.

OVERDRAWS

Legal in all classes except Traditional Wood (trlw) and Traditional Unlimited (trlo) classes.

SIGHTS

There is no limit to the number of pins on a sight or a sights length. A sight in any fixed pin class whether or not the sight can be moved without the use of a tool will not be moved while on the range during a tournament.

REQUIRED INFORMATION

All clubs must post that day's shoot rules and the GSB standing rules. (Award divisions, registration times, and cut-off times, if any).

RULE INFRINGEMENTS

Shall be monitored by all members and reported to the host club range officials for disciplinary action. Please conduct yourself in a sportsmanlike manner.

There is to be no discussion of yardage until the target has been scored.

Discussion is restricted to shooters that have already shot said target.

Keep yardage to yourself. (yourself does not include wives, children husbands, or friends, etc.)

The use of normal archery equipment or any part of the body as a range finding device is a violation of range finding devices.

Glassing the target from the stake after the shot is prohibited.

Please keep beverages and language under control.

Stay on the trail and do not walk with a knocked arrow.

Horseplay is prohibited on the course.

GROUNDS FOR DISQUALIFICATION

The following shall be grounds for automatic disqualification of any shooter or for the removal of any person from the shooting course:

Consumption of any alcoholic beverage on the range.

Any person who, in the judgment of range officials, is unfit to continue or to complete the course due to intoxication or physical impairment.

Alteration of the course. (moving stakes, breaking branches, etc.)

Conduct unacceptable to the range officer in charge.

Shooting at anything other than designated course targets.

Use of equipment not conforming to GSB standards.

TIE BREAKERS

In order to decide tying scores, a shoot-off will be held using a 3-D animal target set at an unknown yardage with an X placed in the center of the highest scoring area. The arrow closest to the center of the X will determine the winner. If only one shooter is present at the shoot off, he/she will be declared the winner.

SCORING

To score, an arrow must be stuck in target. Witnessed pass throughs are to be scored as agreed on by the majority of the group, or re-shot before shooters advance to target. If a pass through is revealed upon approach to the target by the shooting party, it will be scored zero points. (One arrow per shooter.)

Scoring shall be as follows:

11 pts - Circle inside vital area of the 10 point circle; if more then one, use center circle only. Arrow must at least touch circle.

10 pts - Circle inside vital area. Arrow must at least touch circle.

8 pts - Vital area other than the 10 point circle. Arrow must at least touch the vital area line.

5 pts - Remainder of the animal touching body color, turkey tail counts as 5 points.

0 pts - A hit in the ears, horn, or hoof not touching body color, any other miss, or glance off.

Score all legal 11-ring hits in the 10 point scoring area of scorecard if a target happens to have one. All ties that cannot be settled in this manner will then be subject to a "shoot-off" method.

Any arrow shot accidentally or deliberately, of not in scoring area of target, will be scored as 0 pts. Any arrow which is dropped and can be recovered while touching the stake may be re-knocked and re-shot.

ROBIN HOODS

Any arrow which "Robin Hoods" another arrow will receive the points of the original arrow as long as that arrow is stuck in and remains in the original arrow.

RANGE FINDERS

The use of range finders on the course is allowed within the Rangefinder (RFR) Class. Shooters that do not shoot from the Orange stake must donate their score. There is a strict rule regarding the open discussion of yardage that will result in disqualification and/or removal if violated.

EQUIPMENT NOT COVERED

Any equipment that falls outside our existing guidelines will be put in the open class until such time that the GSB Board of Directors makes a ruling as to which class it should be placed in.

GROUPS

Each shooting group shall consist of three (3) to six (6) shooters. Groups including children will include at least 2 shooting adults. If enough shooters cannot be found in a reasonable amount of time then the club may, at their discretion, allow a smaller group of no less than 2 shooting adults. The club official must sign the two shooter's cards. (Please allow faster groups to shoot through. Good Sportsmanship and courtesy are appreciated.)

WHAT CONSTITUTES A SHOT

If the arrow leaves the bow, for any reason, it shall constitute the shot, unless it can be retrieved by the shooter with a portion of his/her body on the shooting stake, at which time the arrow may be re-knocked and shot again.

SHOOT STAKES

A portion of the shooter's body shall be touching the shooting stake. The shooter's body may be behind, to either side, or in front of the shooting stake.

ORANGE STAKE:  50 yards max. MBO, MBR, RFR, SNR

GREEN STAKE:      45 yards max. FBRO, MSNR

YELLOW STAKE:  35 yards max. RHC, MHC, FHC, YTH

WHITE STAKE:      25 yards max. TLRW, TLRU, YTH (recurve or longbow only), & CUB

BLUE STAKE:      15 yards max. FUTURE  BOWHUNTERS

SHOOTING TIME AT THE STAKE

The first shooter in each group has one minute from the time the target is safe and clear to move to the stake and release his/her arrow. Once the first shooter has released his/her arrow, each subsequent shooter has one minute from the time the previous shooter's arrow has been released, to complete their shot. Each group is responsible for the shooters within the group. If other shooters point out a time rule infringement to your group, then it is your responsibility to speed up and stay within the allotted time. If the other groups protest you or your group, the entire group could be disqualified. Please move off the stake as soon as you have shot. Glassing of the target from the stake after the shot is prohibited.

SHOOTER OF THE YEAR

The top five shooters in all classes will be awarded points toward the SOY. First place will receive 5pt down to the fifth place receiving 1pt. To receive the award, all shooters must follow set rules set forth by the GSB. Shooters also must be registered Members within the year that the points are accumulated.

SHOOT FEE

GSB Member $12.00

GSB Non-member $15.00

Under 18 free

<strong>3-D Classes Defined</strong>

MALE BOWHUNTER OPEN (MBO)

Compound bow, recurve or long bow with moveable sight, scope or laser sight. Any type of release aid, glove, finger tab or bare fingers may be used. Course must be shot from the ORANGE stake.

FEMALE BOWHUNTER OPEN (FBRO)

Compound bow, recurve or long bow with moveable sight, scope or laser sight. Any type of release aid, glove, finger tab or bare fingers may be used. Course must be shot from the GREEN stake.

MALE  BOWHUNTER RELEASE (MBR)

Compound bow, recurve or long bow with or without a sight. If a sight is used, it will have fixed pins. 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. Course must be shot from the ORANGE stake.

RENEGADE HUNTER (RHC)

Any type of equipment or style described above, less lenses or scope in sights. Course must be shot from the Yellow stake.

RANGEFINDER (RFR)

Compound bow, recurve or long bow. Any type of release aid, glove, finger tab or bare fingers may be used. No restrictions as to the type of sight or the number of pins. 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.

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. 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. 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 bow. 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 bow. Course must be shot from the YELLOW stake.

TRADITIONAL – WOOD (TLRW)

Shooters with 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. Course must be shot from the WHITE stake.

TRADITIONAL – UNLIMITED (TLRU)

Traditional longbow or recurve. Arrow shaft material made of 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. 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. 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. Course must be shot from the YELLOW stake with the exception of 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. 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. 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 so 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 15th, he/she shall advance to the next higher age group.