When you’re out at a 3-D tournament what kind of shot set ups make it the most interesting and fun? I’d be interested in your experiences.

A good mixture of everything. I understand that's kind of a cheat answer. But its the most honest answer I can give you. I was originally going to say course design not to cost arrows, but there is a certain fun anxiety that come with it that make it fun also. I lost 3 arrows once on a buffalo standing on a hill, that if you missed, your arrow is sailing to the other side and you have 0% chance of finding it. Should of gave up after missing the first shot, but I didn't.

But yeah, a good mixture is fun, especially if they are creative in their setup and the trail allow for it. Another shot that was fun was a deer standing next to a stream, that if you missed, you are force to cross the stream in 2 feet of water. Who the heck brought waders?

I'm no expert, but my favorite 3D shoot has been the Tenn. Classic. Every shot involves and entire set of animals to make it look like a real natural scene...like a heard of deer with bucks and does, or a herd of buffalo. It's all very natural looking and they have several shots that you decide whether or not to take a harder shot for an extra point or two. Here in Arkansas there's a club with similar setups, including one with aliens and space ships.

I can't agree with everyone. I want shots to be fun and challenging, with zero chance of loosing my arrows. That's especially true if the course has kids on it. I want them to have fun and want to come back and do it again.

When my trad bowhunting club hosts a 3D shoot we set up a separate set of stakes at each station to try and replicate realistic hunting situations. Each set of stakes has instructions for taking the shot (one knee down, both knees down, sitting, one foot on this rock, etc.) and they have a higher degree of difficulty, like shooting through limbs or heavy cover. The scoring is different as well, where a shot in the vitals is 10 points, a shot anywhere else on the body (wounding shot) is minus 5 points and a clean miss is zero. We call them the Bowhunters Challenge stakes and you can shoot the regular stakes or the Challenge stakes, but you have to decide before you start. Those stakes are the most fun and my favorite.

i remember attending a shoot where there was an 3D alligator in a pond. it was tethered so you could pull it in to retrieve your arrows.

i remember another where there was a bighorn or mountain goat on a rock outcropping. lots of broken arrows on that one. :)

shots from tree stands or platforms are fun too.

a good mix of targets from turkey and coyote to deer, elk, bear and moose make it fun.

I love shots between trees over logs under logs shots from 10-25yrds thru brush

×2 Gutpile.The worst courses are the typical 30 yrd bowling alley shots.

The worst we went to had a carp on a float. You could retrieve your arrows from the carp but a miss went floating with no method of retrieval. It had a javelina skylined so a miss went into said pond. A backdrop of multiflora rosebush on another target. A shot through a steel gate. It went on and on with stupid stuff like that.

To me, the fun part are the guys I'm shooting with anyway.

They use to have a "gator" shot in the pond at Sawmill, they still may. It helped to be on your A game for that shot......

Good Shooting->->->->Craig

no scoring

Take this from my newbie eyes, but I only been to 3 different festivals, but I don't remember ever seeing anymore ever keep score. Is this because I'm attending annual events? Is score keeping pretty serious for monthly club events?

An easy walking course is number one. When a course has ropes and cut in steps it's too steep. Add heat and humidity and it saps the fun right out of it. One of baltimores courses was so steep you had to go on all fours at times. I'll never go back.

cloverdale setup was awesome TN classic was awesome

Not a huge fan of just open fields, or super wide cleared lanes. I can practice in the wide open at my house or archery range.

I want some between trees. Or next to trees shots One arrow eater per course I like and is fun, don’t want them all like that though.

I like a range of distances, I do enjoy some longer shots , too many 10-15 yd shots and I’m bored out of my mind

This gator was at Whittingham, and to be honest, this shot you needed to be on or your arrow was gone (if shot high). That swamp muck made your arrow disappear quicker than a gorilla eating a banana.....

Good Shooting->->->->Craig

Water and woods. Does something to a shooter, kind of like driving a golfball over the pond, messes with your head if you let it,so don't!

Good Shooting->->->->Craig

Whittingham bear, cool shot.

Good Shooting->->->->Craig

Bowling alley.....but cool!

Good Shooting->->->->Craig

Mixing it up.....first half is all tight in the woods, then you enter the second half and come to this........

Good Shooting->->->->Craig

Meeting buddies that you only get to see at a 3-D shoot. This was at one of the few shoots that Warriors Mark had. Some buddies from New York came down....

Good Shooting->->->->Craig

Mind Blowers.....Camp Mack, Brickerville. Made you smile, or made you bawl. All private ground and roped off behind. Step up and kill it!

Good Shooting->->->->Craig

Baltimore.......

Good Shooting->->->->Craig

Challenging yes, but not so you spend more time looking for arrows than shooting. We used to either have a hill or dirt mound behind the critters or an old bale of straw hidden in the weeds to stop missed shots. Just moving the stakes closer solves the problem. In fact “hunting “ shots are boring after 2 or 3.

I enjoy a good mix of target setups. An open shot is challenging when it is set so that your mind is tricked into thinking it is a different distance. I enjoy challenging shots where you need to shoot close to trees or brush. A clump of leaves part way to target that is partially obscuring your sight of the kill zone but your arrow clears them and drops right in there. Lots of easy open shots bore me.

It seems like the best answer is the one most described above by all the responses. The best courses have a mix of long shots and close shots. They have some fairly clear shots and some where targets are somewhat obscured. Naturally appearing settings are nice.

I would add the use of topography when the available land allows for it. For example, at the KyTradfest course A has some varying topography. Unfortunately, as the course descended about halfway in, the targets were all set on level with the shooter. A flat course is sometimes what you have, but it is much more enjoyable to when varying topography comes into play when shooting.

Finally, I would suggest that trying to minimize things that slow the course down. Limit group sizes and/or require groups to allow others to shoot thru. Also, using rises in the land or other natural backstops keeps things going without unnatural backstops placed like an eyesore behind each target. Lastly, try to avoid targets that are down and back shots. Most of the best course are primarily shoot thru target settings. It really keeps things going.

There are some that enjoy scoring and those that don’t. Personally, I tried scoring off and on for a couple of years and did well. But, I also found it as methodical and extremely boring. Besides, it makes no difference to me whether I would win or finish last. I still would enjoy archery. I kinda left playing games in my childhood. However, those who stand and analyze their shot before and after really slow things down. Not sure you can do much about that though other than encourage everyone to be mindful of others. For that matter, increasingly it seems more people than ever decide to wait until it’s time for their group to shoot in order to start some loud conversation about some trivial matter

So my bottom line, mix up the shots and hope you shoot with people whose company you enjoy. As for everyone and everything else, just try to accept that there is rarely anything worth getting too worked up about.

A lot of 3D shoots have three stakes. One for the long range shooters, the second one for hunting situations and a third for close up shots. Take your pick.

I get tired real quick of nothing but Broadsides. Nothing between you and the target. I understand every shot should not be a challenge or risk losing an arrow. But the opposite is also true. Just flopping a target down is NOT setting up a course. A good course has creative set ups, variety of shots and engages the archer to think.

Here is one of my all time favorite from the R100 in Sturbridge MA. A 40 yard shot out to an island.

Here is an example of getting creative. They took the Delta McKenzie Grizzly and took it to the next level.

Here is an example of using what you have...

I love realistic bowhunting type setups, maybe a couple thrown in at longer yardages just for fun. Throw in some shoot through obstacles or obstructions that make you uncomfortable and have to change your shooting stance . What I don’t like is wide open targets, in mowed shooting lanes that have no woods or obstacles around them. I’m partial being from Tennessee but the Pre-Spring Fling put on by Buckhollow bowhunters and the Tennessee Classic put on by Twin Oaks bowhunters are by far and away the best courses I’ve ever shot and I bet in the country

I've got a question... I've only been to one 3d shoot so far in Baltimore last year. I was shocked to see only one person in the group shooting at a time. Is it always like this? I thought that at least two people could stand and shoot together to help move things along. There were groups of 6 or more people all shooting one and one and with the time looking for arrows just really seemed to slow things down. I was about to ask the organizers if it was possible to say to people when they sign in in the morning to try to shoot two and two wherever possible, but I kept my big mouth shut. I don't know if I am missing something, but it seems that it would just help everyone move around the track a little faster and be able to shoot a few more targets.

Not having targets in the poison Ivy

Love this thread!!!

I have been shooting 3D for a while and what I enjoy are shots that can be made, as difficult as they may be. What I mean is that they are realistic to a point. We all shoot bows powered by limbs and a string, no wheels. I like obscured shots with plants or trees to consider. I like open shots at a long 'traditional distance" and I like difficult shots set up that you can find your arrow, should a miss happen. Arrows are expensive. I have set up 3D shoots and my goal was always for people of all levels to have fun, but I wanted them to come back. They won't if they lose or break all their arrows. This is a weekend endeavor, not a SEAL training course. I liked Keith Bain's explanation, "until you see the scores even out between Compound and Traditional scores, there is always a disadvantage."

This one from Shade Mt last month.

The better they shoot, the more they come back. Save the Prayer shots for a novelty, or their back yard. Just my opinion.

Lots of animals with interesting shots is great. But what always made it for me was the guys or I should say people I got to shoot with. Friends to horas or be horased by.

RonL

That’s Exactly what I’m talking about jaz5833 I absolutely love those set ups

Regarding the Baltimore shoot, you go down that heart attack hill instead of going up at the wait times are nothing not like Whittingham 10 guys in a group and they all have to empty. Their covers one at a time that really sucks.

I started shooting Trad 3D this spring. I just love realistic shot set-ups, typical of real hunting conditions. It's great practice, I think, for hunting. I am still shooting all targets, using the same style of aiming, (instinctive/secondary vision) mostly, with a little bit of conscious gap shooting thrown in, on some shots always with a canted bow.

I believe it has forced me to shoot better overall, compared to just shooting in my back yard. I do wish they would set up a few elevated stand shots to spice things up a little. But Cane Creek has done a fine job of setting up a really nice course, overall.

Oh yeah, and I would love to have a few more moving shots, like maybe a broadside running deer target to shoot at.

Multiple targets at same station with "risk - reward" kill zones either partially obscured, different angles and/ or distances.

Similar to last pic from jaz5833.

You can play it safe to protect a good score or make up for bad score with a "hero"shot.

I like long shots that are placed where missed arrows can be easily found. To me, these are the most fun to shoot.

I love the pictures Craig, they bring back some good memories. I think Steve has a good point also. When guys are not missing targets they are having a good time and they will be back. There is also less time looking for missed arrows so everything keeps moving along. Having some longer shots is fun too, as long as they are set up so that any missed arrows are sticking in the ground right near the target, downhill shots at Whittingham are a good example. For the guys that get bored, just move back ten to fifteen yards or so.

If you're a sissy archer, don't ever go to the Southwest Bowhunters range in Yuma, AZ. Their annual, Walk the Trails, shoot is designed to test your abilities of sight and marksmanship. Buried in the thick desert underbrush is an unknown number of 3D targets. As you walk, "The Trail", you're on the lookout for these hidden targets. Once you spot one, it might be an impossible shot. You can advance down the trail for a better vantage point but not backwards. If you advance, the shot might improve or it might make you see the previous spot wasn't so impossible after all. Almost all the spots are through very small windows of thick Scrub, backed by a carpet of thick litter about a foot deep. Finding arrows is next to impossible. The most fun shoot I've ever participated in.

This is a two day tournament that will test your abilities and make you doubt them. However, Southwest Bowhunters puts on a great shoot, full of camaraderie and fun. It's a compound club primarily but they welcome trad shooters. Well worth the trip from San Diego.

There are several pictures above that are way over the maximum size, which means that they could crash this old site. They will likely be deleted to prevent that from happening. Please resize your pictures to under 640 on the largest side before posting.

This was a fun one...two elk, and two shots from the same stake. The close elk is only about 3' tall and the far elk is full sized... :)

Monkeyball and 3D Archery, I'd probably take a pass on those skylined targets. I do not like to lose arrows.

Thanks for all the responses. I appreciate your experience. Pictures were great

When setting up targets at our club I would never set one at the crest of a hill..you don't know who or what is beyond it. The same rule should apply as for guns..know what's behind your Target. Codjigger

I am with m60 gunner. Some kinda arrow stop in the back is really helpful and helps me shoot harder shots than I normally would. No fun having a line back up as people look for arrows for 10 minutes.

To me the flow of the shoot is so much more vital than the actual target sets. I barely have time to attend events. I can't drive there and have it take all day standing in line to shoot.

this.

this for sure.

Where I live it's flat ground so I get excited for uphill downhill shots since 200 miles west of me that's what the terrain is . Challenging is small draws creeks etc where that gap doesn't play in people's minds on range estimation

A mix of 'looks' - some shots wide open, other shots buried in dark woods. Different lane widths. Multiple target scenarios.

Overall, I would say the 'look' of the course in general matters as much as any specific target scenario. My motto is, 'as natural as we can fake it' ;-)

(And I absolutely detest courses where somebody repeatedly takes the leaf blower and blows everything off the trail. Eroded down to rock and root, joyless to walk on.)

Great set-ups Dana!!

I like to set distractions that may put a smile on your face as you shoot (and a lot of shooters will hit this one low and left!)

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