ibo worlds - wheres all the trad shooters?

[CJC]

recently had the opportunity to attend the ibo worlds in upstate ny and was dissapointed in the number of trad shooters there.  where is everybody? the event is awesome.

[NANUK]

I had no idea there were trad shooters at this event.  I figured it was all compound shooters.  I'd love to hear about the shoot.  This shoot was hosted in my back yard.  I ended up taking the wife and kids to an archery club I just joined.  Now I have to find them some bows.

[longbowguy]

Maybe not many of us are interesting shooting only such short distances. - lbg

[CJC]

the distances were hardly short.  take your local shoot x3. some very humbling shots.

[clear]

To far to drive and you have to be a IBO member to shoot.... just not worth it...

[Tom A]

Had a great time at the shoot. Did not shoot as well as I could of but at least made the top 5 shoot off so I guess I cant complain much.

As for turn out. It seems that a lot of todays trad shooters dont possess the competitive edge needed to shoot at these high end events. I will gladly put up with hanging out with compound shooters to be able to shoot in shoots like this. Cheating is virtually null since the double score keeper and busted group rule is in effect and the top 3D shooters in the world come out to play. Its truly a great event. The mountains in NY are very nice too though I was told by a local that "those are hills not mountains!"  

Some guy posted over a 100 pics over at archery talk in the 3d section if anyone wants to see some pics. Cameras are not allowed on the actual 3D course so you wont see pics of it.

Its supposed to be there again next year. Then it will probably go back to Snowshoe WV.

[longbowguy]

CJC:
Let's discuss this distance issue. I understand that IBO has stakes at various distances and that one set has a maximum distance of 25 yards and the next set has a maximum of 30. Is that what they had at the worlds?

I think that is too short. Hereabouts in the west  we are beginning to offer a short course and a long course to trad shooters. The long course is the same one the pulley pullers shoot, to 65 and 90 yards. The short course is the NFAA youth stakes, to 50 yards.

Now, understand that we wouldn't be shooting at game to these distances. But we would be building our archery skills. We might well limit our shots on, say, deer to the IBO distances. But I believe we need to practice, and compete, at longer distances.

From time to time I work on the 20 yard 300 round as part of my practice. But when I am going well at 20 yards and then switch to maybe 50 yards I generally get a shock. Often I find that I am not shooting down the line. I may be grouping a foot or so out of line when my 20 yard groups looked OK. I don't think shooting only to 20 yards or 30 is sufficient to determine just how well you are shooting. - lbg

[CJC]

longbowguy
i agree wholeheartedly with everything you say and i often practice out to 60 yards myself, and sometimes beyond.  i also shoot from the compound stakes at many of the local 3-d shoots.  for me being able to go out and compete with other great shots is the game.   the pressure of a world event could not be better practice in making me a better archer.  i guess i never thought of the distance only the level of competition and being able to execute under the pressure of a big tournament.  in closing i will say this; i have never seen so many great shots miss those close(27-30yard) targets.

[Jacko]

I practice at the 3d club shoots from the Compound stakes , whichever one appeals and I shoot the IFAA coarse we have at our club and play our ABA game which has a max of 48 metres . At the 30 yard max we shoot in Trad division here 70% is competitive . If short range 3D is not challenging enough why has no one shot a perfect .

Over here it's almost a badge of honour not to compete in any governing bodies archery games when you shoot Trad gear . I have copped flack from fellow trad shooters because "Trad shooters don't shoot comps , thats for the competitive compound wackers" and then they follow it up with whinges , 3d has no backstops I don't want to lose/break my arrows  or thats to far or thats to close - FACT IS COMPETITION EXPOSES THEIR WEAKNESSES AND THEY CAN'T STAND IT .

Like everyone said , shooting long really highlights form issues and sharpens skills .

Why wasn't I at the worlds - $20 000 reasons , This is what it has cost several people I know who attended in previous years . It's one of my dreams to shoot the IBO worlds and tie it in with a hunt

regards Jacko

[Orion]

Folks get into trad archery for different reasons.  Not everyone wants to compete.  And maybe the participation numbers weren't so out of whack.  In this country, about 10% of the archers shoot trad gear.  One out of ten doesn't look like a lot at a national event.

[Bill Leslie II]

Hey Tom, congrat's on makin' the top 5 ! I wish I could have been there with Ya ! I had planned on going but I messed-up my right arm in July and still can not draw but about 25 pds. Looks like if I want any deer meat I will have to get it with a smokepole this year !


I have been out of the competitive shooting for the last few years. For about 10 years I shot somewhere almost every weekend. This is what I learned. It makes no differance what the yardage is, Trad Archers just do not show up at competitive shoots. Why, you may ask . Most just can't handle the pressure of competeing. I know many archers that shoot great, way better than myself, at home. When they get to a competion their bottom lip is quiverin' as soon as they get out of the truck. I was one of those archers for the first few years I competed.


          Bill

[BMOELLER]

If it were closer to Mo. I'd give it a shot. I like shooting 3d and the competition.  I believe that if you shoot against people that are really good it brings out the better in you (well at least me anyway).

[Blue Moose]

I had my heart set on going to the IBO worlds this year...that's been a goal of mine for years.

I had the bucks set aside, plans made, lined up a place to stay, etc. Then they moved it from Indy to New York, which put it out of driving range (and thus out of my budget).

After realizing I wouldn't be able to make the worlds, I saw no use in spending the bucks to go to a qualifier, given that I'd probably be shooting against less than half a dozen people.

Anyway, congrats to all who placed. Even if you're only shooting against a handful of shooters, it's probably going to be a handful of really, really good shooters;).

TM

[Tom A]

Bill!  Good to hear from ya buddy.  Get that arm well. Everyone misses you at the shoots.

[MDbowhunter]

I have to disagree with the comments about the IBO distances being to short.  First the IBO stands for International "BOWHUNTING" organization, its not field archery.

Second, unlike field or other target competitions, the yardages in the IBO are unmarked, requiring not only the ability to shoot but the ability to determine yardage as well. Also, the World courses are no picnic, uphill/downhill, dark/bright targets make even short distances challenging.

Finally, is the biggest reason, only the top shooters avg a per target score of 8 or more(8 being a vital shot). IMO, if you increase the distance to the point where even the top shooters don't avg 8 points per target, that just looks bad . Consider that the compound classes are almost always decided by total X count.

[zetabow]

The IFAA World Bowhunters will be in South Dakota next Summer, 3D are out to max of 60 yards ALL are unmarked distances. A good chance for Americans to compete against Archers from all over the world.
 http://www.wbhc2009.com/

This link is on the European champs in July held in Estonia, some good pics in the Gallery section and the results page as well, Longbow being the biggest class in this competition.
 http://www.ebhc2008.com/?op=body&id=1

As Bill said a good shooter will shoot good scores regardless of the distance, hope to see some of you in South Dakota.

[Tom A]

zetabow I am curious as to the rules of that IFAA World Bowhunters shoot?  I downloaded the rule book but still am confused.

Is there any type of barebow recurve class that lets you only compete against other recurve shooters? Or must you shoot longbow if you dont want to shoot against compounders?

[zetabow]

Two unsighted Recurve classes, Bowhunter Recurve which is almost the same as Barebow Recurve except you cant stringwalk.

Think last time this was held in USA it was a poor turnout from Americans