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IBO RULES and CLASS DEFINITIONS
I. ELIGIBILITY AND QUALIFICATIONS TO SHOOT
A. IBO Shooting Year . . . . . . . . 2
B. Class Advancement by Age . . . . . . . 2
C. Pro and Semi-Pro Classes . . . . . . . 2
D. Qualification to Participate in the World Championship . . . . 2-3
E. IBO Membership required . . . . . . . 3
F. Awards, Purses, and Entry Fees . . . . . . 3
G. Team Competition . . . . . . . . 3
II. TARGETS AND SCORING AREAS
A. Targets . . . . . . . . . 4
B. Scoring Areas . . . . . . . . 4
III. EQUIPMENT
A. Grains Per Pound and Arrow Speed . . . . . . 5
B. Maximum Draw Weight . . . . . . . 5
C. Sights, Overdraws, Unusual Equipment, etc. . . . . . 5-6
IV. SHOOTING RULES AND ETIQUETTE
A. Shooting Rules & Etiquette . . . . . . . 6-7
B. Scoring . . . . . . . . 7-8
C. Binoculars and Rangefinders . . . . . . . 8-9
D. Equipment Failures and Leaving the Course . . . . . 9-10
E. Peer Groups . . . . . . . . 10
F. Tie Scores, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, and Misc . . . . . 10-11
V. SHOOTING CLASSES
A. Level One – Non-Competitive Classes . . . . . . . 11
B. Level Two – Youth Competition Classes . . . . . 11-12
C. Level Three – Entry Level Adult Classes . . . . . 12-13
D. Level Four – Advanced Amateur Classes . . . . . . 13-16
E. Level Five – Semi-Pro Classes . . . . . . 16
F. Level Six – Pro Classes . . . . . . . 16
VI. RULE VIOLATIONS AND PROTESTS
A. Rule Violations . . . . . . . . 17
B. Protests & Appeals . . . . . . . . . 17-18
C. Review by the IBO . . . . . . . . 18
VII. Additional Competitions and Awards
A. IBO National Championship Triple Crown “Best of the Best”. . . . 18
B. IBO Shooter of the Year . . . . . . . . 18-19
C. Big Game Shoot-Out . . . . . . . . . .19
Revised September 14, 2006
I. ELIGIBILITY, QUALIFICATIONS TO SHOOT, AND AWARDS
A. IBO TOURNAMENT YEAR
The IBO TOURNAMENT YEAR begins upon the completion of one World
Championship and runs to the completion of the next World Championship.
B. CLASS ADVANCEMENT BY AGE
If an archer’s birthday falls after the conclusion date of the IBO World
Championship, he or she will maintain class standing (FBH, CUB, Youth)
until the conclusion of the subsequent IBO World Championship. Adult
archers may register at any event, for any class the archer is eligible for
based on his or her age on the day of registration. If an adult archer wants
to qualify for the World Championship, he or she must be the appropriate
age for the class for which the archer is attempting to qualify on the date of
the qualifier. If an archer elects to advance to an age optional class they
must qualify for the World Championship in that class.
C. PRO AND SEMI-PRO CLASSES
1. An archer who registers for a Pro or Semi-Pro class during any one IBO
shooting year must remain in that class for the entire duration of that IBO
tournament year except that an archer may move up to Semi-Pro, or a
Semi-Pro archer may move up to a Pro class. Archers who move from
Semi-Pro to Pro during the IBO shooting year may not drop back down to
compete as an amateur or Semi-Pro at an IBO sanctioned event for the
remainder of that IBO tournament year.
2. An archer who registers as a Pro or Semi-Pro in another 3-D shooting
organization must register to compete at the same or higher level at
IBO sanctioned events.
3. A Pro or Semi-Pro archer must be an IBO member to participate in any IBO
sanctioned event
D. QUALIFICATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
In order to compete in the IBO World Championship an Archer must be an
IBO member and place in the top twenty (20) scores for your class at an IBO
sanctioned qualifying tournament. FBH Archers need not qualify to participate
in the IBO World Championship.
E. IBO MEMBERSHIP REQUIRED
1. An archer must be an IBO member to compete in a state championship,
IBO Indoor World, Southern Triple Crown, National Triple Crown, or World
Championship, except as noted in E-2 below.
2. With every membership renewal a guest pass will be given for use at a
state or national level event. This pass will allow a member to bring a
guest to an IBO event and allow the guest to participate without being a
member for that event (the IBO Indoor or Outdoor World Championships
are not eligible for this exclusion). A 6 month limited IBO membership
will now accompany the guest pass. This limited membership will not
include Bowhunting World Magazine or any award at the event where the
guest pass was issued. It is our hope that members will utilize these
guest passes to introduce their friends to the fun of 3-D shooting. At this
time, guest pass fees shall be established by host club.
F. AWARDS, PURSES, AND ENTRY FEES
1. In order for any class to be awarded a 1st place, there must be three or
more archers participating in that class.
2. The number of awards given in amateur classes will be based on 10%
of the total amount of participants in that class at that event in the preceding
year, with a maximum of 10 plaques or 20 checks.
3. Entry fees and amounts or percentages paid back from entry fees for IBO
sanctioned events are set by the host clubs.
4. The number of places awarded in any classes with a cash purse will be
equal to 20% of the class participation and will be awarded a maximum
of 20 places. At the IBO World Championship, purses will be divided among
those who qualify for the final round. Not all checks will be awarded at the
conclusion of each competition. Any check not awarded at a particular
competition will be mailed to the participant.
G. TEAM COMPETITION
1. All team members must be IBO members in good standing in order to compete
in team competition.
2. Qualified teams may compete at the IBO National Championship Triple Crown
events and the World Championship (if team events offered).
a. In order for a class to have a team competition in the IBO National
Championship Triple Crown, there must be three teams registered to shoot
at the first leg of the Triple Crown. In order to win, a team must shoot all
three legs of the Triple Crown.
b. IBO World Championship. Each team member must have qualified
individually for the IBO World Championship in order to compete as a team
member.
3. Team members may not change throughout the duration of any IBO competition.
4. A team may be three or four members. Only the top three scores will count
toward a team’s total score.
5. Team awards will be given at the conclusion of the IBO Triple Crown and at the
conclusion of the IBO World Championship.
II. TARGETS AND SCORING AREAS
1. At all IBO sanctioned shooting events, targets shall consist of 2-D silhouette or
3-D type animal targets having official IBO scoring areas.
2. Host clubs may mix the size of the animals so long as the targets have official
IBO scoring areas.
3. Targets shall be set at unmarked distances. The approximate** maximum
distance for each stake shall be as follows
a. Blue Stake - 50 yards (45.72 meters)
b. Green stake - 45 yards (41.15 meters)
c. Red Stake - 40 yards (36.70 meters)
d. Yellow stake - 35 yards (32 meters)
e. Orange Stake - 30 yards (27.43 meters)
f. White stake - 25 yards (22.86 meters)
** Approximate distances have been added to allow the use of a laser
range finder and to allow for inherent variations in their accuracy.
Approximate distances are NOT intended to be an excuse to stretch
target maximum distances.
4. Targets should be set so they are distinguishable with their vital areas (8 ring)
unobstructed.
B. SCORING AREAS
For all IBO sanctioned shooting events, the targets shall have scoring areas as
follows:
1. An “11" ring consisting of a circle centered within the 10 ring. The circle size
should be approximately 25% of the size of the 10 ring.
2. A 10 ring consisting of a circle inside the vital area.
3. A Vital area (8 ring) that roughly approximates the heart, lung, and liver area
of the appropriate animal.
4. The remainder of the animal shall be considered a “body” except as set out in
Paragraph 5 below.
5. An arrow embedded in the hoof or horn of an animal, not touching body color,
is considered a miss and is scored as a zero. Targets with legs of a different
color than the main body will still be considered as body color for scoring.
6. Some targets have material surrounding the actual outline of a target animal.
This additional material will NOT be counted for score.
III. EQUIPMENT
A. GRAINS PER POUND AND ARROW SPEED
1. Arrows must weigh at least five grains per pound of the bow’s maximum
shooting weight unless the archer’s equipment qualifies for the exception set
out in paragraph 2 below. Shooting weight is defined as the bow’s maximum
draw or thrust weight, whichever is greater. A variance of 2 pounds of draw
weight shall be allowed for bow scale variation. Equipment qualifying in this
paragraph (A)(1) shall have no limit on arrow speed.
2. In the case where an archer’s equipment, when shot at five grains per pound,
does not generate 280 fps, that archer may shoot arrows weighing less than
5 grains per pound. However, equipment qualifying under this paragraph (A)(2)
shall not exceed an arrow speed of 280 fps. A variance of 3% will be allowed for
chronograph variation.
3. Draw weight shall not be adjusted after entering the shooting course.
Adjustments can be made only after equipment is checked at the conclusion
of a range. Doing so will be considered poor sportsmanship and subject to
disqualification.
4. IBO recommends that archers do not exceed manufacturer’s recommended
limits on arrow weight and draw weight.
B. MAXIMUM DRAW WEIGHT
1. The maximum draw weight for each class shall be as follows:
a. Cub - 40 lbs.
b. All Female and Youth Classes - 60 lbs
c. LB - 90 lbs.
d. All other classes - 80 lbs.
e. Crossbow - 190lbs.
PARENTS of Cub and youth shooters, do not play the performance game with
your child’s equipment. Do not put their score at risk for points deduction or
disqualification.
2. A two pound variance for bow scale variation will be allowed.
C. SIGHTS, OVERDRAWS, UNUSUAL EQUIPMENT, ETC.
1. Overdraws are permitted in all classes except TRD, YTRD, FTRAD, LB, RU,
2. There is no limit to the amount of pins on a sight with the exception of sights
used in the Hunter classes which are limited to four pins.
3. A sight used in a fixed pin class may not be adjusted once the archer enters
the shooting course.
4. Sights that project a laser light or other aiming dot on the target are illegal
in all classes.
5. An archer using new or unusual equipment not addressed by class
definitions or elsewhere in these rules, will be required to shoot in one of
the open classes until the IBO Board of Directors makes a ruling on the
proper class for the equipment.
6. A verifier or clarifier style peep sight will be allowed in all classes that permit
IV. SHOOTING RULES AND ETIQUETTE
A. SHOOTING ETIQUETTE
1. Shooting groups shall not consist solely of friends and relatives. Such groups
shall be “busted” by including at least one outsider who will keep score,
whenever possible. A group of friends and or relatives must be aware that
good sportsmanship requires an additional competitor /scorekeeper be added
to their group. The archers in a group of team-mates, friends, and or relatives
are required to make range officials aware of this situation. Failing to do so is
un-sportsmanlike conduct.
2. An archer may only participate in one class at any one IBO sanctioned event.
This does not prevent an archer from shooting a different style or class at a
different event (except that pro or semi-pros may not drop to an amateur class
during the IBO Shoot year).
3. In a group that contains archers shooting from different stakes, the archers
shooting from the farther stakes must shoot first.
4. When shooting, the archer must touch the appropriate stake with some part
of his or her body.
5. Each archer shall be allowed a maximum of two minutes to complete his or
her shot. This rule shall operate as follows:
a. Time will begin for the first archer when the previous group clears the target.
Time will begin for the next archer when the previous archer releases his or
her arrow.
b. Archers should be sensitive to the time concerns of the groups behind
them and make every attempt to shoot in a timely manner. An archer
found to be over his or her allotted time by a range official will have five
points deducted from his or her score. If the actions of a whole group are
contrary to this rule, each person in the group may have five points
deducted from his or her score.
c. After shooting, the shooter should immediately clear the stake for the
next shooter. Using binoculars from the shooting stake after the shot is
prohibited. Repeated violations of this rule will result in a five point
deduction of the shooters score for each violation.
d. Repeated violation of an archer’s two minute time limit is considered
to be un-sportsmanlike conduct.
6. There shall be no discussion of yardage until all arrows have been scored.
Discussion of yardage is permitted only among archers who have shot the
subject target and must be done in a manner to ensure that other archers
who have yet to shoot the target will not be assisted.
7. No more than one umbrella may be used to assist a shooter at the stake.
The maximum size for an umbrella used on a range shall be “golf sized.”
1. SCORECARDS
a. At all IBO sanctioned shooting events, two score cards must be completed
for each archer. Score cards must have the archer’s name, address, and
IBO Membership number, and the IBO Membership number of each
scorekeeper.
b. Score cards must be split between two scorekeepers so that each
scorekeeper has one card for each archer. Both scorekeepers must
agree on a score, compare and punch the score cards before the
arrows are pulled from the target. Score cards will be marked by a
punched hole in the correct scoring box for each target.
c. Arrows pulled early will receive a zero. Repeated violations of this
rule will result in the offending archer being disqualified.
d. If the two scorekeepers for a group mistakenly record different scores,
the inconsistent scores must be corrected as agreed upon by the
majority of the group. The error must be circled and initialed by both
scorekeepers and the correct score punched or otherwise clearly marked.
If agreement by the majority of the group is not possible, the shooter will
receive the lower of the two scores.
e. Score cards must be legible, complete, and signed by the archer to be
accepted. No score card may be changed by a competitor or scorekeeper
after submitting it to a range official.
f. Score cards will be collected at the end of each course. Each group’s
score cards must be turned in together, by the entire group.
g. Archers shall be responsible for their own score cards. It is up to each
archer to ensure that his or her scorecard meets the above requirements.
Duplicate cards will not be issued to replace lost or damaged cards, except in
unusual circumstances approved by the host and or IBO tournament officials
in their sole discretion.
h. Host clubs shall keep scorecards for one year following an IBO sanctioned
shooting event.
i. Any attempt by an archer to knowingly falsify a score, or knowingly allow
another to falsify his or her score shall result in a disqualification of that
archer for that shooting event and that archer shall be ineligible to
participate in an IBO sanctioned shooting event for a one year period.
A suspended competitor may petition the IBO Board of Directors for
reinstatement.
j. The IBO reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to correct harmless errors
including but not limited to, score tabulation, lack of initials or signature,
posting, etc., which in the opinion of the IBO, are clearly not a result of an
attempted inflation of the archer’s score.
2. SCORING ARROWS
a. Scores will be tabulated as follows:
i. 11 points - 11 ring or “X” ring centered inside the 10 ring
ii. 10 points - 10 ring or heart
iii. 8 points - Vital
iv. 5 points - Body
v. 0 points - Miss or arrow not touching body color.
b. If more than one scoring area is visible on a target, either scoring area
can be used unless otherwise noted at the shooting stake.
c. An arrow touching the line marking the edge of a greater scoring area
shall be given the higher score.
d. Arrows must stick in the target in order to receive a score other than
a zero with the exception of a pass through, robin hood, or bounce back
as set out in paragraphs (e) (f) and (g) below.
e. An arrow that passes through a target may be scored if witnessed and
agreed upon by the majority of archers in the group. A pass-through is
an arrow passing completely through the target with material 360 degrees
around the arrow, leaving a separate entrance and exit hole. If the pass
through was witnessed by a member of the group other than the shooter,
and the group cannot agree, the archer may re-shoot the target before the
group advances to score the target.
f. An arrow embedded into the nock end of an arrow embedded in the target
shall be scored the same as the arrow embedded into the target. An arrow
that hits another arrow – with the arrow being struck showing visible
damage - that does not stick in the target shall be given the score of the
arrow that was struck. The majority of the group must agree that:
1) a particular arrow was struck, and
2) that striking the arrow prevented the arrow from sticking in the target,
or the arrow shall be scored as a miss.
g. A bounce back is an arrow that squarely strikes the target and bounces
back toward the shooter. An arrow that glances off the target is not
considered a bounce back. A bounce back may be scored if the score
can be agreed upon by the majority of archers in the group. If a member
of the group other than the archer witnesses the bounce back and the
group cannot agree, the archer may re-shoot the target before the group
advances to score the target.
h. An arrow released or dropped accidentally will be scored a zero unless
the archer is able to retrieve it while touching the stake and re-shoot it
within that archer’s two minute period.
i. Any arrow intentionally shot into the ground or any object other than the
target shall be considered an act of un-sportsmanlike conduct and the
arrow scored a zero.
C. BINOCULARS AND RANGEFINDERS
1. An integral part of IBO 3-D competition is the archer’s ability to judge
yardage without the assistance of range-finding devices or assistance
from others. Therefore, cameras, rangefinders, or any other devices that
may be used to calculate yardage to the target are prohibited. An archer
may not use parts of his or her body, the bow, or any other accessories
or equipment to calculate yardage. Any mark on otherwise legal binoculars
that could be construed as a reference point for range finding is prohibited.
2. Hand held binoculars of 8.5 or less magnification (per manufacturer’s
specifications) are allowed.
3. Binoculars shall not be used at the stake after the shot has been taken.
An archer with an adjustable sight may not re-adjust their sight after they
have used their binoculars at the shooting stake. Archers may utilize
binoculars additionally to view the target, while waiting their turn at the
shooting stake or from an on deck area behind a group that is in the
process of shooting a target.
D. EQUIPMENT FAILURES AND LEAVING THE COURSE
1. Once an archer begins a shooting course he or she must finish with his
or her group unless given permission to leave by a range official, or in the
event of equipment failure his or her shooting group. Any archer or group
that leaves a range without the authorization of a range official will not be
allowed to continue.
2. When possible, in the case of inclement weather, a siren or other warning
system shall be implemented, indicating that a potential emergency exists,
and all shooting and practice ranges are immediately closed. When this
warning has been sounded, all shooting activity must cease, and everyone
should seek appropriate shelter. Archers shall use the utmost caution to
ensure the safety of all persons involved. Archers may only resume shooting
activity after being instructed by the IBO, the host organization, or other range
officials on the proper manner to re-enter the competition ranges once the
emergency has passed and the ranges have been re-opened. Due to the
severe risk to ones self or other shooters and/or range Personnel in a
potential emergency situation, any attem |