A 3D archery course is ultimately a course that features 3D game targets in bushes and real-life hunting setting positions. All of these targets have lung, heart, and body sections. Generally, a heart shot will garner you 10 points, a lung shot will get you eight points, and then a body shot is worth five points. The goal of the game is to position yourself at a specific point that is set for each of the animals, guess at the distance between you and the animal, and determine where the vitals are on the game.
This can be extremely fun, and it is often made into a competition. To find a place in your local area that offers these types of events, a search can be performed online of 3D shooting events. You may want to ask other bowhunters in the area who may have participated in 3D archery.
Generally, there will be target bags that are set up for some practice shots before you enter into the 3D course. This is perfect for getting several shots in to ensure that your equipment is operating right and to get your muscles warmed up. Ensure you do not have any questions or concerns, and if you do, ask around the course (other archers or the owners).
There will be many different kinds of 3D animals that you’ll be shooting at, including deer, bear, moose, alligators, goats, racoons, beavers, and more. Some of these may be placed at 70 yards away, and they may get a bit tricky knowing where you should shoot at, but that’s the fun of it!
One of the best things about 3D shooting is that it is very similar to actually hunting. This is the perfect practice scenario. Since these animal targets are set up in real-life hunting scenarios and the targets are animal replicas with precise vitals, there isn’t a much way to practice. 3D archery will help you learn how to properly and quickly judge distance without the need to use a range finder, exactly where the vitals are located on a variety of animals that you may be hunting, various tricks that can be played on your eyes with shrubs and trees like the tunneling effect, and how to become a better archer overall.
When you finally get out in the field and a 12-point buck enters the clearing, you will be happy that you have been practicing at a 3D archery shooting course where you have successfully shot that buck multiple times before.
