Hi BowPro & Darryl Longbow,

The stated mission of IBO is "To promote, encourage and foster the sport of bowhunting; further bowhunter education; act as a political coordinator and liaison for the protection and advancement of bowhunting; - function as a clearinghouse for essential bowhunter information; and - adhere to the basic ideal of the unification of bowhunters."

I fail to see how divisive rules will bring about this unification. Nor do I see how "protective rules" of any class will do so either.

I believe that all Longbow hunters should be encourage to participate in IBO meets without regard to equipment or style. Therefore, I respectfully submitted the following set of rules. These are modified Traditional rules and form a class called "Longbow Hunters". This set of rules is intended to recognize all Longbow Archers, their equipment, and style, under whatever categories it falls. (English, American Indian, Asiatic, African, South American, or Modern American)(English Longbows, American Flat bows, one piece, two piece or three piece, straight limbs, R/D, radical, contemporary, experimental) (Ishi, Thompson, Young, Pope, Hill, Bear, Mary Rose).

LONGBOW HUNTER (LBH)

All I.B.O. rules apply, and the Longbow rules listed below. There is a 90-lb. Maximum bow weight. THIS CLASS ONLY.
1. Competitors shooting in the longbow hunter class will use a longbow defined as: a bow which when strung the string touches only the nocks of the bow. (I.e. a bare bow).
2. No sight, stabilizers, counter balances, cushion plungers or mechanical adjustments shall be permitted.
3. Arrow shafts shall be identical in length, weight and color, except for normal wear. Arrow shafts may be wood, aluminum, carbon, or a combination of aluminum and carbon. All arrows will be Hunting weight (i.e., a minimum weight of 8.5 to 10.1 or greater, grains per pound of draw weight)
4. Strings shall have single color middle serving with no marks.
5. One string nocking point only is permitted.
6. One additional nock locator, which may be snap-on type, tubing, thread or dental floss tied or served on the servings.
7. Arrow should be shot from the shelf or hand with no elevated rest. Only a piece of leather, fur or similar material 1/4 inch thick or less shall be allowed on the arrow shelf.
8. One anchor point only is permitted. (No string or face walking)
9. Must be shot with glove, finger tab, thumb ring or bare fingers only.
10. While shooting the archer shall touch the arrow with the index finger against the nock
11. An archer may shoot using: a Mediterranean release (one finger over and two under the nock); an Apache release, (three fingers under the nock); or an Asiatic release (use of a thumb ring).
12. The White Longbow Stake shall be set half way between the Orange stake and the 3D target. (As examples. Orange stake at 60 yds, LB stake = 30 yds; Orange = 50 yds, LB = 25 yds; Orange = 40 yds, LB = 20 yds; Orange 30 yds, LB = 15 yds; Orange = 20 yds, LB = 10 yds)
13. Longbow Hunters who normally hunt from longer distances, or who wish to compete from longer distance, (or for any other reason), may elect at registration, to compete against the other competitors in the Longbow Hunter Class by shooting from the yellow stake, or the green stake, or the orange stake.

It is hoped that the above rule would allow all Longbow Hunters to shoot in the 3D games at a distance that is challenging to them and one they just might use under Hunting Conditions. (The "average kill" occurs at 15 yards or under).

The IBO does an excellent job of offering different Classes for Compound Hunters, based on equipment differences, or age and experience. It does a poor job with Recurves and does its worst job with the Longbow.

I believe that there is often a problem with the placement of stakes due to the absence of a clear system for doing this without a rangefinder. If a meet director, set the Orange stake first, then set the 3D target then set the White stake halfway between. (Something that can be done by eyeballing the 3D target and the Orange stake until he finds the middle). Then looking back from the White stake towards the Orange stake he can mentally and visually divide that distance into thirds. The yellow stake would go at the first third (walking back towards the Orange stake) and the Green stake would go at the 2/3's mark. This provides within a yard or two distances in keeping with the original % used without any measuring being required. Orange = 100%, Green = 90%; Yellow = 70%, and White would now be 50%