It's a novelty that, as best I know, got started at the old Lofton Classic (by the folks who are the core members of the STA, which started after a rift with the Lofton tournament bunch).

Here's how we do it.

We set out 10 targets--one stake for everyone, regardless of age, sex, or weapon (traditional only tournament).

Each target is a bugger. Of the 10 we set out, only one was maybe 20 yds, one other was about 42 yds. The rest were much closer--but not easier.

We put a wire ring around the "10". Scoring was 3 points if you hit inside the ring, 1 point for outside the ring (and a miss was a miss, period). The wire ring eliminates any "line cutters"--you are either in or out, no fudging, no arguing.

Each group had a score keeper. There were two reasons for this: One, it eliminated any cheating. We know that 99% of our shooters would rather eat dirt than cheat, but if you only send out a scorekeeper with that one guy that has a reputation for pencil whipping, it starts a fuss--so every group has a scorekeeper. Two, the scorekeeper pulls the arrows and makes a trail around the shooting path to get to the target (rather than straight to it from the stake)--that way nothing gets moved, branches aren't broken off, etc. The course is the same for the first shooter and the last.

The shots were mostly close, but nasty. Some you had to slide in beside a tree, some you had to shoot through green leaves or pine needles (really buggers the depth perception/yardage judgement, especially if you have to stand right behind a bunch of green leaves to shoot), etc. On a couple of targets only about 1/3 of the ring was open. However, each one could be hit if you were good/lucky enough. Nobody shot a perfect score of 30 (a 20 won it), but every target got shot inside the ring at least once. It was tough, but not impossible. You needed good arrow flight to get through on most of the shots--a wobbly arrow would slap trees or branches.

We call it the "Cry Baby" because at practically every tournament you'll hear someone complain about a limb in the way, a leaf in the way, etc. The one complaint we got at this one was because the course was too "trashy" (the STA is known for putting out fairly close and trashy shots--it resembles our hunting down here).

First prize was a throwing 'hawk, decorated with leather lace, deer antler buttons, authentic Indian trade beads, and wild turkey feathers. On the handle was a picture of a baby's head with tears streaming out, and STA 2010 and CRY BABY written on it. Second and third place got "crying towels".

Some folks were afraid to shoot it--I admit it did look bad. However, there was only one arrow lost (an admitted new shooter who made a really wild shot--not even close, and we haven't figured out yet where that arrow went) and none broken--even with several shooting wood.

I think everyone, to a person (men, women, boys and girls) said they loved it. It really is a challenge, and with the targets set close and trashy sometimes it's better to be lucky than good.

Chad