The contest starts when the season in your state starts, always has. As for the ending, there needed to be a time restraint, because there were so many problems trying to figure out when the seasons were closed last year.
If there is a problem over 8 days, I am sure that can be fixed if need be at that time, but I like the fact that there is a deadline now, besides almost; if not every state has their archery seasons started by the 1st of October...