Hmm…let me get this straight; we have a very popular class drawing over 300 shooters at each national event and we want to make changes to it? I don’t quite understand the logic there. I’ve not heard any complaints about the HC except from a few on this forum. Sounds to me like those complaining are in the minority. If you make changes to appease those 10%, what happens to the other 90% who like things the way they are?

It sounds to me like some in the HC want a rule change that will cause everyone above them to have to move to another class, suddenly putting them on the top. Wouldn’t we all like that to happen. I don’t see where a non-competitive class would be helpful because if someone is complaining that there are a lot of scores much higher than theirs then it sounds to me like they’re being competitive. Why not just accept the fact that you’re a beginning/novice shooter, you’re likely not going to win and just go out and have a good time. That’s how I approach it. I have a personal goal and that’s what I go out to achieve.

But if it’s the beginning shooter that we’re worried about then maybe another class would help things. Maybe they(we) need a class of their own, same HC rules, lower fee than HC, give them their score cards, but don’t post the scores for that class and give no trophies or prizes (maybe a drawing similar to the defense course as someone already mentioned). We’re all competitive by nature. No matter what the class is or the lack of prizes/payment, as soon as you post scores someone is going to get to brag about “winning” that class. What’s to keep a guy who’s shooting in the 380’s in HC from dropping down to the “beginner” class so that he can go home & brag about his “win”?

I’ve been shooting for several years but this is my first year at the 3-D game. You’ll find my name on the last few pages of results from the national shoots. I’m not embarrassed to have finished so low. I’m not going to shy away from the national shoots just because there are many better shooters out there. All it’s done for me is motivate me to spend more time practicing. But I’ve enjoyed my time at each of the 3 Triple Crown events regardless of the scores posted.

Changing the rules to lower the scores will just lower everyone’s score. No 11 ring, no binocs, etc. are probably going to hurt a guy like me and drop my score a whole lot more than those at the top.

Forcing the shooters who finish better than 400 might make some people happy. But I’d guess that most of those who are forced to move wouldn’t be too fond of it. What was it, about 30% who shot better than 400? Do we really want to upset 100 shooters by making them move up?

Will changing the MBR to become more like a longer yardage HC really help things? Do you think it would cause more guys to move up from HC, or will the current MBR guys decide that if they have to shoot HC equipment, they may as well shoot the shorter HC stakes? I don’t have the answer, but I could see the already dwindling MBR becoming smaller and the already popular HC becoming a little bigger.

And as for the local shoots, I’m guessing the advent of the HC has probably brought a lot more shooters out to the local events. Shouldn’t the influx of new dollars help offset the cost of replacing the midsections on targets a little more frequently? And isn’t the growth of the sport what it’s all about anyway? Isn’t that worth spending a little more on your targets if that’s what it takes?

In the end, I don’t really care what the rule changes are because I will still find a class to shoot in and make as many events each year as possible. Change the scoring where 11 becomes a 10, 10 becomes 8, 8 becomes 5, miss is still 0, but a shot outside the vitals is minus 5. If you truly want a bowhunting class then take away points for wounding shots. Or leave scoring as is and take away the binocs, change other equipment rules, I don’t care.

My point is that it really doesn’t matter to me; I’ll be there and I’ll be shooting either way. But not all 300+ shooters may be as easy going as I am. Be careful of making too many changes that aren’t supported by the majority. It might come back to haunt you. I like the IBO. I enjoy my time spent and the people I’ve met at the national shoots. I’d just hate to see these prospective changes have the wrong effect.