I've shot many a 3-D and, as everybody says, it was alot of fun. The courses can vary alot and the set-ups can be neat. In fact, my friend and I were co range masters and set up our two ranges for all shoots for about 4 years. We always tried to make things interesting and different. Being in central Florida, that's not always doable. One of our better set-ups had a white goat set atop a 20 foot high dirt mound that we dusted with lime to look like snow. We also had bobcats and mountain lions in trees, bears with fish in their mouths on islands and running deer shots from a high tree platform. Just go and have fun. Be mindfull that some wannabees always take things much too seriously. Just ignore idiots.

Ducsauce, I just started shooting 3D. Went to my first on Memorial weekend and have been shooting one every weekend since. Went to my first big IBO shoot over the weekend. I went with a friend and I shot a 329 out of 440. We met 2 other guys and had a great time. Since your the only bow hunter among your friends look for guys on here or just go looking to meet new friends. Everyone is real friendly. Most people like they have said are out to just have fun.
Most shoots allow binoculars (IBO only allows up 8.5 power). No rangefinders, shouldn't need them any way this is a way to practice guessing yardage for the real thing.
Good luck
Ron

I was going to make a seperate post about this, but I will do it in this one. As far as range finders go, I use one and it seems some don't like it. Then again I don't compete either, heck I don't even keep score.

What is the point behind 3-D? I always thought it was suposed to simulate hunting, better practice than just aiming at spots in your back yard. Well I like to practice the way I hunt. When I hunt I don't guess yardarge, because I suck at it. I range a perimeter around my stand and I know exactly where the deer are when I see them. So why would I guess on the 3-D range? How will I know if I had a bad shot or just guessed the yardage wrong? That does me no good and is of little use to me as far practice goes. Now I understand if you are competing against others you obviously can't use a range finder, that is not how the game is played. However I am not playing a game when I do it. Sure I like to have fun but I also want to get something out of it that applies to my situation. If I were going to spot and stalk I would probably make a real effort to learn do judge yardarge. Rang finders do help with that by the way. I often guess the yardage before I range it to see how close I am, but then range it to be sure. I don't really care for losing arrows either.

I went to one with a couple of buddies a while back. I signed up for the hunter one, but really didn't care since I don't really shoot for score or shoot from the stakes. This place told me they didn't care if I used a range finder. I just couldn't turn in a card or tell others the distances. Sounded pretty fair to me. And I went one step farther and shot last in my group any way.

Well this one guy was po'ed I had a range finder. Giving me crap about using it and how I was cheating, and if he had his way it would not be allowed. I told him if I am not in any compitition how can it be cheating? What does he care what I do? Made no sense to me.

I am using a 31 inch bowtech mighty might with a three pin sight and no peep with a finger release off the string. With three arrows in my back pocket (what a hick). I am also shooting from out to 50 yards (with a 40 yard pin) shooting from behind trees, thru forks in small trees and thru weeds and limbs. I like to make it fun in my own way. And I shoot 50 lbs with 450 grn aluminum arrows.

The guy complaining about my range finder is shooting a long target bow in some crazy blue color with chrome all over it. Stabilizers all over the thing making it look like a porcupine. A sight that cost more than my bow did with a 6 power scope. A fancy back tension release, binoculars, cards showing the scoring rings and a belt rig that looked like something bat man would bring. I don't have that much crap in my golf bag! And his bow shoots over 300 fps with really light carbon arrows. And get this, an umbrella.

He actuall asked someone to hold it up for him once because the sun was in his eyes. I got a good laugh at that one.

Then he was making smart aleck comments about my shot placement. Saying that even with a range finder I couldn't hit the 10 ring. I told him I don't shoot for score, I look for proper shot placement depending on the angle of the game. My goal is to kill every animal on the course, not score high. Some of those shots if you shoot for a good score it would be a wounded animal, or at the very least a poor shot. I'm not sure this dude knew a whole lot about hunting. He didn't know much about anotomy that is for sure.

Towards the end I got fed up and broke one of his arrows with mine at 40 yards shooting thru a fork in a tree. It was a lucky shot but the others guys gave him heck about it.

He really doesn't care to go with us anymore. I don't know why? Honestly I was really nice to begin with. He just wouldn't give up on it and was a real cry baby about everything. Nothing was his fault, you know the type. He couldn't have just missed, there was always something causing it. He shot ok, but there were guys in the bowhunter class that beat him.

The few other times I have been to one they were pretty fun. I did lose an arrow on an alligator once at 43 yards down hill. I forgot to take into acount it was down hill, oops. That's ok, we don't have many alligators in Michigan.

Paul

any one shoot 3D around the long island ny area or can someone give me a web sight to where I can find out where too go. I just started to shoot archery about a week ago and love it.
thanks

Thanks for all the replies guys/gals.

Josh: Thats all I have man, 6 good arrows. I plan on buying another half dozen hear real soon. I want to try the whole wrapping thing with them.

MOm: Thanks for the tip about knowing the kill zones. I would have never thought about that.

Hunter:You haven't been guilty of throwing your bow have you?

bugsNbows: That course must have been a blast to shoot.

Paul: I liked the part where you cooked his arrow. He deserved that.

ronjw1: More than likely I will go there and make a few buddies. Then I will have more friends that do bowhunt.

Paul, I gotta tell you; I loved your post.

Dang it Paul. I just happen to be that other guy and I want my arrow replaced.

Bobby

p.s. I don't understand why no one would hold my umbrella for me ?

Paul,

Can you tell us how you really feel about 3D'ers? [8D][8D]

haha........

3D has evolved into much more than it was when it first started. Yes, there are several guys out there (me included) that are dead serious about it and simply enjoy competing. That doesn't excuse him of being rude to you about the rangefinder though.I honestly couldn't care less if someone carries a rangefinder as long as they aren't turning in their scores. I have even had days that I have showed up simply as practice to improve my game and brought my rangefinder. I will guess and shoot a target, then range it to double check myself. I don't turn in cards on those days though.

~M

Lol, no i have never thrown my bow. I was shooting withthis guyone time who has the same attitude like Paul was mentioning. A bigshot guy who everyone hated. Anyway, we were shooting at a mountain lion and i went first and 10'd it, and he got up there with his high dollar shiny bow, missed the whole target, threw his bow, went and got his arrow, then left.

I don't have anything against the serious 3-D guys. I understand what the deal is with target archery. I like to shoot spots sometimes myself. I just think that sometimes they forget the purpose behind the concept. I'm honest enough to admit that I suck at it. If I had to do a course and guess all the yardarge I don't think I would have any arrows left. And that doesn't sound like fun to me.

I had some other guys razz me about using a range finder, but not actually be upset. And I did ask if it was allowed. One of the other guys that was with me is a human range finder I swear. He was never off more than a yard or two during the whole course. Even when I would shoot from a spot where there was no stake. Simply amazing. He would take a shot and whisper in my ear what he shot it for. I would range it and tell him how much I thought he sucked.

However this guy has yet to kill a deer. He is a great archer, just not a very good hunter I guess. I think he as trouble sitting still.

Paul